Mick Pospischil's Art: Western Wanderings

Friday 11 November 2016, 5pm

I’ve finally got around to photographing the charcoals I did out west.

My first drawing was the historic Noccundra Pub, beyond Thargo on the Wilson River. It’s hopefully the first in a series of outback pubs.

"Noccundra Pub, Est. 1882”

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After retreating from the rain at the Dig Tree and a flooding Cooper, I drew this after things dried out a bit –

“North of Augathella”

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And eventually found my way to Muttaburra. Thought I owed it to Tom Spence to check out his birthplace. Predawn light -

“The Long Lagoon, Muttaburra”

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A few hundred k’s further on, drew the view from the “Age of the Dinosaurs’ jumpup. Winton was about 20k away near the horizon.

“Towards Winton”

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Drew one of the local Theropods while I was up there. Banjo’s bones are the only evidence so far of carnivorous dinosaurs in Australia. This is probably a Stumkat creation, most of the sculptures out this way seem to be his work.

“Banjo”

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A couple of days later on the way to Lark’s Quarry saw some more appealing jumpups.

“Jumpup Southbound”

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And a couple of drawings at Lark’s Quarry, site of the awesome dinosaur stampede.

“Spinifex Country”

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“Dinosaur Jumpup”

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Meanwhile in Winton, some more archaeology (back to the 50’s) inside Searle’s Gentleman’s Outfitters –

“Searles of Winton”

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Then back on the road again –

“Approaching Middleton”

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And another historic pub, this one being one of the Cobb and Co. stops between Winton and Boulia – the middle town

“Middleton Pub, Est 1876”

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And some more fossils at Boulia

“Boulia Fish-Lizard”

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Had to head north from Boulia, the road west was washed out again. Dajarra had a lot to offer

“Predawn, Dajarra Dam”

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“Dajarra Rocks 1”

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"Dajarra Rocks 2”

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Through Mt Isa to the sanctuary of Lawn Hill Gorge and another predawn. The start of croc country –

“Adels Grove, Lawn Hill”

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Then another predawn across the bottom of the Gulf. I was getting up early to avoid the heat –

“Leichardt River – no sign of Leichardt”

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After a couple of days around the Gulf I started heading south and spent a night at Porcupine Gorge near Hughenden. One early morning drawing, followed by a rather warmer one near noon.