Funny Australian Signs from Outback Queensland
There can’t be too many places you go on holiday, or for a break, where your destination appears so intent on ensuring you’re left wanting for nothing, as on my recent visit to the Gemfields in central Queensland’s outback.
The Willy Wash
First port of call – “The Willy Wash”, which comes decked out with south pacific umbrellas so you don’t get hot and bothered when shaking out the dust and putting your rocks through the willoughby.
Then on to the Big Spanner should you need a little readjustment to Get Your Nuts Tightened.
Get your nuts tightened at The Big Spanner
All spruced up – It would be perfect to now head down to the Grave Hill Nudist Colony…
Grave Hill Nudist Colony
But, slow down… not too fast there!
Slow Down This is not a race track. Let our Grandkidz live
Wouldn’t want you following this Gemfield Hot Rod…
Gemfields Hot Rod
And in case you had any thoughts of deviating along the way…
If you dig on this claim you will be shot!!
But once you’re done digging…
Dundiggin Rd
If you haven’t made your fortune, you could always try your hand at some other profession?
Trying my hand at pole dancing 😉
But on the other hand…
You may now be able to afford to buy Buckingham Palace.
Which on face value, looking at it front on gives a first impression of it all being hunky dory…
Buckingham Palace
But with a secondary sideways glance…
The Leaning Palace of Buckingham may be more apt?
Be sure you don’t get caught up in the rush hour at the Rubyvale roundabout.
Before you head up to enjoy the sunset atop of Policeman’s Knob.
View from Policeman’s Knob
And the final sign that I was here in the Central Highlands of Queensland was the 25 meter high easel sporting a reproduction of Van Gough’s Sunflowers in the township of Emerald (900km NW of Brisbane, 300km inland from the coast at Rockhampton)
Emerald’s Big Easel (for scale, do you see me at the bottom of the left leg?)
The Emerald Easel is part of the Big Easel Project –
A project initiated by Cameron Cross, which he hopes will eventually see seven such constructions across the world each portraying one of Van Gough’s seven Sunflower paintings.
The first was made by the artist in Altona, Canada in October 1998.
Emerald’s was the second to be constructed in 1999.
The third was completed in 2001 in Goodland, Kansas, USA.
Map of the Gemfields in Queensland’s Central Highlands where you can dig the tropics
And if this has tickled your fancy – Here’s a link to find out more about how you too can…
What funny Australian signs have you seen on your travels?
Or for that matter, across the world?
Do tell in the comments below 😀
I did take photos of signs in Australia last fall because your animal warnings were so far different from the animal crossing/warning signs in the Pacific Northwest. I had forgotten about them until reading this wonderful post. I love following your blog – it is a joy to see it come up in my reading list!
Yes, even I find our Aussie animal signs a delight!
How sweet of you to say you enjoy my blog – Thank you 🙂
I love that you can get your nuts tightened after the Willy Wash- before might work, too-lol. Great Outback signs!
santafetraveler recently posted..Photo of the Week: Vedauwoo
Laughing at the best of times is therapeutic –
But on holidays it’s essential! 🙂
Funny stuff! Two come to mind. The first is in Hanalei at Kaua’i Nut Roasters: “Check out my nuts.” And the second is a road with a very depressing name at a tumbledown trailer park up in Longville, Minnesota: Journey’s End. -__-
I’m not sure that that would put me off their nuts!!
Yikes – sounds as though you were lucky to get out of there – hehe! 😉
I’ve been reading serious blog posts today so what an absolute joy to come across yours which had me so tickled that I laughed out loud at the computer. Sad I know, but wonderful to be reminded of great Aussie humour and someone who has the ability to put it together in a wry, wonderful story with pictures.
Super happy this brightened up your day Jo and made you laugh 😀
Someone has a sense of humour. I love the signs – and the supersized van Gogh. Looks like a delightful place to visit.
Aussie’s do have a down to earth humour Leigh –
I’d say particularly in the outback where life can be tough – Its always good to be able to look on the bright side! 😉
Wow, totally love that image with the Buckingham palace, will be visiting the original in a few days – what a contrast 🙂
Maybe the real Buckingham Palace is a front on illusion as well…
Suggest you take a sideways glance too, when you get there! 😉
Perhaps not as fun as these, but we loved all of the animal signs in Australia.
The Gypsynesters recently posted..Floating Down an Underground, Secret River in Mexico
Yes I love our Aussie animal signs as well… camels, cassowaries, wombats…
I’ve been on that roundabout and seen the easel, but I really dig your pole dancing. 🙂
Haha!! And that was taken just after I’d just come back upright after an upside down twirl –
If only that had been captured too 😉
Sounds like the people of Queensland (Queenslanders?) like a good and bawdy belly laugh as do I! What fun discovering the sights and reading the signs!
Anita @ No Particular Place To Go recently posted..The Wood Gatherers: Living on the Edge
Yes – Outback Queenslanders call a spade a spade LOL
And they did make us laugh 🙂
Love your signs story, Linda! You had me at pole dancing – lol!
It’s great isn’t what a good laugh can get you doing! 😉
This was a fun read. I was giggling as I looked at the pictures. It makes me want to fly back to Australia to see what I can find.
So pleased you had a giggle – We certainly were laughing when we spotted them!
I think outback people have a particularly wry sense of humour 😀
What a hoot Linda, the cities of Australia really lack the larrikan spirit of the bush.
You’re right – City folk could learn a lot from bushies!
There’s a toughness out bush, I guess, that needs humour as an antidote –
But wouldn’t that approach to city life make it so much more fun?! 😉
You’ve captured quite a whimsical collection~
That’s the joy of outback Queensland – It’s full of characters!
These are hysterical and I love the photo of you pole dancing 😉 I’ve only visited Melbourne so haven’t had the opportunity to see the Australian outback. Thanks for the laughs!
You’re in for a treat when you do manage to make it back down-under Michelle!
The outback folk are open, friendly and have a wicked sense of humour! 😉
Fun signs are always entertaining. Thanks for sharing.
A Cook Not Mad (Nat) recently posted..365 Project 2014 – week 38
And these were all in such a small localised area 😉
Such a nice breath of humor for us Linda. You might have a future in poll dancing! Seems like there might even be a sign competition in the outback of Queensland.
alison @GreenWithRenvy recently posted..Fall Nantucket A to Z
If only you could have seen the move just before this photo was taken Alison… You would have been truly impressed 😉
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Maybe that’s why I loved it so much: I love a place with a good sense of humour!
That’s the beauty of people of the bush –
No pretensions 🙂
I’m a big fan of funny signs too and this area of the Outback seems to be a treasure trove of them. Instead of clicking on the Comment Luv box, I’ll share one of my “funny sign” posts:
http://www.boomeresque.com/say-what-southeast-asia-signs/
That’s a great share Suzanne! LOL
Thank you for the laugh 😀
My daughter living in Australia sent me to cafe south of Portland, OR. The name of the cafe “Wankers Cafe.” I sent her a T shirt!
Oh Lucy!
When I first read that I thought you must be pulling my leg – so I had to look it up to see – was there really a Wankers Cafe?
And yes there is LOL
The Wankers Corner Saloon Cafe, Oregon 🙂
Now – that would be a T-Shirt hehe!