Visiting Broken Hill - the journey begins

We flew into Broken Hill on Monday night, 19 March. I hadn't been to Broken Hill before and was looking forward to the trip.

The Rex flight was delayed by two hours, later we would discover that happened quite often, so it was quite late when we got to the Hotel, the Astra. That was a pleasant surprise. Our rooms were quite palatial.

In the I awoke early as I so often do. Somehow that early morning time has especial value. Mind you, it can be pretty dreadful if I go to bes late the night before!

As an original country pub, the Astra had large fist floor verandahs. I sat there watching the sun come up  over Argent Street, the main drag. It was very quiet.

Getting my guidebooks out I began to plane what we might do. We were there on business, but there was no reason I couldn't fit a little more in. I was also interested in the history of Broken Hill, for the city occupies a very special niche in Australian history. 

I will explore that history - story of boom and bust in the red dust - a little in my next post.       

Abrams tank, Queensland outback

I hadn't intended to return to Gordon Smith's 2011 outback tour so soon, but I was struck by this photo.

Who would expect to meet a modern tank in the Queensland outback? Actually, I suspect that there is a real story here. But that's a matter for another post! 

Brolgas, Bladensburg National Park, Queensland

Back on 21 July I mentioned Gordon Smith's outback adventure. He has continued his photo tour since.

This photo shows brolgas at  Bladensburg National Park. This is around 16 km (10 miles) from Winton in inland Queensland.

Do have a browse of all his outback tour 2011 photos. I think that you will find it rewarding.

Gordon Smith's outback adventure

It may sound dumb, but for someone who lived for so long in Armidale I rarely ventured north into inland Queensland. Our focus tended to be east and south, partly because the coast was a place for holidays, partly because state boundaries dictated that so much official business had to be carried out in Sydney.

My father was different. After he retired, he packed Mum into the car with his camera and went exploring. At first his focus was on New England, but then extended to inland Queensland.

There is some fantastic country there. I mention this because Gordon Smith whose lookANDsee photo blog is one of my all time favourites has taken his car and camera and headed west and north from Armidale on one of his regular outback tours. Just at the moment he is in the Carnarvon National Park.

The caption on this photo reads: 

This view seems to come from the land that time forgot. Can’t you almost spot the dinosaurs about to push out from between the trees?

You can see what Gordon means.

There are some wonderful photos. If you want to follow Gordon's trip, click on Outback 2011.

Cloncurry Qld - a new type of solar power

Photo; Airport, Cloncurry, the start of QANTAS

Cloncurry (and here) in north west Queensland has the honour of holding the record for the highest recorded temperature in Australia - 53.1c in 1889. Now that's hot.

I mention this because Cloncurry is to be the site for a new type of solar power station in which 8,000 mirrors will focus sunlight onto graphite blocks. Water pumped through the blocks will turn to steam, driving a turbine generator.

When fully functional, the new power station is expected to generate 10 megawatts of electricity, enough power for 3,500 people.

Cloncurry has a rich history.

In 1861 Burke and Wills with King and Gray, were the first Europeans to come into the area on their ill fated expedition to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Burke named the river “Cloncurry” for his cousin, Lady Elizabeth Cloncurry of County Galway in Ireland.

In May 1867, Ernest Henry (honored as town founder), came searching for grazing land. Instead he discovered copper, the start of great mineral wealth that continues until today.

Cloncurry has been the focal point for a number of Australia’s greatest innovations.

On 3 November 1922, what is now QANTAS flew its first passenger (Alexander Kennedy) from Longreach to Cloncurry on November 3rd 1922 at a cost of 11 pounds 2 shillings. The original QANTAS Hanger is still in use at the aerodrome, with “Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service” still displayed above the hanger door The airport was also on route for early planes coming from overseas and a stopping point for contestants in the great air races of 1919 and 1934.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service was founded here in 1928, now recognized the world over for its delivery of medical services across the vast outback. Cloncurry has a museum dedicated to the Service's history. The airport was also on route for early planes coming from overseas and a stopping point for contestants in the great air races of 1919 and 1934. During the Second World War, Cloncurry was the site of a major United States of America Air Base.

In all, a rich history.

Cloncurry is also on The Inlander, one of Queensland's great rail routes.

Gordon Smith's New Outback Tour

Photo: Colours of the Desert. This photograph was taken by Gordon Smith at the Aboriginal Rock Pools, a place where water is stored in pools worn into the rock, near Byrock south of Bourke in NSW.

I see that Gordon Smith has begun another outback tour on his photo blog. These tours are great fun because Gordon combines his photographs with short commentary to create a photo journal. The introductory post in the series can be found here.