Longreach - a main centre in The Outback. Only 180km today but still hot - 44C -(111F) with a hot, dry wind.

This friendly Brolga came right up to our van door
looking for brekky

Later we were surprised to see an emu walk into the caravan park! 

An Emu with the friendly Brolga

One of the main attractions of Longreach is The Stockman's Hall of Fame.  A facinating insight into life on the vast cattle and sheep stations of The Outback.

The other main centre is The Qantas Museum as Longreach is where the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services was conceived.  It is also closely linked to The Flying Doctor Service which was started as soon as the planes were able to carry doctors & patients ie enclosed and big enough.

The first Boeing 707 to be sold outside the USA

During a guided tour we were shown round a couple of planes including the one above.  I also stood inside one of the engines which is much bigger than it appears from the ground,



"Captain" Austin??

The Catalina