You could say that Winton, roughly west of Rockhampton, Queensland, and some 1433 kilometres northwest of the Queensland capital, Brisbane, is in true Outback country.
Winton locals surely know this, and every two years they hold their Outback Festival to celebrate the uniqueness of the Winton Outback character.
And yet, for those in the know, this in fact is the birthplace of Qantas, Australia's national airline and a symbol of undoubted modernity and urbanity.
- Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service (Qantas) was formed in Winton in November 1920 and its first board meeting held in the Winton Club on February 21, 1921.
Biennial festival
Winton's Outback Festival is held every two years and includes such events as beggar the imagination. They include the Australian Dunny Derby, Bushman's Egg Throwing, Outback Goanna Pulling Championship, Whip Cracking Championship, Outback Ute Muster, Broom Throwing, Wool Bale Rolling, and Outback Iron Man and Iron Woman.
- Dunny is the colloquial Australian word for "toilet" and the Dunny Derby involves Outback outdoor toilets on wheels pulled by teams of four while the "jockey" sits in the normal position.
First held in 1973, the Outback Festival is celebrated in the spring and draws visitors from around Australia and overseas who are intrigued and fascinated by the Winton activities. The 2007 Outback Festival runs from September 26 to 30.
At the heart of Matilda Country
Winton was first settled in 1875 when it was know as Pelican Waterhole. The town lies in the centre of Matilda Country with vast grass plains and varicolored gorges and ridges.
The town is known for its water supply coming from deep underground through three artesian bores of some 1200 metres. The water comes from the Great Artesian Basin.
Winton has a population of fewer than 2000.
Waltzing Matilda birthplace
Winton is where the Australian bush poet A B (Banjo) Paterson wrote Waltzing Matilda which, set to music, has become an Australian national song.
Paterson wrote Waltzing Matilda at Dagworth Station, just outside Winton, in 1895. Its first performance is said to have been at Winton's North Gregory Hotel on April 6, 1895.
Because of the Paterson link, Winton has become recognised as the home of Australian bush poetry with an annual Bronze Swagman Award.
Take time to visit the Waltzing Matilda Centre which incorporates the Outback Regional Art Gallery, the Sarah Riley Theatrette and the Qantilda Museum.
Getting to Winton
You could drive but it sometimes seems a long way from anywhere. Of course if you were traveling to Mt Isa through the Matilda Highway, Winton would be along the way at the junction of Dinosaur Way and Min Min Byway.
Or you may prefer to fly. This, after all, is the birthplace of Qantas.
