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If there’s one thing most of us can agree on, it’s how cool it is to gaze up in wonder at a brilliant night sky unobstructed by light pollution. The power of the galaxies has had humans spellbound for millennia, but with the continued growth of cities, it’s becoming increasingly rare to find genuine Dark Sky zones where stars can be seen in all their true, sparkling glory.
It’s for this reason that the efforts of Winton – a tiny town in outback Queensland with a population of just 1,130 residents – are so important. Though small in size, Winton is packed with mighty surprises: it's the birthplace of fan-favourite Aussie national anthem ‘Waltzing Matilda’, home to stunning opals and, perhaps most excitingly, it boasts Australia’s biggest collection of dinosaurs.
The Winton Shire Council and resident Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum are working together on a bid for Winton to be formally recognised as a Dark Sky Community on the international stage. This is actually a very difficult process and involves making serious changes to the town's lighting infrastructure and policy. But, Winton's residents and Council believe it's worth it.
The Jump-Up at Winton's Dinosaur Museum is currently recognised as one of only two International Dark Sky Sanctuaries in Australia. However, if it succeeds in being recognised as a ‘Dark Sky Community’, it'll become the first place in the country to hold both globally renowned titles. The difference? A Dark Sky Sanctuary is typically a remote natural reserve far from urban lights, while a Dark Sky Community is a town or city that implements policies to reduce light pollution – like shielding streetlights and limiting bright signage – to protect the night sky for residents and visitors.
If successful, Winton will become an epicentre for science tourism in Australia, with visitors able to check out the nation’s largest collection of dinosaur fossils in the day and then study the intricate turnings of the heavens at night.
With almost 80 per cent of the world's population unable to see the true night sky due to widespread light pollution, the vitality of preserving pockets of the world where the stars are totally visible is becoming more and more important as the years go on. Dark Sky zones enable clear and vital scientific observation, protect local wildlife and ecosystems, and connect us to nature and its many wonders.
Our fingers are crossed for Winton – we reckon they deserve it.