Charleville is the ideal place on the planet to observe the magnificent of the Sagittarius arm of the Milky Way. With a spectacularly clear night sky, unaffected by light and industrial pollution, visitors have the opportunity to star gaze as never before. The Queensland Heritage Trails Network contributed $2.5M towards the $3M project to redevelop and expand the former Skywatch Centre into a dynamic attraction with popular visitor appeal.

By day The Cosmos Theatre is the venue for two movie presentations - Aboriginal Dreamtime Cosmology and Chain of Wonders. Hosted by two outback characters a combination of excellent animation and film reveals the secrets of the Universe. By night an experienced guides take visitors and give them the opportunity to view distant stars, planets, star clusters through three powerful Meade 12 inch telescopes. In April 2005 the Cosmos Centre took delivery of a new 20 inch telescope that you will see deeper into space with.

There are seven interactive displays to explore the history of astronomy through the Ages. A sophisticated sun filter joins a range of equipment and powerful telescopes used for viewing the stars and our solar system.

It started as the vision of one man, the very Reverend John Flynn, and was realised in part in 1928 when a single-engineered aircraft took to the sky on missions of mercy to the people of outback Queensland. Today, the vision is clearer than ever. The RFDS services a huge area of sparsely populated land, bringing a range of medical services from life-saving emergency flights to regular clinics.

As the slogan goes “Help Keep the Royal Flying Doctor Flying.” When visiting this valuable service you will be doing just that, as well as getting a glimpse into the old and the new. An introductory film will explains a little about the everyday life of the service and there is also an extensive display of past and present radios, medicine chests, and equipment used by the service. The huge photographic display of the service in action and events that have happened over the years is a fascinating insight into how the service commenced and continues to operate.

Afterwards, browse through the Outback Shop for a memento of your visit. There is an extensive range of affordable souvenirs and clothing, and your purchases will help the RFDS keep their aircraft and their doctors in the skies. Whether you live in the outback or you're here on holidays, you may one day have need of the Flying Doctor. Even if you don't, it's wonderful to know the RFDS gives peace of mind to thousands of outback people. The RFDS, it's truly an Australian made miracle.