Blackall. Beautiful warm day. This is a lovely little town, great place to stay, lots to see, very friendly locals.
This day started off badly for one caravaner though. The poor guy was connecting his van to the truck when something broke and the whole caravan crashed to the ground and landed on his foot! Ouch!! Squashed his foot flat he did. Off to hospital with you! No travelling today Mr flat foot!
Had a look around town. Found the original 'Black Stump' - the origin of the Aussie saying, of being either side of the black stump.
This is a part of Australia's early history and the saying came about like this. In the early days, the Government had an Astro Station at Blackall on the site where the black stump is now - behind the local school.
close up of mural by local artist of the campsite, original black stump and theadolite
Anyway, surveyors measured outback Queensland, the relationship to new cities and distances between existing towns etc.
They used the original black stump at the campsite to sit their Theodolite instruments. From the stump, they measured latitude and longitude etc.
Therefore, the saying, 'this side of the black stump', or 'beyond the black stump'. The old stump was demolished by fire and there is now a fossilized tree stump in its place.
<- 'this side of the black stump' + 'beyond the black stump' ->
We had dinner at the local pub, Chinese food, was good. Very old building, verandahs all around, lovely original stained glass and leadlight windows.
DAY 184 Monday 23 July. Into town to get a birthday present for Graeme. Posted it off express. Working on computers.
