Back O' Bourke

Into the Outback

Another sunny morning and we headed north along the Kidman Way towards Bourke, approximately 160k's. The road is excellent and flat. not much wildlife to be seen except the many feral goats on the sides. They are every where. Arrived at the Back o' Bourke exhibition centre, a very impressive new development which we will explore tomorrow after the interactive show.
Bourke is situated on the Darling River with plenty of history, paddle steamers, wharf, old buildings and tales of Henry Lawson . We are staying at Kidman Camp caravan park which is very pleasant, with grassed sites. Picked up the "mud map" booklet for the area which has all the local attractions and how to get there.
After a tour around of all the old buildings in town, a visit to the replica old wharf we then trusted the map to take us to Fort Bourke stockade built by Major Thomas Mitchell in 1835 and is the only defensive fort built by explorers in Australia. Either the map or me were out by .4 kilometers but we were not lost at least.

Return was via the Bourke cemetery to look at Fred Hollows grave - he chose to be buried here even seeing he was born in NZ because he loved the area - strange people these Kiwi's. Another short drive via the mud map to the historical lock and weir, the only one built on the Darling River in 1897. After so much history, there is only one thing left to do and that is back to the van for a beer.
Sunday was a slow start with some washing and then to the Back O' Bourke exhibition centre for the 11am outback show with camels, horses, dogs and the biggest Bullocks we have ever seen. The lead bullock was massive, standing nearly 2m at the shoulder. There were corney jokes, old bush poetry and laughs. It was interesting to see how the teams were harnessed together and how well trained they were. After the show it was into the exhibition itself, very well done but far too many words to read - it would take a couple of days to take it all in properly

Bullock Team

Only a mother could love this face

Big Rufous (not Julia)

A quiet later afternoon prior to the bush poet night entertainment at the camp, with plenty of food thrown in which should be a some outback fun. Tomorrow we are heading north again to Cunnamulla - finally into Queensland.