20210722 Qld Boulia

20210722 On our way to the outback town of Boulia a pivotal point of the far west, the capital of the channel country and home to the famous Min Min Lights. Fact or phenomenon, but there have been sightings for over a century and even sceptics are convinced they are real. They first appeared near the site of the old Min Min Hotel which burned down in 1918 leaving only a bottle heap and cemetery. Panicking after seeing a glow hovering over the graveyard, a passing stockman steered his horse for Boulia and to his horror, the light turned and followed him most of the way back to town. It is said that they only appears after dark and is said to be similar to a car headlight except that it manifests itself as a small ball and often follows a traveller for kilometres before disappearing, but don't chase it, as it is said if you catch it you will disappear, ya sure.

The wide open space of the outback just takes my breath away, with the exception of the odd cattle grazing and a street sign advising a double lane ahead or the crows munching on dry clumps of Mitchell grass, or an eagle ripping a dead Roo apart, but it has a feeling of tranquility and beauty, is just blissful.

It make you wonder what the cattle are feeding on but they are as fat and healthy as hell so there's something nourishing on this land.

The name of the town means either 'waterhole' or 'clear water' in the language of the local Pitta Pitta Aborigines.

Thought to be extinct, the elusive night parrot was found dead beside the road about 35 km from town in October 1990.

The water tower in Boulia stands at the top of the town as a reminder that the Min Min lights exist.

Painted by Artist: Val Pat Geary who was in Boulia on Work Camp as part of his time spent in Townsville Correctional Centre. The family aren’t sure if he asked to paint the tower or if the job was given to him. Painted around 2007, he was able to paint what he wanted on the silo, he did lots of western outback work, underwater and some traditional aboriginal work that he was taught by the elders at the prison farm.

Wow, what a weapon, I'm sure I was born in the wrong era.

Blitz Army Truck, Chevrolet, it was common for stations to second hand army trucks as camp trucks and used to cart fire wood and the station cook used it to drive to the workers when they were out at camp.

Another mural to admire, it's much better that a boring brick wall.

The mural in Boulia depicts the Min Min lights and the outback way and is painted on the new $4 million sporting facility.

Heading out of town when I yelled at Des, Stop as this crazy woman jumps out taking photos.

Brolga’s Courtship Display

The dance begins with a pair of birds picking up grass, tossing it into the air and catching it again, followed by the birds repeatedly leaping a metre into the air with wings outstretched, followed by stretching their necks upwards, bowing to one another, bobbing their heads, walking about and calling, after all that it had better lead to something more.

After driving over 300 kl to check out a town with a population of 426, our stay here was short lived. Founded in 1879 near a waterhole on the Burke River were we had every intentions of camping but there was too much fine dust for our liking so we decided to leave, now for a 360 kl drive back as we head to Winton on a different rout.

Sitting up high in the van and looking out over the horizon when in the distance it looks like a mirage.

Well we didn't get to see any Min Min Lights as we never drive at night but I was glad we did the distance, what a beautiful part of Australia with it's the deep red soil and literally nothing to see, but then again, everything to see.

BEAUTIFUN COUNTRY