Written by

Richard Kinnon

Grazier and Present-Day Outback Pioneer
The folk heroes of the outback
Richard Kinnon avatarRichard Kinnon
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The Harry Redford Old Time Tent Show is just one of the many unforgettable experiences in Longreach. Image courtesy Outback Pioneers
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Roll-up with your pocket money for laughs galore!

Roll-up with your pocket money for laughs galore!

Rediscovering the fun of the old-time tent shows in Longreach
The only place in Australia you can gallop in a Cobb & Co stagecoach! Image source: Supplied
Touring

Experience Aussie icons of transport that changed our world

Experience Aussie icons of transport that changed our world

On land and water, necessity was the mother of invention
Longreach Common is a vision of green after recent rainfall. Image source: Supplied
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How a few days of rain changed everything in Longreach

How a few days of rain changed everything in Longreach

From dust to delight, Longreach is thriving after its biggest rainfall in 15 years.
Richard Kinnon’s always ready to share a yarn. Image source: Outback Pioneers
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The pioneering spirit that brings us together

The pioneering spirit that brings us together

Mateship is the beating heart of the outback spirit
Whitey, Richard Kinnon’s special horse and a local Longreach character in his own right (left) and Buck, one of the Kinnons’ amazing working dogs (right). Image: Outback Pioneers
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Meet the amazing animals who make outback life special

Meet the amazing animals who make outback life special

A trip to Longreach will give you a whole new respect for our animal friends.
Discover the magic of outback evenings with Outback Pioneers. Image source: Outback Pioneers
Travel

Connect with the Aussie outback and our history on nostalgic river cruise

Connect with the Aussie outback and our history on nostalgic river cruise

If you want to feel part of the real Australia and experience entertainment outback-style, a true-blue opportunity is right here!
Rediscover a time when travelling light had a whole different meaning! Image source: Outback Pioneers.
Travel

Australia’s pioneers can still teach us a thing or two about resilience and resourcefulness

Australia’s pioneers can still teach us a thing or two about resilience and resourcefulness

Outback Pioneers’ stagecoach experience, accommodation and outback emporium in Longreach will take you back to a simpler time with its fair share of thrills!
Captain Starlight’s story comes to life on the beautiful banks of the Thomson River, Longreach, Queensland. Image source: Outback Pioneers
Travel

Discover the spirit of the outback as you trace the footsteps of pioneer Capt Starlight

Discover the spirit of the outback as you trace the footsteps of pioneer Capt Starlight

Victoria has Ned Kelly but Queensland has the larrikin Captain Starlight. Learn all about the fascinating pioneer in a true-blue outback experience at Longreach.
Even as a boy, Jeremy Kinnon knew how to keep a billy boiling - as well as many of the other time-honoured skills it takes to keep an outback station going.
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Forget the bright lights: We need our kids to stay on the land

Forget the bright lights: We need our kids to stay on the land

“We all need to enjoy ourselves and earn a living but there’s so much more to life than computer games or earning the big money in the city.”

About Richard Kinnon

Richard Kinnon’s passion for all things outback has shaped his life and has, through circumstances rather than ambition, led to him becoming a spokesperson and champion for the iconic Australian way of life in remote Queensland. From a family of graziers, Richard runs two cattle and sheep stations in the Longreach region. In 2006, faced with the tough times of outback drought, he and his wife Marisse founded a tourism venture to help support the grazing business and the lifestyle they love. That tourism business, called Outback Pioneers, now welcomes over 20,000 visitors each year and has won many awards, including the prestigious Queensland Tourism Awards Gold Award for Cultural Tourism. For Richard, the pleasure is in seeing the ‘city cousins’ coming to discover their Australian heritage and the outback spirit that makes this country special. He’s always ready for a yarn with visitors or to tell his personal story of outback resilience. Like most outback characters, he does that with plenty of quirky wit and humour! Richard’s wife Marisse is joint founder and general manager of Outback Pioneers and their three children Jeremy, Lane and Abigail also have roles in the business.