The main street of Longreach

Longreach
Major centre in western Queensland and home to the Stockman's Hall of Fame.
Located 1184 km from Brisbane and 676 km west of Rockhampton, Longreach is the largest town in central Queensland. Situated on the Thomson River 191 m above sea level it is the centre of one of Queensland's most prosperous wool and beef areas.

Longreach was named as a description of the 'long reach' of the Thomson River which passes near the town. The river was discovered and named by the explorer Edward Kennedy in 1847. He named it after Sir Edward Deas Thomson (1800-1879), a notable member of the NSW Legislative Council.

The area around Longreach was first explored by William Landsborough and Nat Buchanan in 1861. Landsborough subsequently gained a lease to approximately 2000 sq. miles of land. In 1863 sheep and cattle were overlanded into the area and the mighty 'Bowen Downs' station was established.

By the early 1870s the Mount Cornish outstation (named after the first general manager of the 'Bowen Downs') had been established and Longreach grew up as a camp for teamsters who carried supplies to the property. It was officially gazetted as a town in 1887 and the following year land lots were sold. By 1892 the railway from Barcaldine and the coast reached the town.

The success of wool in the 1920s saw the town boom. Later that year Qantas established a booking office (a model of it is now the Information Centre at the east end of the main street) which became the centre of their operations. The company, known at the time as the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd. was set up on 16 November 1920 by Hudson Fysh and Paul McGinniss. Local graziers funded the airline and in 1921 a hangar was built. It subsequently became an important maintenance depot and in 1926 it was converted to a workshop where seven DH50 biplanes were constructed. The hangar, which is nothing but a large shed, is located at the airport opposite the Stockman's Hall of Fame south of the town.

Things to see:  

The statue of the stockman outside the Stockman's Hall of Fame

Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame
In recent times the $12.5 million 'Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame' has generated a level of tourist activity which has made Longreach the premier destination in central Queensland. It is easy to be cynical about the Stockman's Hall of Fame but, in spite of its high prices and its carefully created commercialism, it really is worth visiting. The name is actually something of a misnomer. It would more accurately be called 'The Australian History Timeline'. Its exhibitions include a model of Aboriginal cave paintings, the first fleet (with a computerised list of all the people on the first fleet), the early settlement in Sydney, the major explorations, the early pioneers (with a model slab hut, a hawker's van and a blacksmith's shop) the pastoral expansion, and then a focus on life in the bush up to the present day. It is impossible to see it all in under two hours and many people will spend four of five hours wandering along the time line. It uses the latest audio visual techniques to great effect.

Qantas in Longreach
The first commercial flight by Qantas in an Avro 504K took off from Longreach on 7 February 1921 at 10.30 am and took 3 hours and 10 minutes to reach Winton.

The town is still proud of its aviation past. The first Qantas booking office, a small wooden building, is located in Qantas Park in Eagle Street and is currently used as the Tourist Information Office. Behind the office is Qantas Park which contains an engine which dates from 1924.

The original Qantas hangar is located over the road from the Stockman's Hall of Fame. For many years it was nothing more than an old hangar. In recent times it has become the Qantas Founders Outback Museum and provides visitors with a unique insight into the early history of aviation in Australia. It is well worth visiting. For more details contact (07) 4658 3767.

Jacksons Weapons Museum
There are a number of other tourist attractions in the area including the Jacksons Weapons Museum in Cassowary Street which is really a war memorabilia museum. It is open from 2 pm to 8 pm daily and is free although donations are appreciated.

Starlight's Lookout
Located 64 km from Longreach is Starlight's Lookout. The road is less than perfect however the lookout, said to be used by Harry Redford during his cattle duffing exploits (for details about Starlight-Harry Redford see entry on Muttaburra) offers a magnificent view of the surrounding countryside. With the landscape of central Queensland being so flat it is quite remarkable to get an elevated perspective on it.

	Tourist Information
	Longreach Information Centre Qantas Park Eagle St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 3555 Facsimile: (07) 4658 1798
	Longreach Shire Council Office Eagle St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: ((07) 4658 1188
	Motels
	Abajaz Motor Inn 11 Wonga St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 1288 Facsimile: (07) 4658 3277 Email: abajazqld@bigpond.com Rating: ***1/2
	Albert Park Sir Hudson Fysh Dve Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 2411, 1800 812 811 Facsimile: (07) 4658 3181 Rating: ***
	Jumbuck Motel Ilfracombe Rd Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 1799 Rating: ***
	Longreach Motel 127 Eagle St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 1996 Facsimile: (07) 4658 3035 Email: DHenshall@bigpond.com Rating: ***
	Longreach Motor Inn 84 Galah St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 2322, 1800 076 020 Facsimile: (07) 4658 1828 Rating: ***
	Hotels
	Central Hotel 126 Eagle St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 2263
	Lyceum Hotel 131 Eagle St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 1036
	Royal Hotel 111 Eagle St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 2118
	Starlight's Hideout Tavern 103 Eagle St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 1925
	Welcome Home Hotel 128 Eagle St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 1361
	Caravan Parks
	Gunnadoo Caravan Park & Cabins Thrush Rd Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 1781 or (07) 4658 2768 Rating: **
	Longreach Caravan Park 180 Ibis St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 1770 Rating: **
	Restaurants
	Albert Park Sir Hudson Fysh Dve Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 2411, 1800 812 811 Facsimile: (07) 4658 3181
	Bush Verandah Restaurant 120 Galah St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 2448
	Club 31 Restaurant 31 Duck St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 3963
	Happy Valley Chinese Restaurant 135 Eagle St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 46581311
	Jolly Jumbuck Restaurant Sir Hudson Fysh Dve Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 1799
	Jumbuck Motel lfracombe Rd Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 1799
	Longreach Motor Inn 84 Galah St Longreach QLD 4370 Telephone: (07) 4658 2322, 1800 076 020 Facsimile: (07) 4658 1828