About Winton
The Winton Shire covers 53,935 square kilometres and has a population of just 1,600 people. It is the centre of an important cattle and sheep raising region of predominantly flat grassland known as the Channel Country. The area around the town is technically described as “hot, semi-arid.” The town has two very legitimate claims to fame: it was where that alternative national anthem, Waltzing Matilda, was written and first performed and it has some of the best dinosaur fossil remains in the world. Oh, yes, and it was where QANTAS started. In fact there are an excess of interesting and unusual attractions: the Musical Fence, the Truck Museum, the memorabilia inside the North Gregory Hotel; the Australian Age of Dinosaurs exhibits and tours. It would be very easy to spend two or three days just exploring the attractions around this genuinely fascinating town (sourced from the Aussie Towns website – click for more).
Getting there
It was a straight 179km run from Longreach through to Winton with no stops along the way (route map).
Accommodation
We pulled into the Winton Roadhouse Caravan Park to find that the two sites we were given were like a rock pile (average size was 25-30mm diameter) so not q very happy start to our stay. Making the most out of it we settled. That night we were provided with yet another central Queensland sunset.
Musical Fence and QANTAS Monument
This unique attraction was found just behind our caravan park. The Musical Fence, designed by percussionist and composer Graeme Leak, is a wire fence that can be played as a musical instrument and it is the first Permanent musical fence installation in the world. It was opened in 2003. We had a bit of a jam session with a lot of laughs as we tried to belt out a tune. We also discovered the actual fence was not very musical at all LOL!
There’s a lot of conjecture up in central QLD about where QANTAS actually started up. We were told in Charleville that it’s there town to receive the 1st QANTAS flight but the 1st paid passenger flight was actually in Winton. QANTAS actually set-up their base in Longreach (where the museum is). In April 2021 a special monument was erected right behind the Musical Fence to honour the 1st QANTAS flight into Winton. (maplink)
Around the Town
Winton is a really neat and tidy town. A stroll through town presents lots of quirky and different items of interest, like metal sheep on the median in the main street, toilets with “rams & ewes” and rubbish bins in dinosaur feet. There’s plenty of beautiful buildings as well as really weird looking ones – all worth checking out.
Waltzing Matilda Centre
This beautiful building was constructed following the original one was destroyed by fire in 2015. It incorporates the visitor info centre as well and was a very interesting place to visit. You could split into two things – history of Banjo Patterson and the museum of old stuff out the back.
Banjo Patterson Exhibit
As you would expect, this centre is a shrine to Banjo Patterson and Waltzing Matilda, which was written in the district. The Banjo Patterson gallery is just one in this complex, and all are worth seeing. Expect to spend quite some time here, soaking up the atmosphere.
The Museum
Outside, and part of the complex, is a museum with an eclectic collection. Not sure why some things are here as I remember them clearly from my childhood. Having spent 15 years of my career, I loved the old enamel Council signs spell out some bureaucratic rules.
Arno’s Wall
One of the quirky attractions is Arno’s Wall. It’s a modern wonder of art and architecture, Arno Grotjahn’s wall contains almost every household item you can imagine and more (maplink).
The walls reach two metres high and extend for at least 70 metres. They are constructed of concrete and rock brought from Arno’s opal mine at Opalton and studded with rusted lawnmower parts, boat propellers, vintage typewriters and sewing machines and even a couple of complete motorbikes.
Arno was born in 1930 and spent his youth as a merchant seaman travelling the world. He immigrated to Australia from Germany some 30 years ago and spends his time in and around Winton opal mining.
Australian Age of Dinosaurs
The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History is home to the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils. So it was a 26km drive south-east of Winton (maplink) to check it out and it sure didn’t disappoint us. Totally recommend it as a “must do” if you’re in the area.
We purchased tickets for the The Ultimate Dinosaur Pass tour of the facility as outlined below, for $38pp.
It’s an amazing complex with very young guides who are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable they must have all grown up being dinosaur fanatics.

The Fossil Prep Laboratory tour
During this part of our tour we were guided behind-the-scenes through the most productive Fossil Preparation Laboratory in the Southern Hemisphere. Our guide, Riley, explained to us how dinosaurs are found and recovered, and showed us the remnants of an ancient world with huge sea shells and plant fossils on display. We even had the chance to touch a real dinosaur fossil and watched as fossil technicians prepare dinosaur bones for research and display.
The Collection Room
The Collection Room houses the only known specimens of Australia’s largest, and most complete carnivorous dinosaur – Australovenator wintonensis, nicknamed “Banjo“, as well as Australia’s most complete sauropod Diamantinasaurus matildae, nicknamed “Matilda“ and Savannasaurus elliottorum, nicknamed “Wade”.
Our passionate guide told the story of “Banjo” and “Matilda” and how they are inextricably linked for eternity. We then sat back and enjoyed parts of the documentary “Monsters in the Outback” and watched as the fossils were put together and the dinosaurs brought back to life – very cool!
The “March of the Titanosaurs” Exhibition at Dinosaur Canyon
Outside Walk
After viewing the “March of the Titanosaurs” exhibition it was outside to witness the “attack of the flies” as fly-nets were put on our heads and meet the two awesome Titanosaurs for a quick “photo op”. Then it was time to take a stroll along the 300m elevated walkway perched on the edge of the cliff overlooking Dinosaur Canyon. The exhibits have been created in an environment to simulate life as it would have appeared about 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period.
Bladensburg National Park
Loved this place and it was only 21kms south of Winton (maplink)! The national park is located on a former pastoral sheep station called Bladensburg Station.
Using an excellent guide obtained from the Winton Info Centre we took the Route of the River Gum circuit (PDF). You need a 4WD for the majority of the circuit but it would be pretty messy if it’s been raining. Lots of roos in the park, a few brolgas as well and so much bird life, especially the flocks of budgerigars – which are impossible to photograph when in flight.
Another highlight of our trip to Winton. Here’s our experiences…
Shearers Strike Memorial Cairn
In 1891 there was a shearers’ strike which was one of Australia’s earliest and most important industrial disputes. The dispute was primarily between unionised and non-unionised wool shearers. It resulted in the formation of large camps of striking workers, and minor instances of sabotage and violence on both sides. Wikipedia
The Cairn commemorates the site where striking shearers camped for four months during the 1891 strike and is dedicated to the memory of those shearers. Loved the pic-a-boo kangaroos in the long grass.
The Bladensburg Homestead
At the original homestead complex there are information boards which told us about the early days of station life and the park’s plants and animals.
Scrammy Lookout
The trip to Scammy’s lookout and gorge were well worth it, an easy drive in a 4wd as the tracks are in good condition and lots of wildlife about. The views over the plains from the lookout are absolutely amazing.
Scrammy Gorge
Like the lookout, this is also a beautiful location too.
Engine Hole
A billabong in the middle of these dry plains was unexpected but also beautiful. The birdlife was amazing.
Skull Hole
The 1901 Skull Hole massacre at Bladensburg Station near Winton is one of the greatest atrocities of the frontier wars. Sergeant Moran of Winton police station set out to find those who had killed a European man. During his investigations, he was attacked by local Indigenous people. In response, Winton sent out native police who murdered around 200 Koa people.
We visited this location and were appalled to learn about this massacre.
Creek Crossing
Along the track we crossed Mistake Creek and wouldn’t want to be when it was in flood.
Our last night – The Bushman Poet
Our caravan park has this bush poet guy appearing in the camp kitchen every night and we finally got to check it out on our last night. The poet’s name is Gregory North and he is absolutely amazing. Not only does he tell us some great bush poems and limericks he does it by using his hands and facial expressions to enhance the story. He’s an absolute scream. The show went for an hour keeping the audience of all ages totally enthralled.
In the last segment he recited the Man from Snowy River poem by Banjo Paterson. His version is slightly different though as each verse is performed in a different language (Japanese, French, Italian, Mexican etc) changing hats to match the language. This had the audience in stitches of laughter – check out a video we took of park of his act…
And that ends our 4 day stay in Winton.
Summing up…
- Accommodation – Winton Roadhouse Caravan Park (07) 4657 0404
- Cost per night – $35.00 (@ 5-Aug-2022)
- Stayed for – 4 nights (should have been 3)
- Facilities – Pretty basic but always kept clean
- CP Location – 43 Chirnside St Winton
- Our rating/score – 6/10
- Was it a nice town to visit? – Wasn’t too bad
- Activities & places of interest – Plenty to do and see
- Tourist info centre? – At the Waltzing Matilda Centre (07) 4657 1466
- Would we return? – Not really, but glad we came and did stuff
- We rate the town – 7/10
- Overall thoughts – We really enjoyed Winton and it was better than expected. The caravan park’s poet was absolutely the “icing on the cake” part of our stay.