Australia Weather News

The recent rains have seen wildflowers spring up across the usually dry western Queensland area. - ABC

Stunning wildflowers are blooming across drought-stricken western Queensland after recent much-needed rain.

The best yearly rainfall in a decade in the region has brought the flowers out.

Bulloo Shire mayor John 'Tractor' Ferguson said after years of drought, the transformation on the landscape had been incredible.

"I reckon it's the best wildflower season we've had in eight to 10 years," he said.

"This was thick. It looked like big canola crops over these stony ridges it was unbelievable.

"Patches of purple in the and blue, it was beautiful. I haven't seen it for a long time."

Late summer rain brought the flowers out earlier than usual across the region.

Kilcowera Station, about 90 kilometres south of Thargomindah, has also enjoyed the colourful change to groundcover.

Part-owner of Kilcowera, Greg Sherwin said the flowers had been a beautiful sight with some rare flowers spotted amongst the bunch.

"Thank God we're not seeing much red dirt anymore, it's mostly green and then the yellows and purples."

"All the coloured daisies the white one and the big yellow paper daisies and the purple one have really flowered up well."

"You don't see them down here much, but there's been a few of them poached egg daisies — I think they call them."

Promising prospect for the summer

It's been tipped to be a wet summer which is music to the ears to everybody in the west.

Substantial rain has fallen across outback Queensland in recent days, with Noonbah Station near Longreach recording its wettest day in a decade.

And Mr Ferguson is looking forward to what more rain could bring.

"If we keep getting these storms like they're saying, it'll be a good season for a change," he said.

"No more dust storms for a while thank god, no more droughts so we'll be able to settle down and live properly for a while."

ABC