Cameron Corner and Sturt National Park, NSW

While at Tibooburra we had to do 'The Must Do' drive out to Cameron Corner, the junction of South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. It is a 141 km drive from Tibooburra, gravel road all the way. We left at 9:00 AM precisely and returned at 5:00 PM.  We drove out via Cameron Corner Road and returned through The Sturt National Park via Middle Road, 'Jump Up' Loop Road and the final 20 km on The Silver City Highway, 313 km for the round trip. We had a lunch break at The Cameron Corner Store while we were in Queensland. The scenery was arid, interesting and always changing.

Salt Pans.

Coolabah Trees.

Clay Pan.

Cameron Corner, Jude is standing in Queensland.

I have my right foot in Queensland and my left foot in South Australia.

Jude on the Queensland side of the Dingo Fence.

Parked out front of Cameron Corner Store.

We had to shut The Gate at the Dingo Fence after returning to NSW.

Ghost Trees. All these trees died due to prolonged inundation during the Big Wet of 1974.

Gibber and Salt Bush Plains.

Heading into Sand Dune Country.

Bottom Bore, and water tanks from a bygone era.

Old Windmill and water tank. This is a common sight along the route on abandoned stations.

One of the many dry creek beds we crossed.

Fairly recently abandoned Olive Homestead.

The Out Buildings at Olive Homestead.

The Jump Up on the left of us.

Mountain Range to the right of us.

Jude standing on the edge of the Mesa.

The view that Jude is looking at in the above photograph. You can make out the red soil track that we will be following out.

Milparinka, NSW

2 km off the Silver City Highway to the left and about 40 km south of Tibooburra you will find The Heritage Town of Milparinka. Milparinka is not a 'dead' town but still has a couple of operating businesses. One being the recently re-opened Albert Hotel and the other is a kangaroo processing industry that has employed up to 25 people. By making a payment of $10 to the 'Heritage' volunteers you are permitted to camp on the town common and peruse the Heritage Display at your pleasure. Our day here was overcast and cool and sure enough that evening while having an excellent steak meal at the hotel we had a heavy shower of rain, probably about 5 ml, just enough to make the road sticky for our departure in the morning.

The Court House has been restored and houses all the memorabilia and records.

The Police Station has also been restored.

Behind the restored underground water tank is the restored Police Residence. This now houses the visiting volunteer staff during their two week rostered duty.

Not all buildings have been restored, this was once the bank.

A plate steel silhouette depicts the gold mining heritage of the area.

This similar silhouette depicts the early pastoral settlers.

There is also a display of mining and farm machinery in the sheds.

The school site is recognised by the School Name recorded by the students from about 1901, Federation Time. The sign is constructed of quartz rocks and spells "Milparinka Public School".

Jude sitting outside the Albert Hotel, Milparinka.

Another piece of roadside Local Art as you approach Milparinka.

Silver City Highway, NSW

We pulled out of Silverton on a cool, clear morning. Drove to Broken Hill, topped up the fuel tank in the car and the caravan water tanks at Coles Express and headed north on The Silver City Highway. We will eventually follow this highway through to the NSW border and into Queensland. This highway is not sealed all the distance but we found that by reducing our speed the unsealed sections were no problem. Approximately half the distance is unsealed but is well maintained. Also, it hasn't rained heavily in the area for some time so the roads are not damaged by the run-off. We planned for four camping stops before the Queensland border, two of these stops are described in separate posts on the blog, they being, Milparinka and Tibooburra.

At two sites along The Silver City Highway there are Commemorative Displays dedicated to the history of the early pioneers in the "Corner Country". The first of these is at Fowlers Gap and was commissioned to Alison Coultson. The River Red Gum branch represents the trees of the creek beds. This is connected to four original telegraph poles from when wired communications spanned the area. The meandering fence feature represents the many creek beds that cross the arid country. The posts are original Mulga Tree posts from the era of the first settlement. 

A  second view of the display with our roadside camp and Fowlers Gap visible in the background.

The second night saw us camped beside the neat Packsaddle Roadhouse.

At a morning tea stop at an intersection on the highway. The sign indicating the direction of several Homesteads.

There was also a bit of 'local art' here as well. Driving outback routes is never boring!

Jude with Little Tool Tree. Sign says "Do Not Water".

Noel with mature Tool Tree.

It came as a complete surprise to see a lake in these arid areas. This is Freehold land but I later learned that the owner does allow lakeside camping but please "Take Your Rubbish With You".

The grave of Eliza Kennedy lies beside this lake. She died 1886 aged 32.

Tibooburra, NSW

Tibooburra is a great little town that is almost as far away from any place in NSW as one can get. The area is known as "Corner Country" for a good reason. Many of the roads are unsealed but are generally in good condition. Unless, of course, if there is heavy rain, then, all roads are closed. Many travellers return to this town year after year. If you love red soil, well, this is the place to be. Tibooburra is generally known as the hottest place in NSW during Summer but now in late Autumn it is very comfortable.

The second of The Early Pioneer Commemorative Memorials is situated in Tibooburra. One of the elements of the display is a replica of Sturt's Boat. As you know, Charles Sturt thought there would be an inland sea north of The Flinders Ranges and hauled the 'Whaleboat' here to no avail. This display was commissioned to Anthony Hamilton.

Tibooburra boasts a Drive in Theatre.

The 'Two Storey Pub' or Tibooburra Hotel.

Corner Country Store and Cafe.

One of the original homes of the town is Mulga Timber framed and boasts murals along the front wall.

The other pub, The Family Hotel, was once owned by the artist Clifton Pugh.

Evidence of Pugh's ownership of the hotel is quite obvious when you step inside. Photographs are allowed as long as you donate to the RFDS.

More Pugh Art.

A regular art gallery in this pub!

Art of a different nature, this mural is on an external wall of a building.

Clifton Pugh at work again this time in The National Parks Office. This represents "The Corner Country".

This is the top left area of the mural above.

There is a great display in the National Parks Office of Sturts Expedition.

Sturt's Expedition comprised all of this list.

A local has made this model display of The Sturt Expedition.

At the rear of The Granites Caravan Park is this hill of granite boulders, the rock feature at the top right was the inspiration for one of Clifton Pugh's art works in The Family Hotel. Can you pick which one it was?

Our camp site in The Granites behind this 'Fire Pit' area.