Strzelecki Track | |
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The Strzelecki Track (blue and white) and the old part of the track at the northern end | |
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| Coordinates |
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| General information | |
| Type | Track |
| Length | 472 km (293 mi)[1] |
| Major junctions | |
| Northeast end | Cordillo Downs Road Innamincka, South Australia |
| Adventure Way | |
| Southwest end | The Outback Highway Lyndhurst, South Australia |
| Location(s) | |
| Region | Far North[2] |
| Restrictions | |
| Fuel supply | Lyndhurst, Innamincka, Cameron Corner |
Strzelecki Track is a mostly unsealed outback track in South Australia, linking Innamincka to Lyndhurst.
History[edit]
In 1870, the 472-kilometre (293-mile) track was pioneered by stockman, drover and cattle thief Harry Readford.[3] He stole 1,000 head of cattle from a remote cattle station in Queensland. He drove them down the track, and sold them at Blanchewater Station. He then fled to Adelaide. Pastoralists then used the track as a stock route in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. [4]
After gas was discovered by Santos in the 1960s, it started carrying more traffic as a route to Moomba. Some sections were sealed.[4]
Description[edit]
The track links Innamincka to Lyndhurst through the Strzelecki Desert. It is mostly unsealed, but with a few short sealed sections to facilitate overtaking.[5] It is passable to conventional vehicles during the dry season, although caution is required.[3]
The track is prone to flooding after heavy rains. At other times the surface can be corrugated, with loose stones and dust.[4]
The Strzelecki Track is linked with the Birdsville Track via the Walkers Crossing Track. It is closed in summer and only traversable in dry weather.[4]
A shorter route is available via a public access road between Moomba and Innamincka, making the distance 458 kilometres (285 miles).[6]
Heritage listings[edit]
A number of isolated heritage-listed sites are located nearby to the Strzelecki Track:
- Tinga Tingana Homestead Ruins[7]
- Gray's Tree[8]
- Well and Whim, Coochilara Waterhole, Merty Merty Station[9]
- Old Mulga Bore, Merty Merty Station[10]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Google (13 July 2022). "Strzelecki Track" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Location SA Map viewer with regional layers". Government of South Australia. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ a b "The Strzelecki Track". Flinders Range Research. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Getting to Innamincka by road". Innamincka Hotel. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ Hema, Maps (2007). Australia Road and 4WD Atlas (Map). Eight Mile Plains Queensland: Hema Maps. pp. 72–73. ISBN 978-1-86500-456-3.
- ^ Hema, Maps (2006). Australia’s Great Desert Tracks SE Sheet (Map). Eight Mile Plains Queensland: Hema Maps. ISBN 978-1-86500-162-3.
- ^ "Tinga Tingana Homestead (Ruin)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 12 February 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Tree, possibly marking the burial site of Charles Gray, member of Burke & Wills' 1861 expedition', Lake Massacre, Innamincka Regional Reserve". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ "Well and Whim, Coochilara Waterhole, Merty Merty Station". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ "Horse Capstan, Pump & Well, Old Mulga Bore, Merty Merty Station". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
External links[edit]
Further reading[edit]
- Lewis, Craig and Savage, Cathy (2005) Australia's top 4WD getaways Prahran, Vic. Explore Australia Publishing. ISBN 1-74117-067-2
- Flinders Range Research – Historical information about South Australia and the Northern Territory
Road infrastructure in South Australia | ||
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| Arterial roads |
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| Outback tracks | ||