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.

Railways, Wallangarra - Queensland's Granite Belt

In my last post I mentioned Australian state borders and the strange case of Jennings, a little known NSW and/or Queensland town depending on where the border is.

Jennings' twin town, Wallangarra, is better known because it is on the New England Highway. Wallangarra is also the most southern town in Queensland's Granite Belt, the Queensland part of the New England Tablelands known for its fruit and wine. I mentioned in an earlier post that I had just visited the Granite Belt and would write some stories once my photos were back.

While Wallangarra is better known, I suspect that far to few people stop and visit the railway station. It is worth a visit.

Wallangarra was the junction on the Great Northern Railway, once the main Sydney-Brisbane rail line, between the NSW and Queensland railways with their different rail gauges. Upon arrival, passengers used to carry their luggage across the station to join the train on the other side.

The differences in rail guage carried through into differences in architecture.

The photo below shows the Queensland side of the station, still a sometimes working platform. Sadly, NSW abandoned its part of the railway in the 1970s. The roof shape and hanging baskets are typical of Queensland stations.

Now look at next photo. This is the NSW side. The flat roof is typical of NSW stations of the period. One railway station, two very different feels carefully maintained to preserve the difference. Very much worth a visit.