Winton

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Winton (originally known as Pelican Waterhole) was first settled in 1875 and is one of Australia's best known towns of the Outback.

During the Great Shearers' Strike in the 1890s, 500 shearers camped just south of Winton and the town was placed under marshall law. This was the beginning of the foundation of the Labor Party. Australia's national song, 'Waltzing Matilda' written by 'Banjo' Paterson at Dagworth Station and first performed at the North Gregory Hotel in Winton in 1895. In 1998, Winton opened the $3.3 million, high tech Waltzing Matilda Centre, the only centre in the world dedicated to a song.

Australia's national airline, Qantas, was formed in Winton in 1920, with the first Board meeting held at the Winton Club in 1921. Winton is also the recognised 'home' of Australian bush poetry, hosting the annual Bronze Swagman Award, one of the country's most prestigious literary awards.

Day trips from Winton take visitors to Opalton, one of the oldest opal fields in Queensland; Combo Waterhole, where the swaggie of 'Waltzing Matilda' fame reputedly met his fate; the vintage sandstone homestead of Old Cork Station; and Lark Quarry, where 93 million year-old fossils capture a dinosaur stampede.