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Banjo's Outback Theatre and Pioneer Shearing Shed
You can learn a lot about the wool industry here and there are hands on displays and
demonstrations. Bush poetry is a popular feature hear and of course you will here
recitations from the works of it's namesake Banjo Patterson. Stork Road.
Stockman’s Hall of Fame
The inspiration of outback artist Hugh Sawrey, who wanted to collect and preserve the
tales of the pioneers of rural Australia before it became too late. The story starts with the
arrival of the aborigines here some 40,000 years ago, but concentrates mainly on the
exploration, settlement and development of this huge area of inland Australia.
Qantas Founders Outback Museum
Longreach is the home of the Qantas Founders Outback Museum. There is a replica of
the Avro 504K which was the first type of passenger aircraft used by the airline. Six such
aircraft were built in this hangar between 1926 and 1930. A highlight is the walk on the
wing of a Qantas 747.
Powerhouse Museum
There is another museum in the town, and that is the Powerhouse Museum in what was
originally the electricity generation station. The old generating equipment is on display,
but there are also displays of local social history, and agricultural and building
machinery.
Mackay
Mackay, named after its first inhabitant John Mackay who arrived in 1862 is a
commercial port city but offers visitors beaches and access to various islands on the Great
Barrier Reef, of which the best known is Brampton Island.
The city centre has some historical buildings in particular the Courthouse and the
Commonwealth Bank, both built in 1880, and art deco architecture. Pioneer River is a
Mackay icon best viewed from the Blue River Boardwalk and rotunda. Mackay is a place
to dine alfresco, shop or use the many bars and nightclubs. And for the arts visit Artspace
Mackay a modern art gallery and museum.
Beaches
Black’s beach is north of Mackay and stretches for 6km, it is a beautiful beach for
swimming and sunbathing. Close by is Bocasia beach with a a safe swimming enclosure.
Eimeo Beach is a part of the beautiful coral coastline and popular with day trippers and
tourists, it is very easy to spend a day on this beach. Harbour beach is the best beach in
Mackay for swimming, beach play and safety. Illawong Beach is 2km from Mackay and
is popular with locals and families, a better swimming beach than Town Beach. Sarina
beach is located at Sarina 38km South of MacKay.
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