I'm a redheaded mama with four lovely daughters. We're based in southern Australia and travel in a small, colourful housebus — meeting inspiring people, learning lots and re-thinking everything. I feel passionately about spirituality, good design, alternative education, discussing death and conscious parenting.
The Tractor Tattoo is a music and arts festival centred around the agricultural icon that has served Queensland’s regional town of Kingaroy for decades. Kingaroy is about two and a half hours north of Brisbane, but we broke up our trip by overnighting at a friend’s and stopping at playgrounds along the way.
Queensland's South Burnett region is mostly agricultural plains, with peanuts and wine grapes among the prevalent crops.
The Peanut Company of Australia's silos dominate the Kingaroy township which is easily viewed from the top of nearby Mount Wooroolin.
A stop at the local information centre gave us the information we needed — when the Tractor Tattoo was starting, where it was being held, and where the best playground is for young children. Upon arriving at Memorial Park, our girls were delighted by the flower display as well as the equipment on offer.
A stunning display of flowers decorates Memorial Park, though Calista's beauty outshines them all.
While playing at the park, Calista and Brioni ride the local mares.
It doesn't matter how big the park or how spread out the playground, Delaney always finds the swings and claims one for herself.
The small centre of Kingaroy was barricaded off to allow for free movement of pedestrians at the Tractor Tattoo. I was pleasantly surprised to find parking close by, and we only had a short walk to the heart of the entertainment precinct in front of the town hall.
Our girls admire the fascinating display of tractor cut-outs.
Local businesses are very clever in decorating their tractors to match their business products.
It's amazing how different each of the 51 tractors has turned out!
Our girls are delighted by this bride tractor.
I like the intricate painting partially decorating this particular cut-out.
Community groups and schools decorated the tractors as well.
Here's a good use for French knitting — I've always wondered what to do with the woolly snakes the girls make.
The Kingaroy and District Vintage Machinery Club donated the vintage tractor that features as a percussion instrument at the Tractor Tattoo. (I want to know how "they" got the tractor onto the top of the town hall steps!)
We watch different parts the tractor being played in a rehearsal earlier in the afternoon.
Real tractors are also on display as part of the tractor festival.
Our girls share their ice-creams we buy from a local café as we wait for the festivities to start.
A jumping castle is offered freely by the council-sponsored event.
The girls love their short turn on the jumping castle — it makes the festival exciting to them.
It's easy to spot festival staff — they're all wearing red shirts and yellow caps.
Council staff walk around the crowds, blowing bubbles which add to the party atmosphere.
As the Tractor Tattoo is based on the successful Edinburgh Military Tattoo, tartans, kilts and bagpipes are to be expected.
We saw a number of choirs and bands perform on the two stages, as well as solo artists. The girls enjoyed the spoken word performances but found the orchestral music uninspiring. My preferences were reversed.
Brioni and Aisha climb a lamp-post so they have a better view of the performers.
Delaney enjoys the water feature in the forecourt of the Kingaroy Town Hall where the Tractor Tattoo is held.
Soon after this picture was taken, we retreated back to our car to change Delaney’s clothes. The girls and I visited some other sites in Kingaroy before returning to the venue to listen to the music and wait for the fireworks.
The girls' response to the fireworks was one of rapturous delight. I'm so glad we stayed for the starry finale of the Tractor Tattoo!
Delaney was was snoozing when the bangs begun. She woke up and exclaimed in delight at the show. Truly, the girls’ excitement at the fireworks made our whole trip worthwhile, but we’ve seen enough of the region to make us want to come back and explore it further!
Thankyou for your kind comments about Tractor Tattoo and Kingaroy, Lauren. The South Burnett is one of Queensland’s undiscovered gems and we’re delighted you could come and enjoy a bit of it.
Ahhh! I love that little town! So wish we were there! Why don’t I ever hear of these things!?!!! Like in a time-frame I can work in ;o) … Anyhoo, so glad you all had a great weekend… Seeing the girls on the ponies and wagon made me smile… It’s our favourite! Oh, the rides we’ve had!!! ;o) And 2 yr olds and ‘their’ swings, hah?! Jemimah’s record was set in one of those swings in Kingaroy… 47… yes FORTY-SEVEN!… minutes of “Mummy push!”
Just to let you know that they brought in “The Mongrel” (The musical tractor) on a low loader, which they reversed up the town hall forecourt. Then a ramp was laid over the steps in front of the town hall, and they pushed the tractor off the low loader and across the ramp to place it at the top of the steps!
I was one of the singers and it’s lovely to hear that you had a great afternoon!!
1 · Karen · 17 September 2012, 22:06
Delaney in the water feature makes me smile!
2 · southburnett.com.au · 17 September 2012, 22:12
Thankyou for your kind comments about Tractor Tattoo and Kingaroy, Lauren. The South Burnett is one of Queensland’s undiscovered gems and we’re delighted you could come and enjoy a bit of it.
3 · Sarah Mackay · 17 September 2012, 22:19
What a great way to spend the day! Seeing Delaney playing in the water feature made me smile as it is something that our Jireh would do!
4 · Aunty gwenda · 17 September 2012, 23:36
I loved seeing the girls sharing their icecreams. Plus the spotty dress of course. Hugs.
5 · Naomi · 18 September 2012, 00:26
Ahhh! I love that little town! So wish we were there! Why don’t I ever hear of these things!?!!! Like in a time-frame I can work in ;o) … Anyhoo, so glad you all had a great weekend… Seeing the girls on the ponies and wagon made me smile… It’s our favourite! Oh, the rides we’ve had!!! ;o) And 2 yr olds and ‘their’ swings, hah?! Jemimah’s record was set in one of those swings in Kingaroy… 47… yes FORTY-SEVEN!… minutes of “Mummy push!”
6 · Cheryl · 18 September 2012, 15:51
Just to let you know that they brought in “The Mongrel” (The musical tractor) on a low loader, which they reversed up the town hall forecourt. Then a ramp was laid over the steps in front of the town hall, and they pushed the tractor off the low loader and across the ramp to place it at the top of the steps!
I was one of the singers and it’s lovely to hear that you had a great afternoon!!
7 · Julianne · 19 September 2012, 20:20
Glad you enjoyed your brief visit. Memorial park is our favourite in Kingaroy as well.