The stockman has always been a symbol of courage, tenacity and grit in Australia. The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach pays tribute to these pioneers and their contribution to the development of the nation.
With a recent $15 million transformation, the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame is one of the must-visit attractions in Longreach, and the perfect place for an introduction to the history of Australia’s pioneers. Here you can listen to first-hand stories of our “great brown land,” see interactive exhibits, live shows and cinema to learn about Australia’s heritage, explore stories of the nation’s past, and gain insight into the culture and people of the land.
How it all began
Hugh Sawrey, a prolific Australian artist, first had the idea for the Stockman’s Hall of Fame in 1974. Sawrey wanted to create a tribute to all the unsung heroes of remote Australia. Other outstanding Australian visionaries shared this dream – including famous Australians like RM Williams – and started a massive fund-raising campaign.
The museum, with its unique exterior, was built from timber, stone and corrugated iron and is known as the ‘Sydney Opera House of the bush’. The building was completed in 1987 and opened by none other than Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on 29 April 1988.
In 2021, the museum underwent a $15 million transformation designed to capture the imagination of travellers to central Queensland looking for a more authentic and meaningful outback heritage experience.
Today, the museum has been completely transformed for an experience like no other. Since its opening, the Hall of Fame has welcomed over two million interstate and international visitors, providing each one with a spectacular outback experience. So, what can you expect to find inside?
The exhibits
The Stockman’s Hall of Fame features more than 1,200 items and artefacts within nine major experiences throughout.
Songlines and Stock Routes pays respects to Australia’s first peoples, and explores the ways Indigenous pathways were adopted into the present-day stock route system. Gone Drovin’ immerses visitors in tales of these legendary stock routes, and gives you a feel for what it was like to spend many months on horseback, caring for sheep and cattle, while braving the elements.
The Unsung Heroes of Australia share a glimpse of the incredible lives of shearers and drovers, stockmen and women, master crafts people, entrepreneurs and intrepid pioneers. The exhibit on bushcraft shows how master craftspeople worked ingeniously with leather, metal, wood, stone and other found objects.
Cyril Dahl’s authentic slab hut is a centerpiece of the new Hall galleries. Head inside to hear stories about the pioneering women that showed great strength and resilience in making a life and raising a family beyond the limits of settlement.
The Royal Flying Doctor exhibit shows the history of the service, and you can even see and experience the workings of inside the plane! Make sure to also check out the Outback Cinema, the ‘Pub with Some Beer,’ a Poet’s Corner and the Outback Kid’s Adventure to entertain the little ones.
The Stockman’s Live Show
From April to October, it is the Stockman’s Live Show that is one of the highlights of the visit. This really brings the outback heritage to life for visitors, with local stockmen and women showing off their awesome herding and animal handling skills. This is truly an exiting and unique experience, as you can watch the thrilling action of a live sheep muster with working farm dogs, and witness the bond between these skilled handlers and their animals.
The experience also includes a bush-style meal, storytelling and musical entertainment. You can even get up close and personal with the stars of the show – human and four legged!
Take some time to experience the history of outback life at the Stockman’s Hall of Fame, and make sure to pass on the stories to keep the history alive.
To arrive in Longreach, you’ll need to jump aboard a flight with Rex airlines. Learn more on their website.
If you enjoyed reading about the Stockman’s Hall of Fame, why not check out other great experiences in Longreach here!
