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The Steiger Vortex Rainmaking Guns are on display within the Graham Andrews Parklands. It's a fascinating outback story.
In 1902 Queensland was in the grip of a great drought. The desperation to produce rain took a unique turn. Queensland's first Government Meteorologist, Mr Clement L Wragge decided to experiment with Steiger Vortex Guns, developed to break up hail over the vineyards of Italy.
Wragge had six copies of the 'guns' made hoping they would produce much needed rain. The vertical guns were built and placed strategically throughout Charleville, their barrels pointing directly up into the sky. They were charged with gunpowder, in the hope that the resulting explosion would change the atmospheric pressure and produce rain.
Today only two remain intact and are on display in Charleville for all to enjoy.
Did you know, Mr Clement Wragge was the first man to name a cyclone in Australia ? Mr Wragge initially named these cyclones after politicians as he thought in some cases they were as much a national disaster as a politician..
