The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre was formed to capture and record the fast disappearing culture and history of rural Australia. It is an incorporated, self funding non-profit company which operates without any debt or on-going government assistance.

Since the opening in 1988, the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame has been host to more than 1,000,000 visitors. Considering its remoteness from major population centres, the popularity of the museum is testament to the strength with which visitors relate to the Hall of Fame's theme, philosophy and aims.

In 1974, Hugh Sawrey, well known stockman and outback artist, enlisted supporters for his dream for a memorial to the explorers, overlanders, pioneers and settlers of remote Australia. To build and outfit the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame, they had to raise AUD$12.5 million.

In August 1977, submissions called for suitable sites. More than 40 received. In October 1978, Longreach won selection as site for the Hall of Fame. In January 1980, Australia-wide submissions called for architectural design competition co-ordinated by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and sponsored by Consolidated Press and the Queensland Government. Architect Feiko Bouman won the design competition.

The chosen site in Longreach in central western Queensland was once a teamster's stop beside a large waterhole. From humble beginnings as a stock route junction on the 'long reach' of the Thomson River, the town is now serviced by road, rail and air.
Netherlands born Sydney architect, Feiko Bouman won the national competition for the design with his outstanding concept of the sweeping, curved iron roof, vibrant outback colours and the cathedral-like timber ceiling.

Financial support from the Federal and Queensland State Government 1988 Bicentennial programme plus an extensive fundraising effort by supporters, commerce and industry, provided the money to create and outfit this magnificent museum. The building was completed in 1987 and opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on the 29th April, 1988.

Julia Roberts

The original "Kinky Boots" were calf to knee length pull on black leather boots with 3-4 inch heels and pointed toes. This was the kind of boot worn by Honor Blackman (Cathy Gale) and Diana Rigg (Emma Peel) in the original Avengers television series; Honor Blackman and Patrick McNee (John Steed) cut a single record called "Kinky Boots" which hit the UK charts at that time. "Kinky boot beasts" make a brief appearance in the Sea of Monsters sequence in the 1968 Beatles' movie Yellow Submarine.

Go-Go boots were soon available in other colours, white being popular, and all heel heights. From the mid 1960s onwards, the stiletto went out of fashion and calf and even thigh boots with lower thick heels or even flat heels came into fashion. Nancy Sinatra wore go-go boots and help popularise them in the US with her song, "These Boots Are Made For Walking".

Boots are such a staple female fashion these days, the term 'Kinky boots' is now usually only used for the original type of boot that gave rise to the term in the first place - very high stiletto boots, generally of thigh length and in either black or white or bright shiny colours.

1960s/70s boots photo gallery