Charleville

Thanks to nearby Warrego River camp sites set up by explorer Edmund Bourke in 1847 and 1862 on his expeditions to prove that west Queensland waterways flowed south rather than north, Charleville was always destined to become an important centre.

And, by the time of the big push west in the twilight of the 19th century, Charleville was a lively frontier town with the local brewery supplying 10 inns where the drivers of 500 locally-registered bullock teams slaked their thirst.

Perhaps because of the town's links with pioneer aviators Ross and Keith Smith, Hudson Fysh and Paul McGinnes chose to fly their first scheduled Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services (Qantas) flight from Charleville to Cloncurry in 1922.

Today, in good times and bad, Charleville presides over vast sheep, beef and cotton holdings.

Stargazers can take advantage of the clear skies by tuning into space via the Cosmos Centre"s telescope and its Galactic Theatre.

Doctors make Outback house calls by plane and you can learn about the extraordinary Royal Flying Doctor Service by visiting the Charleville base.