Leaving Jack’s reminiscing behind in Corfield, an hour later we arrived in Winton during the week of the Outback Festival 2025. Setting up camp at the back of the Winton Hotel, we were a just two block from the main street, the centre of most of the entertainment and activity.

The Outback Festival is a biennial event featuring lots of quirky and wacky activities such a pub crawl and throwing cow dung down the main street. The main thoroughfare is closed and the action centres around a large music and entertainment stage set up on Elderslie Street. Of course, the North Gregory Hotel (great lunches) and Tattersalls Hotels do very well!

Although just a small town, Winton is popular winter destination for Grey Nomads and other tourists who patronize the abundance of camping choices. The Waltzing Matilda Centre welcomes visitors with a smile and lots of information.

Adding an interesting aspect to the Outback Festival, the “Truckies’ Reunion” materialized with an entire block of shiny polished rigs. Indubitably, each truck securely loaded with a ton of stories waiting to be shared and enjoyed.

A common feature of some of Winton’s older homes is the pyramid shaped roof with the “heritage” style hot air vent centrally located. Prior to the advent of air-conditioning, drawing the hot air up and out would help cool the house during the extremely long and hot summers.

Coming Up: Any shearing jobs in Longreach?