This place was something else, when we arrived about 5pm it was packed! Every available spot was just about taken and we had no choice but to squeeze in between a motorhome and a caravan belonging to a couple from Mooroopna Vic that comes here every year and stays at least 3 months. There is a large group of people from all over Oz that stays here for that time and we were suprised that the council allows this.
The water was well below the weir but we were assured that this was only because of the drought, last year and most years before the water was flowing strongly over the weir.
There were decent toilet facilities and the semi-permanents go to the Barcaldine Showgrounds for a free hot shower!
Barcaldine presents itself as a friendly place and we certainly found it to be so, certainly a big improvement over Charleville!
Barcaldine is also the place where the precursor to the Australian Labor Party was formed during the great shearers' strike of 1891.
The dead tree is now surrounded by a tall timber structure inside of which there are numerous timber beams hanging of various lengths which act as a giant windchime. A very moving experience to stand there and listen to that music and reflect on the struggles of generations past when unions had some real relevance.
From Barcaldine we moved 100k due west to Longreach, the birthplace of Qantas, there is a Qantas Founders Museum there, as well as the Stockmans Hall of Fame,founded by R.M. Williams.
We camped there at a free campsite about 5km out of town, but not te one listed in Camps 6 as that, and the road leading to it, seems to have disappeared.
As everywhere else on this road trip there were heaps of caravans and motorhomes there, but good toilets are provided.
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