Day 100: Wed 3 Aug - Blackall

Day 100: Wed 3 Aug - Blackall

13 to 29 Deg.  A very mild night and a hot sunny day with few clouds in the morning clearing throughout the day and no wind. For the first day in a long time on this trip, we only needed shorts and a t-shirt all day and evening. I started the day with an early morning walk for about an hour past a few more local attractions. After breakfast, I went for a bike ride while Noel went for a walk and bought some groceries. We met back at the van at 11:00 and then drove a short 4km out to the Blackall Woolscour for a very interesting guided tour of the last remaining steam operated wool washing plant in Australia which operated from 1908 to 1978. 

When wool is shorn from the sheep’s back it is anything but ‘pure wool’ – at least fifty per cent comprises impurities such as grease, dirt, dust, burrs and other matter. Wool needs to be cleaned prior to international trade to eliminate the waste product within the wool so that freight costs were calculated on the value of pure wool, not the waste material. Throughout the history of the Wool Industry various methods have been used to clean wool, including hand washing in tubs, fell mongering, or scouring. The Blackall Historical Woolscour was one of many scouring facilities that were established in Western QLD and is the only one remaining in Australia. 

After 1.5hrs, we returned to the van for lunch and a LLD. While Noel had a quiet afternoon reading in the shade of the tree behind the van, I went for another bike ride out to the aquatic centre for a swim and a hot spa. Returning at 5:00pm, we had pre-dinner drinks outside with a clear orange sky as backdrop, followed by a very tasty and tender piece of rump steak for me, and lamb chops for Noel, cooked on the weber. We've enjoyed our stay at Blackall, but tomorrow, we continue to Augathella for an overnight stay.

Morning walk past the Bushman's Gallery, once the Bushmans Arm Hotel

'The Don', Painted by Local Artist Bob Wilson commemorates one of the last teamsters who transported bales of wool to the railway in 1924

Major Mitchell Monument in the main street

Australian Federation Memorial commemorating the first meeting  that led to the shearers union in 1886

Main Street view

Main Street mural and sculptures


Blackalls take on the Tree of Knowledge 

Built in 1908 the old Masonic Lodge building, now a cafe and art gallery

Tribute to Granny Harlow who was a local mid-wife

In 1885, Blackall became the first town in QLD to sink an artesian bore, but not the first to strike water. Mural painted by Bob Wilson depicts the scene at the time of drilling

Pioneer Bore

Wood, Water and Wool Sculpture in honour of 100 years of the Woolscour 

Lifespan - recycled bore casings sculpture

Eagle and nest sculpture

Going back in time - a series of paintings depicting Blackall in days gone by

Going back in time - a series of paintings depicting Blackall in days gone by


Going back in time - a series of paintings depicting Blackall in days gone by


Going back in time - a series of paintings depicting Blackall in days gone by


Going back in time - a series of paintings depicting Blackall in days gone by


Roly Poly Sculpture 

Big 'B' Sign comprising photographs shared from locals and tourists through instagram 

In need of a little TLC 

Ram Park with a range of historic machinery and buildings 

Old railway ambulance carriage

Ram Park with a range of machinery and historic buildings 


Ram Park with a range of machinery and historic buildings 


Artesian Bore at the Woolscour - water running at a constant 58Deg

Artesian Bore at the Woolscour - water running at a constant 58Deg


Woolscour Machinery

Woolscour Machinery

Shearing Shed

Shearing Shed


Shearing Shed


Timber truck for collecting wood for the boiler

Wool Press

Wool Scour washer

Wool Scour washer


Wool Scour - washer


Wool Scour machinery - washer


Wool Scour machinery - drier


Historic photos and memorabilia

The main wool scour building

Such a wonderful aquatic centre for such a small country town - an amazing facility

Backdrop for our evening drink


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