Winton, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Winton Queensland
Elderslie Street
Winton Location in Queensland
Postcode(s)	4735
Location	441 km (274 mi) from Mount Isa 1,153 km (716 mi) from Brisbane 1,317 km (818 mi) from Alice Springs
LGA(s)	Winton Shire
County	Ayrshire County, Queensland
State electorate(s)	Gregory
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 32.8 °C 91 °F 17.1 °C 63 °F 352.8 mm 13.9 in
Localities around Winton: Kynuna Corfield Corfield Middleton Winton Muttaburra Opalton Opalton Morella

Winton is a town in the outback of Central West Queensland, Australia. It's about 177 kilometers (110 miles) northwest of Longreach. The main jobs in this area involve raising sheep and cattle.

The town was named in 1876 by Robert Allen, who was the local postmaster. He named it after his hometown, Winton, Dorset in England. Winton is also famous for being the very first home of the airline Qantas. In 2021, Winton had a population of 856 people.

History of Winton

Winton has a rich history, from its early days to becoming a hub for aviation and dinosaur discoveries.

First People of the Land

The Koa, Maiawali, and Karuwali People are the traditional owners of the land around Winton. A place called Skull Hole, near Winton, is important to them. In the late 1800s, there was a sad event there where many local Aboriginal people were killed. The Koa People are currently working to have their native title rights officially recognized by law.

How Winton Began

The first European settlers arrived in the Winton area around 1866. However, many didn't stay long because of a big drought.

Winton truly started thanks to Robert Allen, a former police sergeant. Around 1875, he set up a shop and a pub near Pelican Waterholes. But heavy rains caused floods, forcing him to move his business to Winton's current location. Robert Allen is known as the town's founder.

Winton became an important business center by chance. Other settlers, like William Henry Corfield, had planned to set up a town further west. But they decided Winton's spot was better, especially because the other location was too prone to flooding. The government's chosen town, Collingwood, never really grew and became a ghost town by 1900.

In Winton's early days, there was no local bank. The closest one was 400 kilometers (250 miles) away in Aramac. Building materials were also hard to get, as there wasn't much wood in the area. Law enforcement was also very basic.

The North Gregory Hotel in Winton as it looked in 1879

Winton officially became a township on July 12, 1879. In 1880, the first police station was set up. The famous Cobb and Co stagecoaches also started serving Winton that year, helping with mail delivery. Winton got its first bank in 1880, which was a big step for the town.

In 1881, Thomas McIlwraith, who was the Premier of Queensland, visited Winton. The whole town came out to meet him! In 1882, the first Christian church service was held in the local hotel's billiard room.

By 1883, Winton was growing, with a district court and a doctor. However, the town faced a serious drought in 1884, which ended by 1886. By this time, Winton had its own weekly newspaper, the Winton Herald. A school was also established around this time.

Worker Challenges

In the 1890s, there were big disagreements between sheep shearers and their employers across Australia, known as the Great Shearers' Strike. Winton was a key location during these times. Shearers in Winton were determined to fight for their rights.

For example, at nearby Elderslie Station, a woolshed was burned down during the strike. At Dagworth Station, the shearing shed was also destroyed by striking workers. Even though the strikers eventually lost, these events showed how important Winton was in this period of Australian history.

Sir Hugh Nelson, then the Premier of Queensland, visited Winton in 1895. Here he is seen at the town's artesian bore.

On April 6, 1895, the famous Australian song "Waltzing Matilda" was first performed publicly at the North Gregory Hotel in Winton.

Drought was a constant problem for Winton. In 1895, the town's water supply was very low. Luckily, Winton's first artesian bore (a deep well that brings water from underground) was completed in 1896. This meant the town no longer depended on rain for its water. The railway also reached Winton in 1899, connecting it to other towns.

In 1899, the North Gregory Hotel burned down for the first time, but a new one was quickly built. In 1900, Saint Paul's Church opened.

Early 1900s

In 1906, Winton experienced record-breaking floods, showing that too much rain could also be a problem.

The flooding in Winton in 1906 broke records.

The telephone arrived in Winton in 1909, and by 1911, the telephone exchange was growing fast.

When World War I started in 1914, Winton showed great support. Five hundred and eighteen men and women from Winton and the surrounding area served in the war. Their names are on Winton's war memorial. Winton had one of the highest numbers of people serving in the war for its size.

In 1916, the North Gregory Hotel burned down for a second time.

Between the World Wars

In 1918, the Royal Open-Air Theatre opened. It's one of the few outdoor cinemas still operating in Australia today.

A very important event for Winton was the founding of Qantas in 1920. For a while, the airline's main office was in Winton!

In 1927, Winton got electricity, bringing modern power to the town. The Prime Minister of Australia, Stanley Bruce, also visited Winton that year.

The Central Western railway line reached Winton from Longreach in 1928. This new railway was very helpful for moving goods and people, especially during droughts.

The 1930s were tough for Winton's wool industry. There were also challenges with public services like the ambulance and telephone lines due to financial difficulties.

Elderslie Street about 1930. The North Gregory Hotel and Corfield & Fitzmaurice General Merchants are visible.

In 1934, a Qantas plane called the Atlanta crashed near Winton during a dust storm, sadly killing all on board.

Another fire struck Winton's business area in September 1938, destroying several buildings, including the Royal Mail Hotel and a cinema.

World War II and Later

When World War II began in 1939, many young men from Winton joined the army. In 1942, Lyndon B. Johnson, who later became President of the United States, stayed overnight at the North Gregory Hotel after his plane made an emergency landing nearby.

The 1946 North Gregory Hotel fire; the Corfield & Fitzmaurice Store is silhouetted at right.

The aftermath

On August 7, 1946, the North Gregory Hotel burned down for the third time. A new, stronger brick hotel was built in its place by 1953.

In 1951, Winton held its first Australian rodeo, which became a very popular yearly event.

In 1962, amazing dinosaur tracks were found near Winton. These tracks are now displayed at the Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways.

In 1966, there was another plane crash near Winton, killing all 24 people on board. A memorial was later unveiled in Winton's main street.

The Outback Festival started in Winton in 1972/73. This festival happens every two years and helps boost the local economy. In 1974, Winton got its own television transmitter.

In 1995, Winton celebrated 100 years since "Waltzing Matilda" was first performed. The Waltzing Matilda Centre, a museum dedicated to the song, opened in 1998.

In 1999, a huge dinosaur fossil, about 95 million years old, was found near Winton and nicknamed "Elliot."

21st Century Winton

In 2002, the Australian Age of Dinosaurs initiative began, aiming to create a world-class dinosaur museum. In 2009, three new dinosaur species found near Winton were named: Australovenator wintonensis ("Banjo"), Diamantinasaurus matildae ("Matilda"), and Wintonotitan wattsi ("Clancy").

Sadly, in June 2015, the Waltzing Matilda Centre burned down, destroying many historical items. However, plans are underway to rebuild it.

Geography of Winton

Winton is located on the north bank of the Western River. This river is a braided river, meaning it has many small channels and often dries up. This type of land gives the region its name: the Channel Country. Winton is part of the Lake Eyre basin. The land around Winton is mostly flat grassland, which is great for raising animals.

Winton is also where two major roads meet: the Kennedy Developmental Road and the Landsborough Highway.

Possible Asteroid Impact Site

Map showing the rough extent of the crustal anomaly west of Winton that may be an ancient impact structure

Scientists have noticed something interesting about the Diamantina River's shape. It flows along the edge of a huge circular area, about 130 kilometers (80 miles) wide, that might be an ancient impact structure from an asteroid or comet strike. This event could have happened about 300 million years ago! Winton is about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the edge of this area.

Dinosaurs of Winton

The area around Winton is famous for its dinosaur fossils! Many discoveries have been made here. In 2009, three new dinosaur types from the Early Cretaceous period were found: Australovenator, Wintonotitan, and Diamantinasaurus. Australovenator wintonensis is even named after the town. Another large dinosaur, Savannasaurus, was also found here, along with "Elliot." The rocks where these fossils are found are called the Winton Formation. You can learn more at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum and the Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways exhibit.

Great Artesian Basin

Winton gets its water from the Great Artesian Basin, a huge underground water source. The water comes out of the ground very hot, at 83°C (181°F)! It's then cooled down before being sent to the town. The water has a slight 'eggy' smell because of sulphur gas.

Street Names

Many of Winton's main streets are named after the large stations (ranches) that lie in the direction the streets run. For example, Elderslie, Vindex, Cork, and Dagworth are east-west streets. Oondooroo, Manuka, Sesbania, and Werna run north. Some of these stations, like Dagworth, Vindex, and Oondooroo, are even mentioned in the "Waltzing Matilda" song!

Climate

Winton has a semi-arid climate, which means it's quite dry. In summer, temperatures usually range from 23°C to 38°C (73°F to 100°F). In winter, temperatures are cooler, from 9°C to 25°C (48°F to 77°F). It can get very hot, with temperatures above 40°C (104°F) possible from October to March. Most of the rain falls in summer, with an average of 414.7 mm (16.3 inches) per year.

Education in Winton

Winton has schools for all ages:

• Winton State School is a government school for students from Prep (kindergarten) to Year 12. It's located at 71 Cork Street.
• St Patrick's Catholic School is a private primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's on Oondooroo Street.

Amenities and Services

St Pauls Anglican Church, Winton, 1995.jpg

Winton offers many facilities for its residents and visitors:

• A showground, racecourse, golf course, bowls club, skate park, and swimming pool.
• A public library at 76 Elderslie Street with fast internet.
• The Queensland Country Women's Association has rooms at 47 Vindex Street.
• Churches include St Patrick's Catholic Church (51 Cork Street), St Paul's Anglican Church (72 Cork Street), and Winton Christian Fellowship (38 Werna Street).
• Winton Airport is about 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles) northeast of town.

Transport

Winton is an important transport hub in the outback:

• It's at the meeting point of the Landsborough Highway and the Kennedy Developmental Road.
• It's the end point of the Central Western Railway Line from Rockhampton.
• Greyhound Australia intercity bus services stop in Winton, connecting it to places like Brisbane and Mount Isa.

Events in Winton

Winton hosts exciting events that attract people from all over:

Outback Festival

The Outback Festival is a famous event held every two years in September. It's won many awards for being a great festival. A popular event at the festival is the Quilton Australian Dunny Derby, which is a fun and unique race! The Outback Century Cycle Challenge also takes place, where cyclists race across the outback.

The Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival

Since 2014, The Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival has been held every year in Winton. During the festival, a special star is placed on Winton's Walk of Fame on Elderslie Street to honor someone important in the Australian film industry.

Attractions in Winton

Winton has many interesting places to visit:

Waltzing Matilda Centre

Winton is very important to the story of "Waltzing Matilda", Australia's most famous folk song. The song was first performed at the North Gregory Hotel in Winton. It was written by 'Banjo' Paterson while he was visiting a local property called Dagworth Station. The Waltzing Matilda Centre, which opened in 1998, was the first museum dedicated to a song.

To celebrate the song, Winton started Waltzing Matilda Day on April 6th, the anniversary of its first performance.

Royal Theatre

The historic Royal Open-Air Theatre is one of the few remaining outdoor cinemas in Australia. It's a unique way to watch movies under the stars!

Arno's Wall

Arno's Wall is a very unusual and artistic wall made from all sorts of old items cemented together. You can see rusted lawnmower parts, boat propellers, old typewriters, sewing machines, and even whole motorbikes stuck in the wall! It's a truly unique sight.

Images for kids

• 

  At the races in Winton, Queensland, around 1890.

See also

In Spanish: Winton (Queensland) para niños