Introduction to today's journey
Established in 1921, the Longreach powerhouse generated electricity for the very isolated Longreach community. Housing massive engines and utilising a unique gas production system to provide a reliable power source to the town in the very unforgiving climate where temperatures can reach 49 degrees. It continued operation until 1985 when the area became connected to the state-wide electricity grid. Since closing down, the building and machinery have remained forming the centrepiece of a museum, preserving what is now Australia's largest preserved rural generating facility.
Today's journey explores Longreach in the morning, including the Powerhouse Museum. I head to the nearby airport in the early afternoon to fly back to Brisbane.
Today's Journey
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Heading into the town centre in the morning, I discover a museum at the back of one of the shops. Near the entrance is a very rustic movie theater. |
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The museum has a massive collection of all sorts of memorabilia of days gone by. |
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In amongst everything else are a couple of old Cobb and Co carriages from the days when travel was a lot slower. |
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In the middle of the town is the Drovers Monument, the life sized sculptures of five drovers. This monument was originally created for Expo '88 in Brisbane, and had been on display there ever since until 2020 when they had been moved here. I did photograph them in Brisbane in 2014, then tried looking for them again about a year ago, only to accidentally rediscover them way out here. |
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From the town centre I head to the Powerhouse Museum, the site of the old coal powered powerhouse, now converted into a museum. All the orginal generators are still in place here, even though they have not operated for decades with the town being connected to the national grid. |
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Even all the power supply machinery is still in place, showing the old technology of this old power station. |
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At the back of the museum is Nogo Cottage, an old worker's cottage from between the 1930s and 1950s restored and preserved with original furnishings. |
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The master bedroom in a bright blue room of days gone by. |
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With my travels in Longreach complete, I to the airport in the mid afternoon to catch the daily plane back to Brisbane. |
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Taking off, the land is dead flat for as far as the eye can see, broken only by the meandering Thomson River where I cruised a couple of days ago. |
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Rain still falls over the Great Dividing Range and Western highlands as I approach Brisbane. |
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Descending through the cloud, we pass the city centre just before landing. |
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