Places in Burke Shire
ADEL'S GROVE (SAVANNAH GUIDE STATION)
Savannah Way Alternate Route
LOCATION
- 200 km Southwest of Burketown
- 410 km Northwest of Cloncurry
- 10 km from Lawn Hill National Park
- 50 km from Riversleigh Fossil Fields
AIRSTRIP
- Latitude 18’ 42" S
- Longitude 138’ 32" E
- Elevation 429 Feet
- Length 1130m
- Runway Bearing 05/23
SURROUNDING ENVIRONS
Adel’s Grove, known locally as "The Frenchman's Garden" is a 32 hectare freehold property first surveyed as a Miner's Homestead Lease in 1904. It is completely surrounded by the 6,000 square kilometre Lawn Hill Station cattle property which in turn is a Fauna and Flora Reserve. Around 1920 the Adel’s Grove lease was taken up by Albert de Lestang a French botanist who was reputed to be commissioned by the government of the day to experiment here on the growing of tropical trees and fruits. By 1939 he had some 1,000 species of exotic and native plants, shrubs and trees growing here.
Most of the trees and shrubs cultivated by A. de Lestang have succumbed to drought, fires and termites during the intervening years. Those that have survived thrive alongside the remnants of his irrigation trenches on the fertile river terrace below the shed at Adel’s Grove. An assortment of trees from tropical America, Asia and Africa are still present along with some still to be identified.
The Grove also abounds with Livistona palms, Leichhardt pines, acacias, melaleucas, figs, eucalypts and many other native species growing side by side with the exotics. The fauna of the area is both diverse and prolific with several types of wallaby and kangaroo, a vast variety of birds, both land and aquatic reptiles (no saltwater crocodiles), a number of amphibians and some unique native mammals. Many of the species are either nocturnal or migratory and are therefore not commonly sighted.
The majority of the country surrounding Adel’s Grove is semi-arid Savannah during the 'dry' but blooms to form a completely different landscape during the 'wet' season. Forming a magnificent backdrop to the Grove and containing the famous Lawn Hill National Park is the Constance Range, a limestone capped sandstone escarpment which forms the eastern extremity of the Barkly Tablelands.
The ranges contain many ancient Aboriginal sites (not all accessible), an area of internationally significant fossilisation, a gigantic impact structure (comet or asteroid crater), and some flora and fauna unique to this area. Photographers, bush walkers, botanists, ornithologists, entomologists, archaeologists and naturalists are provided with a wealth of inspiration.
There are other interesting and historic sites within a short distance of Adel’s Grove including gravesites, abandoned mines and picturesque river crossings. You will marvel at the sparkling clarity and purity of the stream systems of this unique area.
Adel's Grove is the service centre for visitors to the Lawn Hill area providing accommodation with bar and restaurant, camp sites, fuel, emergency mechanical repairs, a shop stocking basic items, a public telephone and transfers from the nearby airstrip.
Activities include swimming, canoeing, fishing, walking, bird watching and tours of the nearby Riversleigh fossil fields.
Adel’s Grove
PMB2
Mount Isa Qld 4825
Phone: 0747 485502
Fax: 0747 485600
Email: adelsgrove@bigpond.com
Web: www.adelsgrove.com.au
KINGFISHER CAMP
P.M.B 75
VIA MT ISA Q 4830
Phone 61 7 47 458 212
Fax 61 7 47 458 202
Email: caretaker@kingfisherresort.com.au
Web: www.kingfisherresort.com.au
Kingfisher Camp is a grassed and shaded camping ground situated on the bank of the Nicholson River at one end of a 5km long waterhole. It has a new ablution block (hot showers, septic toilets, laundry tubs), kiosk, taps at campsites, barbeque plates, boat hire and guided tours on land and water.
Visitors can fish, birdwatch and bushwalk. Spot a freshwater crocodile, explore the gorge, catch their dinner or just relax in the timeless peace of this unspoiled land.
BURKE & WILLS ROADHOUSE
LOCATION
- At the intersection of the Burke Development Road (3 ways)
- 51km North of Cloncurry
- 194 km South of Normanton
SURROUNDING ENVIRONS
Situated on the junction of major roads, the Burke and Wills Roadhouse (the Three Ways) is considered the gateway to the Gulf, on the route taken by the ill fated explorers Burke and Wills.
151 km down the road from Cloncurry and 194 km to Normanton, Burke & Wills roadhouse is a welcome sight for people travelling similar distances from Burketown, Julia Creek or Lawn Hill National Park.
The Roadhouse offers fuels, restaurant service and takeaways, plus much more. The licensed restaurant is a wonderful place to enjoy an evening meal. The bar caters for a variety of tastes in beverages.
Accommodation in air-conditioned rooms ensures visitors have a comfortable night, and there are caravan park and tenting facilities (both powered and unpowered) for those bringing their own accommodation.
The annual Campdraft and Rodeo is generally held each year in the month of May and Melbourne Cup day is another of those traditional bush days for the Burke and Wills Roadhouse.
SERVICE FACILITIES
Burke & Wills Roadhouse - Telephone 61 7 4742 5909
BURKETOWN
LOCATION
- 429 km North of Cloncurry via Gregory Downs
- 942 km West of Cairns
- 197 km East of Northern Territory Border
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Macair Airlines fly to Burketown weekly.
AIRSTRIP
- Latitude 17' 45' S
- Longitude 139 32'E
- Elevation 50ft
- Length 1372 m
- Runway 03/21
- Sealed with a PAL system
- No landing fees apply
THINGS TO DO AND SEE
The historic remains of the original Gulf meatworks, on the Albert River just North of the town. The town bore over one hundred years old, still issues boiling water and creates a billabong where birdlife gathers. The many minerals contained in the water form a colourful base around the bore.
Burketown to Normanton telegraph line. This line was in competition with the Adelaide to Darwin line to be the terminus for the trans-oceanic cable connecting Australia to Asia and Europe. The Burketown line lost the competition as "Gulf Fever" killed the expedition leader of the surveying crew, Frederick Walker, who was buried on the bank of the Leichhardt River. The Albert Hotel in Burketown was originally the Customs House and was built over 100 years ago, being erected some time in the late 1860's.
The Frederick Walker Monument at the Leichhardt River crossing, near the Floraville homestead. A natural campsite exists on the Leichhardt River crossing near the falls where there are also some Aboriginal grinding slits in the river bed. There have been crocodile sightings upstream from the river crossing so be aware of your environment as you roam around.
The original Burketown Post Office, over 100 hundred years old is now the visitor information centre.
The Burketown cemetery, is a fascinating journey into the past as Burketown was the original Gulf settlement with very turbulent beginnings. The cemetery also reveals the devastation of "Gulf Fever” thought to be typhoid.
The Gregory and Nicholson Rivers merge just north of Doomadgee road and continue on to the Gulf of Carpentaria. In the lower reaches of this river system the environment sustains saltwater crocodiles, birdlife, mud crabs and many species of fish, but of special note is the barramundi. The mangrove lined river meanders through miles of saltpans.
The saltflats, of 130 square kilometres are a spectacular exercise in space.
Morning Glory Clouds. These are a peculiar cloud formation that occur in the last part of the year, usually September to November. They are tubular cloud formations that roll out of the Gulf in the early morning, often in lines of three or four. They extend from horizon to horizon and are accompanied by strong winds.
The history, of this area is also fascinating. Macassans from Sulawesi (the Celebes) established semi-permanent settlements along the coastline and islands for some 600 years prior to European discovery.
Burketown was a wild and woolly town of the 1800s - sidearms, Negroes, Kanakas, American Civil War veterans, officers from the East India Company - where law and order was maintained by the Native Mounted Police.
DOOMADGEE
LOCATION
- 93 km West of Burketown
- 1035 km West of Cairns
- 104 km east of Northern Territory Border (Wollogorang)
SURROUNDING ENVIRONS
Doomadgee, situated on the Nicholson River, between Burketown and the Northern Territory border, is an Aboriginal community engaged in the cattle industry. As of late it is becoming involved in providing services for travellers, however please note that although the main area of the community is accessible to the visitor, access to the village is at the discretion of the Community Council. Visitors are asked to liaise with Council representatives for access beyond the retail area. Doomadgee has a sealed airstrip and a hospital.
The Queensland Government has passed a number of reforms to address the alcohol and violence issues afflicting Indigenous Communities across the State. These reforms include amendments to the Liquor Act 1992 which were approved by State Parliament in September 2002. The new laws enable a restricted area to be declared on Aboriginal land and a limit set for the amount of alcohol carried in a public place within that restricted area.
Carriage of alcohol along the Savannah Way is permitted provided visitors do not turn off the main road into Doomadgee or venture on to Doomadgee Land.
GREGORY
LOCATION
- 117 km South of Burketown
- 243 km North of Mount Isa
- 314 km southeast of Northern Territory border
AIRSTRIP
Unsealed and emergency lighting only
No landing fee applies
Latitude 18Æ37.5'S
Longitude 139Æ14'E
Elevation 170 ft
Length 1180 m
Runway Bearing 04/22
SURROUNDING ENVIRONS
Gregory Downs is a very small community, sited on the banks of the Gregory River which is just too beautiful to pass by. The wide sandy banks and cool clear water make this one of the nicest places to sit and appreciate the natural beauty of the Gulf Savannah.
Its banks boast thick, lush vegetation - the remnants of an ancient rainforest which once covered the entire Gulf Savannah.
THINGS TO DO AND SEE
Canoeing. The Gregory River is considered to be
one of the best canoe courses in Australia and the annual Northwest
Canoe Club's
race on the long weekend in May attracts many entrants who wish
to test their skills.
Campdrafts & Races, are held annually at Gregory, on the Labour Day weekend in May, and usually in June, August and October.
Swimming. Because the Gregory River is spring-fed from limestone country, it is fast flowing, crystal clear water and excellent for swimming. The banks, near Gregory Downs, are wide sandy beaches and good for a relaxing lazy day spent in the sun or under a tree.
Photography. Wildlife utilise the river as it is the only water for miles around so there is a great variety of marsupials and birds in the proximity. Please remember that cattle also use this river for drinking so camping around their access points should be avoided.
Lawn Hill National Park, is also accessible from the comfort of the accommodation at the Gregory Hotel. It's a 2 hour drive over a dirt road, and well worth it.
Riversleigh Fossil Field, is accessible from Gregory and a good day trip in conjunction with Lawn Hill.
HELL'S GATE
LOCATION
- 185 km West of Burketown
SURROUNDING ENVIRONS
The far north west of the Gulf Savannah encompasses the fringe of the spectacular eastern escarpments of the Barkly Tablelands and the rugged beauty of the Gulf of Carpentaria’s flood plains.
Rich in flora and fauna from both ecosystems, the region boasts one of the world's oldest landscapes. The wealth of mineral deposits, crystal veins and stunning rock formations telling their own tales of the land's evolvement.
Native tribes indigenous to the area, the Waanyi, Gangalida and Garawa people have also left their mark. Caves near Hell's Gate act as natural art galleries for the pictorial history of these early residents. Native wells and other remnants of their life in the district can still be found today.
Small springs and pockets of prehistoric rainforests, which once covered the region, provide a lifeline to the wealth of birdlife including rare native species such as the Carpentaria Grass Wren and the Red Tailed Black Cockatoo.
While today's visitors can expect a warm, country welcome, it was the sometimes bloody history of the land during early European settlement which gave the outpost its rather ominous sounding title. Before the turn of the century settlers heading for the rich pastoral land of the Northern Territory quaked at the mention of its name.
In the late 1800s police stationed at the nearby Corinda provided regular escorts for settlers as far as the rocky escarpments of Hell's Gate, refusing to accompany the travellers past this point because of the fierceness of Aboriginals to the area.
LAWN HILL NATIONAL PARK
LOCATION
- 220 km southwest of Burketown
- 401 km northwest of Cloncurry
SURROUNDING ENVIRONS
Lawn Hill National Park was officially opened in late 1985 to protect this spectacular gorge system with its sheer 60 metre sandstone walls, crystal clear green water which flows in abundance all year round and is fringed with lush tropical vegetation consisting of Livistona palms, Leichhardt trees, paperbarks, figs, pandanus, and white cedar trees - remnants of the ancient rainforest that covered the Gulf Savannah millions of years ago.
The first confirmed sighting in Queensland of the rock possum was in Lawn Hill. Some of the other wildlife species that call Lawn Hill Gorge home are agile wallabies, solitary wallaroo, insectivorous bats, olivine python, fairy martins, water monitors, tortoises, and a variety of birdlife.
As well as the spectacular scenery and wildlife Lawn Hill also has two areas open to view Aboriginal art. The gorge has a prolific selection of Aboriginal middens and tool factories, which can be viewed, but are definitely not to be collected.
The Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service have built some 20 km of marked pathways providing access to the more spectacular viewing areas around the gorge area.
SPECIAL POINTS OF CONCERNING THE USE OF THE NATIONAL PARK
Please, no domestic pets. If you are travelling with pets, you can leave them at Adel’s Grove for a small fee.
Adel’s Grove shop and campground is 10km from the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service park headquarters.
Collect firewood on your way into the Park.
No fishing or motor boats are allowed in the gorge.
Generators are not encouraged, however, there is a special area set aside for camping with quiet generators (noise level up to 80 dB at 2 meters; their running times are restricted to hours negotiated with the Ranger on site.
Nearest airstrip – Adel’s Grove
BOOKINGS
Lawn Hill National Park
PMB 12
MOUNT ISA Q 4825
Telephone 61 7 4748 5572 Fax 61 7 4748 5549
Department of Environment
P.O. Box 2316
MT ISA Q 4825
Telephone 61 7 4743 2055 Fax 61 7 4743 9800
Adel’s Grove (10 km east of Lawn Hill National Park)
PMB 2
MOUNT ISA Q 4825
Telephone 61 7 4748 5502 Fax 61 7 4748 5600
Mornington
LOCATION
- In the Gulf of Carpentaria, North of Burketown
AIRSTRIP
Latitude 16' 40" S
Longitude 39' 10" E
Elevation 15 ft
Runway Bearing 093'/273"
Length 1520 m
Strip Width 90 m
Mornington Island and the other islands in the Wellesley Group are administered by a Local Government council.
The Island has all modern facilities as other regional communities such as sealed town roads, reliable power and water supplies and a full range of telecommunication services and products. Mornington Shire has many natural resources and is well suited for tourism.
The township of Gununa on the main island of Mornington is home to the majority of residents and access is only available by sea or the excellent airport facilities on the Island. Two small fishing lodges operate in the Shire, one located on the North-Eastern side of Mornington Island and the other on Sweers Island. Air and limited sea access is available at both locations.
This island is an Aboriginal community, permission to land on the island must be sought from the Mornington Shire Council by mail, six weeks prior to intended visit. There is no guarantee of permission being granted. Guests to Birri Fishing Lodge do not require permission from the Council.
BIRRI FISHING RESORT
LOCATION
- Mornington Island - North of Burketown
AIRSTRIP
For private aircraft there is a sand/dirt airstrip
040/220 degrees
Latitude 16 29" 30" South
Longitude 139 18" 00" East
Mag Var 5 and a half East
Length 1300 m
Birri Fishing Resort
P.O. Box 1818 MORNINGTON ISLAND Q 4871
Telephone 61 7 4745 7277 Fax 61 7 4745 7297
- Sport and bottom fishing
- All fishing is guided by professional fishing masters.
- Crabbing
- Boats for hire
- All fishing gear supplied - top quality Shimano
- Clay target range
- Twinshare rooms
- All rooms have ensuites
- Licensed dining room & Bar
SWEERS ISLAND
LOCATION
- Sweers Island, Gulf of Carpentaria
AIRSTRIP
Latitude 17' 7.34" S
Longitude 139' 35.93" E
Elevation Just above sea level
Runway Heading 12/30
Length 1100 m
Width 60 m
SURROUNDING ENVIRONS
The island is surrounded by thousands of acres of reef, mostly rock, but with some coral, much of which has never seen a fishing line. Reef fish (the most common being sweetlip, cod, coral trout, parrotfish and stripeys, with some red emperor and scarlet sea perch) abound in the rich waters of the Gulf and in winter the pelagics such as mackerel and tuna are plentiful.
The Morning Glories, are a peculiar cloud formation that occur in the last part of the year - usually September to November. They are tubular cloud formations that roll out of the Gulf in the early morning, often in lines of three or four.
Sweers Island Resort
PMB 1
KARUMBA Q 4891
Phone: 61 7 4748 5544
Fax: 61 7 4748 5644
Email: info@sweers.com.au
