While there is a truckload of accommodation in and around the centre of Melbourne, when there is a lot on, only dodgy pubs and extremely expensive hotels remain unoccupied. I have learnt my lesson from a past mistake and missed out on ideal accommodation by booking too late, and thus was left staying in an […]
Fiona Lake Blog
Australian Outback Maps
April 6th, 2010Topography, Road & Station Maps of Inland Australia The cattle stations I visit are situated along good quality bitumen roads such as the Flinders Highway, Barkly Highway, Stuart Highway, Arnhem Highway, Victoria Highway, Great Northern Highway and Gulf Development Road; and bitumen roads that are narrow, with edges not always in ideal condition, such as […]
Preserving Australian Rural Heritage & the ICOMOS conference
March 16th, 2010Australian – International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is the peak body for Australian professionals who work in heritage conservation. This year the annual conference theme is ‘Outback & Beyond – The Future of Historic Towns, Industrial Heritage & Pastoralism’. The upcoming conference will be in Broken Hill (far western NSW), 22-25 April 2010. […]
Flying in the Australian Outback
March 6th, 2010To fully appreciate the vastness of the Australian outback, it is best to see it from the ground and from the air. Most northern inland charter companies rely on aerial mustering work for the bulk of their business. However many also offer tourist flights as well. Charter Companies North Australian Helicopters North Australian Helicopters, based […]
Floods in far western Queensland
March 2nd, 2010Most of far western – southern/central Queensland has an average rainfall of around 6″ (150mm), but in Australia average rainfall figures are usually misleading. In many years Queensland’s channel country only receives 1-2″ (25-50mm) and in other years they get 10-15″ or more (250-375mm). Cattle stations in the channel country have had a fair old […]
Bronco Branding Competitions in the outback
February 24th, 2010If you are travelling through the outback this year and would like to see Australia’s unique sport – bronco branding – then visit the Bronco Branding Australia website for some dates of upcoming bronco branding competitions. At present there is a Queensland and South Australian Bronco Branding Association. Most bronco branding competitions are held in […]
Computer use in the bush
February 22nd, 2010There are still misguided souls who believe the percentage of computer literate rural residents is lower than the percentage of urban residents. In actual fact it’s quite the reverse. Most rural residents are so practical and efficient they will pick the eyes out of anything new and ignore what is time-wasting or unhelpful. There is […]
Frank McAlary QC 1925-2010
January 27th, 2010Frank McAlary QC was a classic example of a bloke born in the bush who developed a very successful city career but maintained a life long love of the land. A passion that was able to be followed by purchasing properties such as Yeeda and Mount House in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia; […]
Rural Radio Programmes
December 6th, 2009Australian ABC Radio: Regional Radio – especially 5am-7am and the Country Hour from noon until 1pm, weekdays. The Queensland Country Hour ‘ Australia All Over‘ with Ian McNamara, Sunday mornings, 5.30am to 10am. It can be heard outside Australia via shortwave radio or over the internet. ‘ Saturday Night Country ‘ with John Nutting, ABC […]