MEDIA INFORMATION 2018 - Outback Pioneers
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Become an outback pioneer as you explore outback Queensland and live this truly iconic part of Australia’s story. Unleash your pioneering spirit!
Unique outback experiences
Entertaining holidays
Traditional hospitality
VALID 2018 SEASON
For further information phone Outback Pioneers marketing crew on 07 4847 0648 or email marketing@outbackpioneers.com.au
MEDIA INFORMATION 2018 1
CONTENTS
WELCOME 3
Welcome to Longreach and Outback Pioneers
WHAT OUTBACK PIONEERS IS ALL ABOUT 4
The Kinnon family
COMPANY HISTORY AND BACKGROUND 5
Our experiences
Our holidays
Other attractions
Our season
OUTBACK PIONEER EXPERIENCES
Cobb & Co Coach Experience 6
Nogo Station Experience 8
Starlight’s Cruise Experience 10
Winton Discovery Experience 12
Harry Redford Old Time Tent Show 14
KINNON & CO’S OTHER FACILITIES
The Station Store 16
The Welcome Home 18
LONGREACH 20
The best time to come
Climate
What to bring
Other attractions
OUTBACK PIONEERS MEDIA CONTACT DETAILS 21
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For further information phone Outback Pioneers marketing crew on 07 4847 0648 or email marketing@outbackpioneers.com.au 2
WELCOME TO LONGREACH
AND OUTBACK PIONEERS
We hope you find many of the facts and figures Although the business was started to help the TOURISM AWARDS
you need on these fact sheets. You will also find family support their grazing business in times of
contact details if you wish to interview Richard drought, it has grown to become a passion in its Outback Qld Tourism Awards:
Kinnon or need other background information. own right. It’s always about sharing the outback 2017 Cultural Tourism (Gold)
they love and creating an outstanding outback 2016 Cultural Tourism (Gold)
We have also included a range of our images
experience for guests. 2012 Heritage & Cultural Tourism
if you would like to order any of these for
publication. Tour &/or Transport Operator
FAMILY-OWNED AND MANAGED
The Kinnon family are keen to share the pioneering 2011 Heritage & Cultural Tourism
The family continue to be involved in all aspects Tour &/or Transport Operator
outback spirit, outback heritage and present day
of the business – from strategy and innovation New Tourism Development
insights into outback life with visitors so please let
through to being tour guides and performers Major Tourist Attraction
us know if there are any other ways we can help
in the Harry Redford Old Time Tent Show. The
you tell our story – the outback pioneer story. 2010 Heritage & Cultural Tourism
family is Richard Kinnon and Marisse Kinnon
and their adult children Abigail, Jeremy, and Queensland Tourism Awards:
COMPANY PHILOSOPHY
Lane. They are supported by a small team, 2017 Cultural Tourism (Gold)
At the heart of the Outback Pioneers brand is the dedicated to giving visitors a great experience 2016 Cultural Tourism (Gold)
Kinnon family’s vision: ‘To inspire and educate of outback Queensland.
current and future generations to experience, 2013 Heritage & Cultural Tourism
value and preserve the real Australian Outback’. New Tourism Development
The family’s love of their outback lifestyle, 2012 Heritage & Cultural Tourism
bush traditions and heritage, and their respect Australian Tourism Awards:
for the early settlers comes through in the detail 2012 Heritage & Cultural Tourism (Bronze)
of every aspect of their operations. Outback
humour shines through and makes every Queensland Tourism Council Innovation Award 2013 (Inaugural year)
experience warm and entertaining.
For further information phone Outback Pioneers marketing crew on 07 4847 0648 or email marketing@outbackpioneers.com.au 3
WHAT OUTBACK PIONEERS INSPIRING * EDUCATIONAL * QUIRKY
IS ALL ABOUT OUTBACKPIONEERS.COM.AU
Outback Pioneers invites visitors to unleash their
With Outback Pioneers, guests can step into Captain Starlight (Harry Redford or Readford)
own pioneering spirit in outback Queensland. the shoes of pioneers, past and present, and was an infamous cattle duffer (thief) who made
get insights into life lived large in a wide-open an audacious journey from the Longreach
We celebrate the spirit of the early settlers
landscape far from the state’s coastal cities. region to South Australia with over 1000
who made the long and often dangerous
stolen cattle. The ruins of the stockyards
journey west to set up their lives on distant
T raditional methods, crafts, skills and recipes where he kept his cattle before the long
landholdings. Like the Indigenous people feature wherever possible. journey south can still be seen at the Kinnon’s
before them, the early pioneers needed
It’s a visit that can’t help but change Nogo Station and his story is told in the
self-reliance, ingenuity and resilience to
perspectives and get visitors back in touch Starlight’s Spectacular Sound & Light Picture
survive the often harsh conditions.
with simple life pleasures. Show, which is part of the Outback Pioneers
The pioneering spirit lives on in the outback Starlight’s Cruise Experience.
people today who still need tenacity,
The Kinnon family shares traditional outback
hospitality and the outback pioneering Banjo Paterson is even better known and
inventiveness and humour to sustain them in
heritage and lifestyle in everything they do. this is the landscape and lifestyle that
times of drought, flood and diverse challenges.
inspired him. Waltzing Matilda was first
We tell their story too.
performed at the North Gregory Hotel
OUR LOCAL HEROES in Winton. We follow in his footsteps
The outback characters are an iconic part of on the Winton Discovery Experience.
remote Queensland’s story. From the pioneers For more, see www.outbackpioneers.com.au/
of flight to bush poets, from stockman to explore/our-local-heroes
shearers and the women of the homestead,
there are so many stories to tell.
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COMPANY HISTORY AND
BACKGROUND
Based in Longreach, western OUR EXPERIENCES OTHER ATTRACTIONS:
Queensland Cobb & Co Stagecoach Experience The Station Store (traditional outback
Founded by the Kinnon family in Nogo Station Experience emporium, homewares, gifts, souvenirs)
2006 to help offset tough times for the The Welcome Home (café, tearoom and
grazing business Starlight’s Cruise Experience
Stonegrill®, booking office and group
Started with the Cobb & Co coach ride Winton Discovery Experience function rooms in a renovated heritage
using a restored Cobb & Co coach Harry Redford Old Time Tent Show building)
along the original Longreach-Windorah (also part of the full Cobb & Co Old Time Pioneer Portrait and Pioneer
mail route Experience). Selfie
Has continued to add new tours and Abigail’s Outback Kitchen products
now welcomes around 25,000 visitors OUR HOLIDAYS
(food range and cookery book).
a year Do-It-All Discovery Holiday
Launched the Outback Pioneers brand OUR SEASON
in November 2016 for all holidays
All holidays and experiences run from
and experiences to help define what
26 March to 31 October 2018.
people can expect and to build a
world-class brand to promote outback
Queensland.
The company won the prestigious
Queensland Tourism Awards –
Gold Award for Cultural Tourism
in 2016 and 2017.
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OUTBACK PIONEERS
COBB & CO COACH EXPERIENCE
This is the only place in Australia For 70 years from the 1850s to the
where people can gallop in a Cobb & 1920s, Cobb & Co coaches were a
Co stagecoach. principal means of transport in the
It’s an opportunity to experience what colonies of Queensland, New South
the early pioneers experienced in this Wales and Victoria. Settlers moving
transport that opened up the inland – inland, new immigrants hopeful of
the commentary helps bring the reality success on the gold fields, shearers,
to life. agents, squatters, children and their
parents—everyone used Cobb & Co
The coach, pulled by five trained stagecoaches to move, as efficiently
horses, takes visitors on a gentle tour as was possible, around the colonies.
through Longreach town, then heads Even larger numbers of people, many
out to the dirt track that is part of the of whom lived in remote country
original Longreach-Windorah Cobb & towns, stations or settlements, relied
Co mail route – a gallop through the on Cobb & Co’s mail delivery services.
bush is an exhilarating experience for
all ages. Coaches brought essential supplies,
news from home and a sense of
There are two stagecoaches, which connection to others in what was
make the tour every weekday from perceived as a distant and inhospitable
April to October – bookings essential. land. Cobb & Co routes were seen as
The tours leave from the yard behind a lifeline to isolated communities and
The Station Store in Longreach. a means of taming the vastness of
Australia.1
Visitors who do the full 4-hour
experience will also enjoy the Harry
Redford Old Time Tent Show, smoko
1
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/cobb-and-co
and an old time movie.
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OUTBACK PIONEERS COBB & CO STAGECOACH EXPERIENCE
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OUTBACK PIONEERS
NOGO STATION EXPERIENCE
Nogo Station is a historic homestead, New for 2018 is the exciting station Some rooms of the homestead are
which was once part of the famous safari. Guests board our double- open for viewing and feature a tableau
Bowen Downs station. The original decker, open-top, overlander bus for of characters from pioneer times
part of the homestead dates to a trip across the spectacular sunlit with a recorded soundtrack of their
the 1880s. It is approximately plains where wedge-tailed eagles fly conversations.
18 kilometres from the centre of and local wildlife mingles with iconic Abigail’s Outback Kitchen baking,
Longreach. cattle breeds, stock-horses and the jam, preserves and cookbook are also
It is one of the Kinnon family’s two famous merino sheep. It’s a photo on sale.
working cattle and sheep stations, and opportunity extraordinaire with
outback desert camels, kangaroos, Nogo Station Experience tours run
is the home of Abigail (née Kinnon), on Tuesday and Thursday mornings
her husband Reuben and baby emus, wild donkeys and more.
from April to October – bookings are
daughter Laura. The station safari passes a billabong essential.
The station is 35,000 acres and would used by legendary local cattle thief
normally run about 4,000 sheep and Captain Starlight (Harry Redford) to
1,000 cattle but has been de-stocked water his branded stolen cattle and
due to the current drought. stops at the ruined stockyards
believed to have been where he kept
Outback Pioneers Nogo Station them before his notorious journey
Experience takes visitors around the south.
heritage highlights of Longreach by
air-conditioned coach and then heads Back at the homestead, visitors are
out to Nogo Station. welcomed to enjoy a home-baked
smoko – possibly the best smoko in
At Nogo Station, visitors go to the the west featuring an array of home
historic shearing shed to see a baking.
champion shearer at work and learn
about the importance of sheep and
wool in Australia’s development.
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OUTBACK PIONEERS NOGO STATION EXPERIENCE
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OUTBACK PIONEERS
STARLIGHT’S CRUISE EXPERIENCE
This was the original Thomson River After dinner there’s the ‘Starlight’s
sunset cruise, which Kinnon & Co Spectacular Sound & Light Picture
introduced in 2010. Show’ – a movie in the open-air
It features the only paddlewheeler west riverbank theatre. This exclusive movie
of the Great Divide and the equally was commissioned by the Kinnons to
charming Thomson Princess Riverboat. celebrate the tale of Captain Starlight.
Watch out for the appearances by
Guests cruise down the splendid Kinnon family members and locals.
Thomson River at sunset with drinks
(BYO alcohol) and nibbles, watch Finally guests enjoy tea and damper by
the birds come home to roost on the the campfire under the stars and your
riverbanks and learn about the local Kinnon host shares his passion for the
flora, fauna and history. outback and all things Australian –
with trademark irreverent humour.
As darkness falls, the boat moors
at the Kinnons’ bush campground The cruise departs daily Monday
for a stockman’s dinner around the to Saturday from April to October.
campfire. Bookings essential.
Local barefoot bush poet, Scotty,
charms the crowd with his bush
ballads.
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WINTON DISCOVERY EXPERIENCE
Winton is 179 kilometres north west The North Gregory Hotel was originally
of Longreach. built in 1879 and has since been burnt
Outback Pioneers full-day tour is by down and been rebuilt three times.
air-conditioned coach and takes in The tour visits the new Waltzing
the major sights. Matilda Centre. It’s a purpose-designed
A highlight is the award-winning centre, which replaces the Waltzing
Age of Dinosaurs museum which Matilda Museum that burnt down
has displays to excite every dinosaur in 2015.
fanatic including life-size recreations Outback Pioneers Winton Discovery
and fossils from the local area. Experience runs on Saturdays
It includes the new Dinosaur Canyon from April to October, leaving from
exhibit. Longreach.
Lunch is at the legendary North
Gregory Hotel – an outback icon where
Waltzing Matilda was first performed
in public in 1895.
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HARRY REDFORD OLD TIME TENT SHOW
This unique one-hour show is available Some of the humour is not 100%
as part of the Cobb & Co Experience or politically correct by today’s standards
as a separate attraction. so visitors need to see the show in the
It is based on the old time outback spirit of the traditional tent show era.
tent shows and is an extraordinary mix It is meant with goodwill and is not
of animal antics, mayhem, humour intended to offend anyone.
and improvisation. The show takes place in the yard
The Kinnon family wrote the show and at the back of The Station Store in
perform in it – it tends to be a little Longreach.
different each day as spontaneous fun Visitors can order a traditional
takes over! billy-can lunch to eat while they
While purporting to tell the tale of enjoy the show.
Harry Redford (Captain Starlight), Performances are Monday to Friday
any relationship to the facts is purely at 12pm from April to October.
coincidental!
The animals are all trained under
RSPCA guidelines.
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For further information phone Outback Pioneers marketing crew on 07 4847 0648 or email marketing@outbackpioneers.com.au 15KINNON & CO’S
‘THE STATION STORE’
In the heart of Longreach at 126 Eagle The Cobb & Co Stagecoach Experience
Street, The Station Store is a must- leaves from the yard at the rear of the
visit emporium of outback treasures, store.
souvenirs, clothing and homewares. Visitors can also book an Old Time
The impressive historic building, which Pioneer Portrait session, getting
dates back to 1880s, is fashioned to dressed up from a wardrobe of
recreate the feel of the old pioneer hundreds of pioneer costumes for
stores, which stocked just about a portrait in the old style – the
everything! closest pioneers got to a selfie! (By
Both locals and visitors enjoy the appointment Tuesday and Thursday
treasure trove of goodies finding afternoons.)
everything from hats and boots to The Station Store is open Monday
teddies and quilting squares... to Friday from 8.30am – 5pm and
Some of the products are created by Saturdays from 9am – 1pm during the
locals – including a range of jams, season and with more restricted hours
preserves, pickles and baked goods during the summer.
from Abigail’s Outback Kitchen –
hand-made at Nogo Station.
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‘THE WELCOME HOME’
Next door to The Station Store, at 128 In 2014, the Kinnon family bought an all-you-can-eat dessert bars of
Eagle Street, Longreach, The Welcome the Welcome Home Hotel and have homestead desserts. BYO alcohol
Home was renovated and refurbished painstakingly restored it, using 1920s (corkage fee). Vegetarian option on
in 2016 to create the Outback Pioneers photographs as a guide to its former request.
booking office, the Welcome Home appearance. Guests can take a Pioneer Selfie in a
Café, Tearoom and Stonegrill®, and His Excellency the Honourable Paul selection of old-time costumes at The
group dining and function rooms. de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland Welcome Home. A ticket is $15 per
The Welcome Home booking office officially opened the renovated building person from the booking office.
replaces the former booking office in in October 2016. The Welcome Home booking office is
Eagle Street and has space for tourists The Welcome Home is somewhere open Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm and
to relax and discover more about the locals and visitors alike can stop Saturday 9am to 5pm from March to
region. for coffee or lunch (open during the October; and Monday to Friday 9am –
The original Welcome Home Hotel season only). 5pm from November to March.
was built in 1896 as a single storey Tour groups, community groups, The Welcome Home Café & Tearoom
building. The name ‘Welcome Home’ school groups, business groups and is open 8am – 4pm Monday to Friday
refers to welcoming soldiers home from others can meet in the outback- during the season from March to
the Boer War. themed function area. It’s also a great October.
The hotel was destroyed by fire in venue for weddings.
1898 and again in 1921. The majority A new Stonegrill® has been added
of the current building dates from for 2018. Groups and individual
1922. travellers can enjoy an outback dinner
Always at the heart of Longreach life, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
the hotel was owned by one publican, in the winter season. Meat or fish is
Mrs Ivy McNally, for 50 years from cooked on the stone at the table and
1934 to 1984. the guest can choose their favourite
side and sauce. It’s all followed by
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For further information phone Outback Pioneers marketing crew on 07 4847 0648 or email marketing@outbackpioneers.com.au 19LONGREACH
Longreach is a town of approximately Coach tours: Many coach tours
3,000 people, situated on the Tropic include Outback Pioneers experiences
of Capricorn. It has a range of – try Casey Tours and Down Under
accommodation, shops, banks and Tours.
facilities. Air: There are daily flights by
eason: Outback Pioneers tour season
S Qantaslink from Brisbane and by twice
for 2018 is 26 March to 31 October but weekly flights by Rex Airlines from
accommodation is open year-round. Townsville via Winton.
Driving: Visitors drive to Longreach Rail: The Spirit of the Outback
from all around Queensland and themed train travels twice weekly
Australia – it can be reached on good Brisbane to Longreach and return
roads – a 4WD is not necessary. (via Rockhampton).
Road distances from major centres: Other attractions: The Australian
- Brisbane via Roma 1180km Stockman’s Hall of Fame and the
Qantas Founders Museum are
- Brisbane via Rockhampton 1300km additional highlights of a trip to
- Rockhampton via Emerald 690km Longreach. Visitors can buy a ‘Big
3 Pass’ to combine Outback Pioneer
-M
ount Isa via Cloncurry and Winton experiences with these attractions.
650km
- Townsville via Hughenden 660km
Coach: Coaches travel daily Brisbane
to Mount Isa via Longreach and twice
weekly Rockhampton to Longreach.
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MEDIA CONTACT DETAILS
We hope you have found the information PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS IMAGERY
in this pack helpful. Online information and bookings: Outback Pioneers has a range of
For other general enquiries or to arrange www.outbackpioneers.com.au photographs available for media use.
an interview with Richard Kinnon, This media pack shows some of our
please get in touch with our marketing Outback Pioneers Booking Office
popular images. Please let us know if you
crew. Phone 07 4847 0648 or email 128 Eagle Street, Longreach Q 4730 would like copies of these and in what
marketing@outbackpioneers.com.au. Ph +61 7 4658 1776 format and resolution.
gday@outbackpioneers.com.au Please phone our marketing crew on
07 4847 0648 or email
Kinnon & Co’s The Station Store
marketing@outbackpioneers.com.au.
126 Eagle Street, Longreach Q 4730
Ph +61 7 4658 1776
OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES:
stationstore@kinnonandco.com.au
www.outbackpioneers.com.au
www.outbackqueensland.com.au
outbackheritage.com.au
qfom.com.au
www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/
australian-story/cobb-and-co
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Starlight
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