Longreach Tours and Attractions

Banjo’s Outback Theatre & Woolshed

Where Legends Speak of Legend

Pack ya Port, Chuck a Sickie, Do the Harold Holt, Say Hooray to the Billy Lids and get ya clacker out to Banjo's Outback Theatre.

Give it a Burl, You'll be as mad as a cut snake if ya don't!
We''ll feed ya some bloody good tucker, gobsmack ya with some ridgy didge aussie entertainment, tell ya no furphy's and all this at mate's rates that'l make ya say "Holey Dooley"!

Opened in Easter 1993, Banjo's Outback Theatre was established by 'Jack of all outback trades' Alan 'banjo' Blunt to showcase Australia's unique live outback variety theatre where colourful performers breathe life, drama and laughter into our fabulous pioneering days.

Reliving a time when vital characters like Sid Kidman, the Eulo Queen, peerless bushman and daring cattle duffer Harry Redford, gun shearer and leading unionist Big Jackie Howe, Boss Drovers, rebellious bushrangers,'Banjo' Paterson, Mary Gilmore and thousands of outstanding figures were creating legends which continue to colour our national character.

Through songs, yarns, poems and skits, sheep shearing, wool spinning and a 110 year old wool press in action, a visit to Banjo's Outback Theatre will ignite, or even re-ignite a passion for our true larrikan past.

The Billy's on and the Grubs in the Campoven, All that's missing's you!

Shows can be booked for Breakfast, Smoko, Lunch, or Dinner and include BBQ and camp oven meals with campfire coffee, billy tea and (in season) fresh vege's from our home garden.

Roll Up, Roll Up, Let the Show Begin 

After enjoying a succulent traditional Aussie meal, Banjo rings the cow-bell and the crowd moves into the theatre for what will turn out to be an experience never to forget! First a little bit of local history, both aboriginal and pioneering, from the man himself who has lived and loved this area. With a background drenched in shearing and droving camps, Banjo's yarns and poetry come from the heart and capture the essence of the last of the true outback bushman storyteller. After a few coo-ees, the shearing display begins. Greg the shearer is set the task of shearing a sheep as quick as the legend Jackie Howe. (On 10th October 1892, at Alice Downs station outside Blackall, Jackie set the record for hand shearing 321 sheep in just seven hours and forty minutes..) Greg only has to shear one! (with mechanical shears!) The crowd is informed with a running commentary, moving from the method of shearing through the process of wool pressing and classing.

A lesson from Banjo's outback dictionary follows, where you will learn 'ribuck' meanings to words only familiar to Drover's, Ringer's and Cobber's alike.

The Singing Swaggie

Cue Rambling Ronnie, possibly the world's worst joke teller, yet delightful entertainer and singer of old time shearing songs mixed with a few favourite requests from the audience. Rambling Ronnie will have you rolling in the aisles as he captures your heart with his one man band style and larrikan humour. Although not a bushman in the true sense, Rambling Ron and the zany atmosphere of the Outback Theatre seem to go hand in hand!

More than first meets the eye

Along with our new commercial kitchen and improved outdoor campoven facility, Banjo's has recently added:

• Cobber's Coffee Lounge (like our show, the coffee lounge is a 'moveable feast', enjoyed indoors or outdoors according to weather conditions).
• The Boree Gift Shop with exclusive memorabilia and big mobs for blokes, sheila's and billy lids.
• The Bonza Book Exchange with approx 400 boooks for exchange or sale

And don't miss sadling up for a round of Starlight's Ride unique mini golf course - 110 metres of chip and putt challenge with holes dubbed Stalight's Lookout, the Long Paddock, Sturt's Stony Desert, Simpson Desrert with lost explorers bonesand all, Saltbush Bill and the Wilga Ghost, with resident ghost.
And try your skills on the world's only commercial Shearers Quoits' track - a fascinating game enjoyed by shearers, ringers and bushies since Jackie Howe was a boy.
There are also card games, floor quoits, darts and hookey.

Location

Stork Road, Longreach, on bitumen, bordering Inangai Park, 3km from Longrach CBD, within 1km of the airport, Hall of Fame, Qantas Founders Museum and major motel and caravan park accommodation.