The party gets started Way out West
John Williamson sang Waltzing Matilda at the opening ceremony.
A glimpse of the prehistoric look of the Centre's interior.
Members of the Riley family - John Riley, Lara Chapman, Dawn Schmidt, Joanne Wills, Val Newton, and Myrna Melville - had front row seats at the Waltzing Matilda Centre opening. Their grandfather, Frederick Whistler Riley, was Sarah Riley's brother.
Some of the dignitaries at the opening enjoying a joke.
Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove unveiling the plaque to open the Waltzing Matilda Centre.
Waltzing Matilda Centre staff ready to greet the hordes.
Helen and Bruce Collins with the Light Horse display, part of the More Than a Name display documenting Winton's contribution to World War One. The horse, George, was named after one of those soldiers, George Milson, who took his horse from the family's Springvale property to Palestine. The mane and tail were singed in the fire that destroyed the original centre but were restored by a museum in Townsville.
Winton Historical Society members, Bruce and Helen Collins, flank former Waltzing Matilda Centre manager (1998-2004) Ian Jempson, and Waltzing Matilda Centre chairman, Jeff Close.
The official party was shown through the Centre and its many facets.
There were plenty of aspects of the display to explore inside for the official party, including headsets tuned in to individual pieces.
Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove, with Agriculture Minister, David Littleproud, exploring the surround sound sensation of budgies in the billabong.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and federal Agriculture Minister, David Littleproud experience one of the five videos beamed onto silicon sticks in the Centre's new "billabong".
A luncheon was held at Winton's shire hall after the Waltzing Matilda Centre opening.
The AB Paterson chamber choir from the Gold Coast were relieved to sing indoors without their fly veils on.
Representative from Cox Architects, the people who designed the Waltzing Matilda Centre, Brendan Gaffney, Casey 'Goldie' Valance, and Justin 'Rusty' Bennett, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Winton CEO, Ali Rayment, at the festival luncheon.
Qantas Founders Museum chairman, John Vinson, Longreach Regional Council's economic development and tourism manager, Russell Lowry, QFM CEO Tony Martin, and Nicole Bond, Remote Area Planning and Development Board.
Blackall-Tambo mayor, Andrew Martin, with Rockhampton Regional councillor, Neil Fisher, and the Member for Traeger, Rob Katter.
Alan Smith, Aussie Outback Tours, feeling good about the upcoming tourist season with Shane O'Reilly, O'Reilly's Guesthouse; Daniel Gschwind, CEO of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council; Brett Kapernick, QTIC; and Wayne Clift, Visit Queensland.
Telstra representatives, Jane Donnelly, Jason Law and Darren Clark, with Winton mayor, Gavin Baskett.
Richmond Shire Council CEO, Peter Bennett and councillors June Kuhl and Bethea Pattel, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Well-know Winton photography identity, Peter Knowles, now of Redcliffe, catching up with former neighbour, Frank McKerrow.
Dick O'Connell, Thargomindah, with Inga Gibson, Jericho, and James Milson, Blackall.
Brent Reeman, managing director of Peak Services, LGAQ, with Paul and Michelle Hockings, Longreach, and David Elliott, Australian Age of Dinosaurs.
Craig Doyle, Dayboro, Sarah Hill, and Judy and Carl Green, Sunshine Coast, enjoying the official lunch.
Winton shire CEO Ali Rayment, with Suzie Thomas and Alistair McArthur. Suzie is Sarah Riley's great-niece and Alistair is a member of the McPherson family.
Waltzing Matilda Centre manager, Cameron Mace, and Rockhampton Regional councillor, Neil Fisher, admiring Cream: Four Decades of Australian Art, the Rockhampton Art Gallery collection that chronicles the development of modernism in Australia from 1940 to 1980.
Cale Crameri, Mackay and Tom Salisbury, updated the swaggie's cork brim hat to deter the everlasting flies.
Maddie Chaplain and Adam Castle performing at her Whiskey EP launch.
Ex-Cloncurry actor and musician, Madeleine Chaplain, supported by her mother Paula Chaplain, at her EP launch.
Madeleine Chaplain's support crew - aunty Trish Rogers, Brisbane; mum Paula Chaplain, Cloncurry; Wendy Brodie, McKinlay; Luke Chaplain, Cloncurry; Ginny Ogg, Winton, and Alex McAuley, McKinlay.
Getting into Madeleine Chaplain's EP launch were Pip Atkinson, Mount Isa, Lauren Millar, Lachlan Miller, Millmerran, and Eric Barker, Mount Isa.
There was a big group out from Emerald to enjoy the Way out West Festival and Madeleine Chaplain's EP launch.
Belinda Moore, McKinlay, Cara McCartney and Jordan Allen, Mount Isa, Jo Cranney, Goondiwindi, and Alexa Russell, Blackall chilling out to Madeleine Chaplain's music at the Winton Club.
Bronwyn Roberts, Jenni West and Paige Dickinson, Emerald, with their swaggie cork modifications.
Boulia's Ali S performs to the North Gregory crowd on Friday afternoon.
Gladstone's Karen Euston and Mike Horkings enjoying the country/contemporary music of Ali S.
Taking some time out at the Winton Club were Cameron Miller, Millmerran, Neal Elliott, Cunnamulla, and Louise and Don Hoch, Thargomindah.
A trio of mayors - John Wharton, Richmond, Greg Campbell, Cloncurry, and Gavin Baskett, Winton.
Waltzing Matilda Centre board member, Sallyanne Atkinson, with Antoinette Campbell, whose husband is Banjo Paterson's great-great-grandson.
There were plenty of stations for patrons to get a drink as they enjoyed the talent on the main stage on Friday night.
Rachelle King came up from Warwick to help out with ticket sales.
Ambulance officers Ian Day, Port Douglas, and Petrina Neller, Mossman, got to meet Sheppard after their gig.
Some of the Blackall crew in town for the event - Jess Johnson, Dan Burton, Danielle O'Brien, Duncan Parry, and Bruce Crook-King.
Bridget Miller, Airlie Beach was captivated by Andrew Ready, Chinchilla, and his shirt.
Winton's Jessica Whitehead and Caitlyn Elliott at the concert.
Kirsten Byrne, Emerald, Brie Colley and Lena Price, Mudgee, and Elysia Ruttley, Emerald.
Charlana Coleman, Mount Isa, with Alex Sorensen, Winton, and Jack Brodie, Winton.
Sound was pouring out of pubs and clubs throughout the afternoon and evening for day two of the Way out West Fest, before much-anticipated US country stars Charlie Worsham, Lee Brice, and Kip Moore lit up the main stage at the Winton Showgrounds.
Along with the Pierce Brothers, Sheppard and The Black Sorrows, the 7000-strong crowd was electrified by the pumping sound until well after midnight.
