The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 17

We were up early and driving before sunrise.

Sunrise on the Landsborough Highway.

Hooker’s bauhinia (pegunny) (Lysiphyllum hookeri) were plentiful between Barcaldine and Blackall.

Blackall has entrance signs at both ends of town. This one the southern approach.

The Big B at the northern approach – after the excitement seeing the Big G earlier on our journey, seeing the Big B was an unexpected bonus.

The Big Roly Poly art piece on the edge of town.

Our interest in Blackall is our Perry ancestors who arrived here in 1887. Henry Perry was Principal here for three years and his daughter Sarah also taught here. The hotel was built in 1877 and is one building that was here when the Perry’s were in Blackall.

Barcoo River overflow

Near the Barcoo is one of the many sculptures around town. This one is Eagle and Nest.

Miss Petty statue honouring a local horse that once held the Australian record for 22 thoroughbred race wins in a row. This stood for a number of years before Black Caviar and later Winx broke this record.

Overlooking the winning post at Blackall Racecourse. You wooden have thought she would win so many races.

The Big Red (kangaroo)

Jackie Howe the famous shearer once owned a hotel and store in Blackall. Here is Jackie practising the Heimlich Maneuver on a ram. The ram seemed annoyed and was a bit testy.

Western end of the Carnarvon Ranges as we approach Tambo.

Tambo is in a valley at the western end of the Carnarvon Ranges. The town is famous for a Teddy shop and chicken racing at 5pm. The chickens are dyed so you know who is winning. I’ll put my money on the Red Rooster, it is always quick out of the drive through.

Tambo historic Court House is the info centre.

Mad Max Tambo style. Replace the War Boys with Wool Boys. The truck is an original wool transport truck and the bins on the trailers were wool bins from properties. Students from the school collected horseshoes to decorate the bins.

Bottle trees were in the countryside here and a row in the Tambo main street.

Pub in Augathella, meat ant metropolis.

The Big Meat Ant is an impressive structure.

The mandibles were monstrous.

The Augathella Rugby League team (The Meat Ants) 1970s war cry. Ferocious! Though biting is now illegal in rugby league games.

The Grey Nomad and The Red Rover. Though the grey nomad is getting a bit too friendly for my liking!

Augathella water tower.

Kenniff Tree where the bushranging Kenniff brothers tied their horses on this huge Coolibah tree on the edge of town so they could make a quick getaway.

After another hour we were in Charleville for a windscreen stone chip repair before the 210km drive to Quilpie.