outback folk - rowley (Explored)
(Explore in/out, 6/3/2013) On a trip to Alpha we asked local identity, Rowley Roberts, if we could take his photograph. Sadly, Rowley has now passed away. His passion was tourism to Alpha, and the local tourist information centre has been named after him. Rowley was a local Councillor and opened the centre in 1999.
Alpha is situated on the Capricorn Highway (Rockhampton to Barcaldine), a good stopover when travelling from West or East, being 430 km west of Rockhampton and 250 km east of Longreach. To the north Clermont is 184 km and to the south of Tambo 134 km are accessible, but is only a gravel/dirt road which is often inaccessible during wet conditions. Alpha, known as "The Gateway to the West", is an interesting mix of historic and modern buildings, changed by fire, flood, and progress over the years. It was established in 1884 to serve railway construction workers and is still an important station on the line to the Central West. Alpha, taken from the Greek word meaning - "the beginning" - is claimed by locals as the beginning of the west, and also the entrance to the Central Highlands.
Alpha, named after an early property in the area taken up in 1863. Alpha Station homestead was quite famous - it was described by TOWN & COUNTRY JOURNAL in 1875 as "one of the prettiest spots that could be imagined:, and in 1883-85 its beauty was inspiration for the British artist, Harriet Neville-Rolfe, who visited the property to stay with her brother, the manager. "Breakfast at Alpha", painted in 1884, is one of the most famous of the 82 western scenes she painted. Her paintings now hang in the Queensland Art Gallery.
(Source: www.alphaqueensland.com.au )
__________________________________________
© All rights reserved.
This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded,
displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic,
mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written consent.
outback folk - rowley (Explored)
(Explore in/out, 6/3/2013) On a trip to Alpha we asked local identity, Rowley Roberts, if we could take his photograph. Sadly, Rowley has now passed away. His passion was tourism to Alpha, and the local tourist information centre has been named after him. Rowley was a local Councillor and opened the centre in 1999.
Alpha is situated on the Capricorn Highway (Rockhampton to Barcaldine), a good stopover when travelling from West or East, being 430 km west of Rockhampton and 250 km east of Longreach. To the north Clermont is 184 km and to the south of Tambo 134 km are accessible, but is only a gravel/dirt road which is often inaccessible during wet conditions. Alpha, known as "The Gateway to the West", is an interesting mix of historic and modern buildings, changed by fire, flood, and progress over the years. It was established in 1884 to serve railway construction workers and is still an important station on the line to the Central West. Alpha, taken from the Greek word meaning - "the beginning" - is claimed by locals as the beginning of the west, and also the entrance to the Central Highlands.
Alpha, named after an early property in the area taken up in 1863. Alpha Station homestead was quite famous - it was described by TOWN & COUNTRY JOURNAL in 1875 as "one of the prettiest spots that could be imagined:, and in 1883-85 its beauty was inspiration for the British artist, Harriet Neville-Rolfe, who visited the property to stay with her brother, the manager. "Breakfast at Alpha", painted in 1884, is one of the most famous of the 82 western scenes she painted. Her paintings now hang in the Queensland Art Gallery.
(Source: www.alphaqueensland.com.au )
__________________________________________
© All rights reserved.
This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded,
displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic,
mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written consent.