You can’t visit the Outback Queensland town of Longreach without a visit to The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame. Located right in the town’s centre, this centre has a wealth of history and exhibits to keep you entertained for hours.
History
The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre is an Australian icon that was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1988. Since then, the Hall of Fame has entertained over one million visitors, bringing light on tourism to the outback.
The Hall of Fame became a dream of Hugh Sawrey’s in 1974 when he believed that the true remote Australian heroes deserved a place to honour them. From explorers, stock workers, pastoralists and Aborigines, this place is a tribute to these unsung heroes. Many others believed this was important to have in an outback community, and among those was renowned shoe and clothing designer R.M. Williams. Fundraising and donations helped bring the Hall of Fame to fruition.
The humble beginnings of the Hall of Fame.
The museum is constructed from timber, stone and iron, to truly represent the Outback. The materials used allow the building to not succumb to significant weathering over time.
Exhibits
Inside the Hall of Fame, you’ll find a mix of exhibits focusing on, Discovery, Pioneers, Life in the Outback, Royal Flying Doctors, Stockworkers and rural sports. These exhibitions are presented using touch screens, video presentations, objects and open displays.
Discovery
The Discovery exhibit is paying homage to our Native founders. Exploring how settlement had impacted the environment out here and what this resulted in. The exhibition is split up into four different sections, Aboriginal culture, European discovery and settlement, Exploration and Mining.
The majority of Indigenous Australians moved away from the coastal regions of the country to further inland. They became hunters and foragers and slowly were joined by settlers that wanted to bring employment to the area. Discover (ha get it?) how the migrants became responsible for farming, grazing and mining in the outback. These people eventually created roads, railways and housing and shop structures in order to build a stronger community.
Pioneers
Get a glimpse into the past of pioneering. This display brings to light the introduction of power in these areas and additionally, how transportation, housing and rural trades began developing. The exhibition is based on the years from the 1860s and all the way to today in the 21st century.
Life in the Outback
Also known as the ‘Outback Properties’ exhibition, this one delves straight into the families out in the outback and how they live each day, while also bringing it back to the 1920s to see how outback life has changed in the last (almost) century. From the harsh drought, cyclones, floods and fires, these disasters have brought a significant amount of havoc to these small towns.
Animal health and protection is also a big part of this museum, educating museum-goers on how the stock was to be fed while they mustered from paddock to paddock.
Wander through the exhibits as quick or as slow as you want and take in all the history.
Royal Flying Doctor’s Gallery
Dedicated to the history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Hall of Fame’s exhibit gives an insight into how the service works. These brave and selfless men and women have been providing top-quality health care to people in need in rural areas of Australia since 1977. The original aircraft that they used is now a new addition to the gallery
Stockbrokers Gallery & Library
Showing the history of Australian stock work might seem boring, but Stockman’s Hall of Fame is able to shine a new light onto it has developed through generations and landscapes. This exhibition is an overview of the entire museum and is a tribute to the men and women who work the land.
Facilities
When you’re feeling the need for a little break and are starting to get peckish, grab a table at the Wool Bale Cafe. Serving light refreshments and a heap of snacks, this will be enough to give you that refuel for the rest of the day.
When you’re thinking about wrapping up the day, you can go past a visit to The Cattleman’s Bar and Grill for dinner. This is a beautiful restaurant with a uniquely rural theme, with wood decor throughout and a homey feel to accompany it. Sit down to a delicious and juicy spit roast and a sweet dessert to finish it all off (pray for their famous apple pie). And for a bonus, every day they put on the Outback Stockman’s Show for visitors. These cowboys will definitely keep you entertained with their cleverly trained animals, country singing and poetry. But make sure to book in your spots early, these shows are quite popular around the area.
Watch a show while you’re enjoying some juicy BBQ at The Cattleman’s Bar and Grill.
The Details
Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre
Address: Landsborough Highway, Longreach, QLD
Contact Number: (07) 4658 2166
Getting there
The museum is located in the town centre of Longreach, which is in the middle of Outback Queensland. Guaranteed it will be a little while on the road if you’re coming from any major cities like Brisbane or Sunshine Coast. If you’re willing to do the road journey, then we wish you luck because the trip is around 12 – 13 hours.
But rejoice! There is an easy way to get all the way out to Longreach. Head over to Brisbane Airport and catch a flight to Longreach Aiport, only taking 2 hours. Once you’ve landed in the Outback, why not stretch your legs and walk the 20 minutes to the museum? Otherwise, you can drive the 2 minutes down the road.
