Lark Quarry Dinosaur Stampede

One thing about this part of outback Queensland, there are lots and lots of dinosaurs here. Well, not alive, of course!

But certainly around 104 to 92 million years ago, it seems many dinosaurs were living and feeding in what was a swamp, now around 110km from the outback town of Winton.

At Lark Quarry, it seems a large, two-legged and presumably hungry dinosaur rushed into a swamp and caused many smaller two legged dinosaurs who were happily eating there, to stampede.

The event left multiple footprints in the then soft mud, which over eons hardened into stone, preserving the footprints and leaving a fascinating fossil record of the activity.

The were rediscovered in the 1960s. Today, the dinosaur tracks are protected by a temperature and humidity controlled building to ensure their preservation.

Bladensburg NP

An old sheep station repurposed as a national park, Bladensburg still has reminders of a pastoral past. The weathered wooden fences of the sheep yards are amazing.

This rather magnificent shearing shed was built in the early 1960s. Allegedly, the station owners son and a friend snuck off to the shearing shed, apparently to spent the afternoon smoking cigarettes.

Well, accidents do happen and during the course of the afternoon, the original shed, built in 1915, sort of burnt down.

I bet it was very awkward sitting around the dinner table at the homestead that night…

The old diesel engine ran the belt to spin the shears.

Six stands, where the shearers did their work.

The old wool press still stands.