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We got to Blackall mid morning and decided we wouldn't stay, only have a look around and then push on to Charleville.

Blackall is the home of the black stump - which like the tree of knowledge, is now only a cement monument.

Click the pic to read the notice.

Blackall is also home of the old Wool Scour - definitely worth seeing if you're in the area.

The water comes from the bore at about 50 degrees C.

Click the pic to see the notice.

The Blackall wool scour now in working condition. You would have loved this Kev.

The sheep pens at the wool scour. The timber is Gidgee, a form of wattle that grows in the area.

Gidgee burns with a very high heat and was used to fire all the boilers that originally produced steam to drive the machinery.

The original steam engine that drove all the machinery.

It has been restored and now is regularly fired up to drive the machinery for tourists.

The washing bays where the wool was first washed in water that come straight from the artesian bore. All still working.

One thing that strikes you is the quietness - there is hardly any noise, the steam engine doesn't make a noise

and the machinery is well oiled and greased.

We expected to be deafened but were pleasantly surprised.

You would have loved this Gav.

The wool was washed and moved through the hot water by the metal fingers that are driven by belts from the overhead machinery.

Once washed and cleaned, the wool was sent through the huge wringers to squeeze the water from it,

then it was transferred to the steam dryer.

The huge steam driven wool dryer - wool was passed through the dryer in about 20 mins.

After the wool scour, we (well Nerk did) have a swim in the local pool which is fed directly from the artesian basin.

The water is kept at a steady 40 degrees C and people use it to sooth aching limbs.

It was time to leave Blackall and head for Charleville - down another long straight road.

We were a bit worried about this leg as we would be driving until 5-30pm - 'roo kill time.

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