WINTON VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE

Welcome to Winton

Welcome to Winton - a humble and fascinating town where dinosaurs once trod, legendary Aussie icons were born, and Outback adventures await!

Voted Queensland’s Top Tiny Tourism Town in 2022 and 2023, Winton boasts a rich history, rugged beauty and some big-ticket attractions that are well worth exploring. Tucked in the red heart of Queensland’s central west, Winton delivers an authentic Aussie Outback experience, served with a generous side of true country hospitality. Venture west to Winton to discover a place where resilience births creativity and innovation, the rich red soil conceals hidden treasures, and our smiles are as wide as our broad-brimmed Akubras. Winton is proud to be the home of the infamous Banjo Patterson poem-come-colloquial-anthem, Waltzing Matilda. Our little Outback town is also known as the birthplace of Qantas, and home to some intriguing dinosaur history and boulder opal mines. In Winton, you’ll be warmly welcomed by an enthralling mix of country hospitality and captivating national history.

Discover the iconic attractions and hidden secrets our region at the Winton Visitor Information Centre – a one-stop shop for all your travel information needs. Our helpful team of local experts are on-hand to offer advice, point you in the right direction, or help you plan your Outback adventure.

With a wealth of local knowledge and a treasure trove of handy hints, we can help turn your Winton visit into an insightful and intriguing journey of discovery.

Inside the Winton Visitor Information Centre

The accredited Winton Visitor Information Centre is housed within the award-winning Waltzing Matilda Centre. The building is constructed with heavily textured cliff-like walls to emulate the physical appearance of a 'jump up', a quintessential Australian word to describe rugged geological formations of crumbling stone edges, steep gorges and rough textures that appear in an otherwise outback landscape. The Visitor Information Centre is the place to go for travel information including maps, brochures, local advice, and tour and accommodation bookings. You can also ask for tips for the best places to eat around town. The centre is staffed by knowledgeable locals and offers a friendly and inviting atmosphere to patrons. Waltz on in to discover all there is to know about Winton and its surrounds.

Aesthetically, the decor of the Visitor Information Centre aims to replicate the rugged outback landscape. When entering the foyer, the polished concrete floor is designed to resemble a dry riverbed which is embedded with boulder opals. The rust red of the building’s steel trim pays homage to our landscape, and our rural machinery. An exquisite gold-sheathed sky light depicts the radiant beauty of the sunrises and sunsets in the area.

Once you’ve explored our visitor centre, the Waltzing Matilda Centre, which is in the same building, is well worth a visit. The Waltzing Matilda Centre is the first museum in the world ever dedicated to a song! Destroyed by fire in 2015, this cultural centrepiece is a testament to this small country community’s resilience and passion for storytelling. The new centre immerses visitors in a multi-sensory experience, told through film, animation, interaction with artifacts, sounds, audio clips and innovative art installations. The on-site Tuckerbox Café offers visitors a place to stop and relax with a coffee and a bite to eat.

Dig Into History

Dig into the fascinating history of Winton – a place where dinosaurs once roamed, Qantas was born, and Matilda first waltzed.

Millenia before unofficial anthems were written and airlines were born, Winton was the stomping ground of dinosaurs. Fossils finds in the area have led to Winton being recognised as the dinosaur capital of Australia! A fossilized footprint was first unearthed in the region in 1962, followed by a series of spectacular dinosaur discoveries on surrounding properties. Keep listening to hear more about how you can discover the secrets of their prehistoric past.

The expansive Winton Shire spans over 53,000 square kilometres of ruggedly beautiful Outback terrain. Prior to colonial settlement, these lands were home to the people, as well as encompassing six other Indigenous nations. We acknowledge their rich culture and deep knowledge of their country.

In more recent history, Winton is where Banjo Paterson first penned the famous lyrics of the iconic Aussie song, Waltzing Matilda. According to folklore, the first public performance of this infamous bush ballad took place at Winton’s North Gregory Hotel in April 1895. You can still call in to this Outback pub to enjoy dinner and drinks with the friendly locals.

The North Gregory Hotel also holds a significant place in aviation history. Legend has it that this is where a group of locals met to form the Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Service (better known as Qantas). The Aussie airline’s initial registration was announced in Winton in 1920. Although the headquarters of Qantas was eventually shifted to Longreach, Winton proudly commemorates the establishment of Qantas with a cairn at the first initial landing field in the town. You can learn more about the birth of Qantas at the Qantilda Museum, located in the same building as the Winton Visitor Information Centre.

Local Highlights

Winton is a small country town with plenty of big attractions awaiting your discovery.

Once you’ve embraced your inner ‘jolly swagman’ and brushed up on local history at the Waltzing Matilda Centre and Qantilda Museum, it’s time to dig deeper into our rich and ancient past.

Learn about the dinosaurs that roamed this area 95 million years ago at Australian Age of Dinosaurs. This museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils, including some of the country’s most famous discoveries. The museum offers superb views of huge rocky outcrops, vast canyons, and the endless, spectacular horizon. Tours operate year-round, with hours varying seasonally.

Or check out the Dinosaur Stampede National Monument at Lark Quarry Conservation Park. Located 110 kilometres southwest of Winton, this palaeontology playground is the site of over 3,300 footprints of fleeing dinosaurs – the only definitive record of dinosaur stampede behaviour known to exist. Intriguingly, Steven Spielberg’s stampede scene in Jurassic Park was based on the evidence of these trackways.

Arno’s Wall is a feature wall in Winton constructed by German immigrant Arno Grotjahn. The wall is 2 metres high and runs for more than 70 metres in length! The wall is constructed from concrete, and is studded with all sorts of weird and wonderful things. You can expect to find lawnmower parts, boat propellers, old machinery, parts of typewriters, and entire motorbikes. Rumour has it that Arno even threw the kitchen sink!

Winton is also home to the world’s first and only permanent musical fence. Behind the Diamantina Heritage Truck and Machinery Museum, you’ll find a wire fence comprising various percussive musical instruments interspersed with and hanging from the wire. The musical fence is free of charge and is available for every visitor to enjoy. So, grab a stick and play the musical fence ‘til your heart’s content!

Accessibility

Winton is in the heart of central western Queensland, about 15 hours drive north-west of Brisbane, and approximately 600 kilometres south-west of Townsville. Rex Airlines offers direct flights twice weekly from Townsville to Winton. The Winton Airport is located five kilometres from town, so you’ll need to arrange an airport pick-up. Please speak to your accommodation provider or the Winton Visitor Information Centre about available services. Alternatively, QantasLink offers daily services from Brisbane to Longreach, where car hire services are available. The drive from Longreach to Winton takes approximately two hours.

Greyhound also operates buses to and from Winton, or for a laid-back adventure, board Queensland Rail’s Spirit of the Outback service from Brisbane to Longreach, with a rail coach link to Winton.

Our centre is located at 50 Elderslie Street in Winton. Our opening hours vary depending on the season. We are generally open from 9am to 5pm daily from April to September, with slightly shorter hours on selected public holidays, and weekends in the summer months.

To confirm current hours or for any other enquiries, feel free to give us a call on 07 4657 1466 or email waltzing@matildacentre.com.au.

For guests arriving by car, there is accessible parking and a designated drop-off and pick-up zone close to the building entrance. The Winton Visitor Information Centre is all on one level and is wheelchair accessible. The doorway is at least 91 centimetres wide, allowing wheelchair users to enter and exit the building with ease.

An accessible bathroom with braille signage is located on-site. Please ask staff if you need any guidance locating the bathrooms. There is an outdoor area at the back of the centre that is suitable for toileting service dogs, although guests should note that the area does not contain any grass.

Large print menus are available at the onsite Tuckerbox Café.