Day 146 - Mount Isa

02/09/11

Went to the Information Centre this morning and purchased a ticket to see the Experience Isa display as well as the Riverslea Fossil display.

First the Riverslea was quite unique.  Riverslea is a working cattle station 200km north of Mt Isa.  Apparently there have been a great variety of fossils uncovered in the area and this display builds up a picture of the various changes in the environment of the area.  Starts with the Gondwana rain forest with dinosaurs, then woodland forest, and finishes with open grasslands full of giant marsupials,


Had a kids play area with sand - Sean just loves sand so he was digging away like mad.


Then into the Isa Experience exhibition - well put together information and displays about how Mt Isa came to be and the story so far.  Some mining equipment on display including this large pneumatic drill.


Then this model representing the mine today which is 5km long, 3km wide and nearly 2km deep.  The ore deposits of copper, lead, zinc and silver are managed as separate mines each with their own crews.  Can only imagine that it must be a very busy place down there.
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The display starts with the prospector who first found some ore bearing rock when he stopped here on his way west prospecting in 1923 - good name anyway.  Apparently he had some shares in the original company but sold them cheap during the depression and kept on going looking for his mother load but never found it.


Mount Isa Mines began operating in 1924 and during the 1930s a shanty town sprung up around the mine - one display depicts a shack made from whatever was available including kero tins, dynamite boxes and calico bags.


Later during the 1950s a couple of miners did some prospecting of their own looking for uranium.  On one of their trips they broke down in this old beast and while repairing stumbled across the Mary Katherine uranium deposit.


Lots of other info about the life of the town - well worth a visit.  Outside a quiet garden area full of native trees and plants.


Back for lunch and catch up on correspondence, then up to the lookout to see the town at sunset.


The Campbells

Day 145 - Camooweal

01/09/11

Left our free camp this morning heading east. This one, like the others we see along this stretch are watered by bores although the windmills are no longer utilised.


Next stop the Queensland border 250km away.


Then just down the road to Camoweal on the Georgina River (one of those that feeds the Lake Eyre basin)

This is the heart of Overlander country and was established because of its place on the stock routes north south and later east west.
We went to an establishment called The Drovers Camp - a great collection of drover memoribilia We were shown around by an old drover Jeff Simpson - he was great and really broght things to life for us. The display incliudes this great recreation of a drover's camp explained in great detail by Jeff.


Sean had a go at bullriding.


This stage is used during the Drover's Festival and would be great to be here when it's all happening. The mural was done by a local artist who has may other works throughout the place.


One of the surviving drovers lives just outside Dalby so Jude had a great dialogue with the lady currently in charge and we bought a replica whip made by him.

Carried on to Mount Isa and found a caravan sopt for the night.

The Campbells

Day 144 - King Ash Bay to Barkly

31/08/11
Left our spot at King Ash Bay - this place established by fishermen for fishermen - well set up with very good facilities.  The place has areas staked out by various fishing clubs.


After some brekkie on the road south back through Borroloola (no photos cause not much to see) then back to Heartbreak Hotel.  On the way we saw Campbell Springs and had to check it out to find that it is a aboriginal communty.


Back at Heartbreak we topped up with fuel before 370km to Barkly Homestead.


Found the Barkly tablelands to be mostly wide open grasslands apparently very well suited to cattle.  Some waterholes along the way in this land but most water coming from the bores - how barren this land must have been before the discovery of the artesian basin.


Came across this guy taking his vintage for a spin along this lonely track.


On the way we passed Alroy Station - the same owners as Turmbirini.  About 10,000 head from Tanumbirini are trucked down to Alroy each year and fattened ready for sale.  Timmy, Judy's husband along with their workers will be down here soon and will spend several months here.

Arrived at Barkly Homestead - a really isolated place at 300km from anywhere and at least 600km from any major towns.  They generate their own power and everything else - an essential stop over for all travellers.


Travelled another 40km down the road to our free camp for the night - abouth 550km all up for the day.

The Campbells

Day 143 - Farewell Tanumbirini

30/08/11

Today reluctantly we depart.  We have enjoyed this part of our trip so much and would love to stay but realise we must be moving on.  While the grand kids go to have a look at the helicopter, the boys and girls including from left to right Larry, Johnno, Timmy and Judy plan the day ahead.  Having had a taste of station life we have a glimpse of the pull that brings people to these wide open places.


Down the road 140km we arrived at Cape Crawford which despite its name is 200km from the coast.  All that's here is the Heartbreak Hotel (the Elvis theme continues throughout).


After some lunch and fuel, we continued up the road towards Borroloola - encountered a large bushfire on the way - burning well and about to jump the road.


Carried on to King Ash Bay 45km further on from Borroloola. 


Stayed here the night and even had a go at fishing in the nearby river however only managed to feed the catfish.  Apparently these are great fishing grounds however must have a boat to access them.

The Campbells