Things to do in Outback Queensland, Queensland: The Best Historic Sites

Live Australia’s outback story on a tour of Camden Park Station. Meet Outback Dan and the Walker family and visit their 18,000 acre working sheep and cattle station. Walk through the historical homestead gardens, shearing shed and cattle yards then tour the farm after a scrumptious smoko. Visit the unknown swagman's grave, of a young man who set out for Camden Park Station looking to make his own opportunities, but unfortunately never made it. Bask in the picturesque Artesian spring and bore, enjoy a delicious smoko afternoon tea, and take in the 360 degree views without a man-made structure in sight from Longreach’s highest lookout. Visit the historic 'dry bottom' Chinaman's well that was built following the gold rush. Walk the path of Queen Elizabeth II and Price Phillip from their 1970 visit and marvel at the oldest private ballroom in the outback, built in 1927 of Jarrah wood and featuring an exquisite chandelier. Visit the unknown swagman's grave, of a young man set out for Camden Park Station looking to make his own opportunities, but unfortunately never made it. Book a tour of Camden Park Station now at the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame or via Outback Aussie Tours.

The dinosaur trackways at the Dinosaur Stampede were formed 95 million years ago when outback Australia was a vastly different place. In stark contrast to the arid climate of today, the landscape was characterised by a great river plain, with towering conifers and lush vegetation interspersed with sandy channels, swamps and lakes brimming with freshwater mussels, lungfish and crocodiles. The climate was humid and cool with an average rainfall of over one metre. It was in this setting that a herd of at least 150 small, two-legged dinosaurs, including carnivorous coelurosaurs about the size of chickens and slightly larger plant-eating ornithopods, came to drink at the edge of a lake. What happened next is immortalised in stone! Over 3,300 footprints of these long-extinct dinosaurs are scattered over the rock face, stark evidence of the terror they must have experienced as they fled the scene upon the arrival of a large theropod. This snapshot of a few terrifying moments has been frozen in time, immortalising the event and making Lark Quarry Conservation Park home to the only known dinosaur stampede in the world. Truly an experience not to be missed!

If you love a great story then this is one you just can't visit Charleville and not hear. The story of Hotel Corones and the man behind it is a story like no other and one that has to be heard to believed! Harry 'POPPA' Corones was a remarkable early day entrepreneur who arrived in Australia penniless and went on to make Australian history numerous times throughout his life. This tour is filled with his story and the comical antics he used to get up to, tales of the rich and famous who have all stayed in the hotel, [including Royalty & what unusual request did early day Aviator Amy Johnson make upon arrival], the odd ghost story and beautiful architectural features on both the top and bottom floor of the hotel, concluding with a relaxing afternoon tea in the dining room. Tours operate every day [except Tuesday & Thursday] commencing at 2pm. Bookings are essential.

The Powerhouse Museum is Australia's Largest Preserved Rural Generating Station and also house social history of the region. The Powerhouse Museum Electricity was first generated from this site for the town of Longreach in December 1921. The power station, then owned and operated by the Longreach Shire Council was built by local contractors for a cost in excess of £19000. The site was selected beside the Artesian Bore (further details of the bore over the page) because of the need of water to cool the engines. The first engines were Ruston & Hornsby charcoal gas units powering DC generators via a belt drive. The gas was produced on site using locally made charcoal. Unfortunately none of this original equipment survives. The original engines were gradually replaced as technology has further advanced. In later years, Longreach Power Station supplied power to Longreach, Ilfracombe and Isisford as well as a large rural grid.