#OutbackQueensland – featuring Quilpie, Windorah, ...

2019 is Queensland’s Year of Outback Tourism and across the State visitors and travellers are flocking to events and different locations to experience outback Queensland. In response to the State Government’s #outbacktourism initiative, State Library of Queensland is joining in the spirit, shining the spotlight on collections celebrating the outback regions of Queensland.

In 2002 photojournalist John Immig travelled west, taking images of streetscapes and buildings in regional towns including Windorah, Dirranbandi, Cunnamulla and more. The images invite a different perspective of each location and a black and white representation of their recent past.

In the image above John Immig captured a logo that fits the tourism bill today – “There is no place like this place anywhere near this place—so this must be THE PLACE.” Can you guess which town in Queensland?

The John Immig Collection is extensive. A selection can be viewed on the library’s catalogue One Search. Send us a message via the blog if you have seen the sign and stopped in Cunnamulla to buy a drink or icecream!

Another collection spotlighting #outbackqueensland is Storylines: Q150 digital stories representing different aspects of people’s lives and experiences in Queensland. They were recorded in 2009 as part of the state’s sesquicentenary (150 years) celebration. The digital stories capture different lifestyles, experiences and events bringing people together.

Deb Symes describes her personal experience taking a road journey in outback Queensland in Just dull brown dirt; Pinky Johnson shares the Winton experience during the making of the film The Proposition (2004); Peter Barber of Surat talks about life on the land and his passion for horse sports and competition; Chinchilla melon festival takes places every 2 years – community spirit and fun for the family; Living in Quilpie by Ben Hall; Barry Port was a policeman for 28 years by 2009. He talks about learning to track from his father, looking for lost people, cattle and horses around Coen; Tony Mawhinney was once head stockmen, rodeo competitor and by 2009 a trainer with the Australian Agricultural College Corporation (AACC); Local identities retell their experience of the min-min light in the Boulia district; Paddy Shephard’s family lived on Lochinvar Station on Cape York for more than 100 years (2009); Dr Tommy George, elder of the Kuku Thaypan clan was influential in establishing the Laura Dance Festival. Enjoy!

More information on Q150 Queensland icons Source: Wikipedia contributors. (2018, October 15). List of Queensland’s Q150 Icons. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:25, May 22, 2019.

Anne Scheu | Engagement Officer | Queensland Memory | State Library of Queensland