The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 18

Driving before sunrise again for a big day.

Lake Houdraman – located east of Quilpie

The pelicans were up early too – they were directed here by the billboard.

A Restless flycatcher was alert…

… and hovering over the water weeds looking for insects.

White plumed honeyeater

Gum blossom near Quilpie

White-browed woodswallows – there were two…..

..or more about.

No road sense whatsoever – sadly many dead ones on the roads.

Baldy Top outside Quilpie

Short steep climb to the summit

The view west

Descending Baldy Top

Gidgee wattle

Baldy Top & Table Top Lookout

Brolga foraging

Blue bonnets were wary and kept their distance

Eromanga is the furthest town from the ocean in Australia.

Its closest marine environments are the Pacific Ocean in Queensland and Spencer Gulf in South Australia. The name ‘Eromanga’ comes from the indigenous word for ‘Windy Plain.’

Royal Hotel at Eromanga – (Eromanga Pub to the locals) was built in 1885 and is the last pub standing in Eromanga, which once boasted 4 pubs. The pub was a Cobb and Co staging post.

Eromanga boomed in the past due to opal discoveries and was even locally known as Opalopolis.

Eromanga Natural History Centre houses the remains of Cooper the Dinosaur – Australia’s largest dinosaur.

It was discovered on a property west of Eromanga in 2006 and is named after Cooper Creek and the Cooper Basin. Cooper is a 30 metre long by 6.5 metre tall titanosaur. This is Cooper’s rear leg – The next phase of the centre is to house a full replica.