History of Longreach

Main

Bowen Downs

1860

Explorer William Landsborough named a large section of land Bowen Downs after the current Queensland governor.

Lease

1861

Explorers Landsborough and Buchanan applied for lease on the land.

Manager

1862

The Bowen Downs property was established with Buchanan as the original manager of the 3,885 km2 property. It was stocked with 3,000 head of cattle.

Harry Redford

1870

After a period of drought Buchanan left the property and his share of the land, which stretched 200km and supported 60,000 head of cattle. Harry Redford stole 600-1000 head of cattle.

Railway

1886

While surveying for the rail line west of Rockhampton the present site of Longreach was found to be suitable for the terminus of the rail line.

Longreach

1887

The township of Longreach was gazetted.

Allotments

December 1887

The first sale of Longreach town allotments was held at Barcaldine.

Railway completion

1892

Completion of the railway lead to a boost in growth in Longreach. Due to the railway Longreach had a post office, court house, police station and lock-up, a state school, churches, businesses and residences.

Creation of Qantas

1920

Paul McGinness, Hudson Fysh, Fergus McMaster and Arthur Baird created the Queensland and Northern Territory Arial Service.

Aircraft

1926 - 1928

Several aircraft were built in Longreach.

WWII

1942

Longreach was used as a base for United States Army Air Forces B-17 bomber aircraft of the 28th and 93d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy). The airport was upgraded to cater for the additional weight of these aircraft. These aircraft were flown from the town to engage the enemy in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Australian Stockmen's Hall of Fame

1974

Hugh Sawrey and R.M Williams had the idea to create the Hall of Fame. Hugh Sawrey put up the initial funding, and enlisted supporters.

Submissions

1977

Forty submissions for suitable sites for the Hall of Fame were received with Longreach being one of them.

Host

1978

Longreach won the right to host the Australian Stockmen's Hall of Fame.

Architecture

1980

Australia-wide submissions were called for an architectural design competition co-ordinated by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and sponsored by Consolidated Press and the Queensland Government to decide the architect who would design the building. The competition was won by a Sydney architect.

Construction

1985

Hall of Fame under construction.

Finishing of Construction

1987

Hall of Fame construction finished.

Fundraising

1988

Official fundraising for the Hall of Fame by the Longreach community.

Qantas Foundation Memorial

1988

The Longreach community established Qantas Foundation Memorial Ltd (QFM) and formed a trust in recognition of the enormous service Q.A.N.T.A.S. had given to the people of the Outback.

Opening of the Hall of Fame

April 1988

Australian Stockmen's Hall of Fame official opening by Queen Elizabeth II.

Qantas founders Outback Museum Opening

1996

The official opening of the Qantas Founders Outback Museum by the Governor General of Australia of the $1.3m project or Stage 1 of the QFOM in the original Qantas hangar at Longreach.

747-200

2002

Qantas plane Boeing 747-200 'City of Bunbury' lands at Longreach.

Q.A.N.T.A.S. Outback Founders Museum Stage 2 opening