Combo Waterhole

Combo Waterhole is 132km northwest of Winton off the Landsborough Highway, and is believed by some to be the setting for the story of Waltzing Matilda, or at least part of the inspiration. 'Banjo' Paterson visited the site in 1895 while staying at Dagworth Station and later wrote the words to a song that captured the spirit of Australia – ‘Waltzing Matilda’. Once part of Dagworth Station, the series of waterholes now make up the 49ha Conservation Park.

Combo Waterhole

The unique flagstone overshots were built by Chinese labour to help the Cobb & Co coaches that serviced the region, and the shady picnicking spots were popular with stagecoach passengers and Dagworth residents, as they remain popular today with locals and visitors alike.

The turnoff to Combo Waterhole is well marked on the Highway. The Conservation Park is accessible via conventional vehicle, although 4WD is recommended, and vehicles are not permitted beyond the car park. Please ensure to check road conditions with Queensland Parks and Wildlife or the Winton Visitor Information Centre before visiting the park. For further information about the amenities at Combo Waterhole Conservation Park, please visit the Queensland Parks and Wildlife webpage.

And remember: take only photos and leave only footprints!

Winton Snippets
Palaeontology

Winton, part of Queensland's Dinosaur Country, is a rich collecting area for palaeontologists. During the 1970s, a small number of sauropod dinosaurs were collected north-west and south-west of town and in the 1980s more dinosaur bones were found in Bladensburg National Park. Specimens of sharks, lungfish and dinosaurs have also come to light. Several localities in the Winton region contain well-preserved fossil plants, which have provided information about vegetation during the time of the dinosaurs. Younger fossils, the remains of fresh water crocodiles and giant marsupials less than a million years old, have been found in some dam excavations.
- Dr Alex Cook, Queensland Museum