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Population: 200, Length: 507km Latitude: -25.535408, Longitude: 139.215092 Location: 1,550 west of Brisbane Highway: Birdsville Track Nearest Major Town: Birdsville Nearest Airport: Birdsville Touring Area: Outback |
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 The Birdsville Hotel - Courtesy of Tourism Queensland | |
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BIRDSVILLE:(1161 Km from Adelaide, 1550 from Brisbane) Located in the south western corner of Queensland, only 12 kilometres over the South Australian border, in began as a general store providing supplies for cattle drovers using what is now the Birdsville Track, in 1882. Until Australian Federation of States 1901 it was also a customs town collecting state fees for the transportation of cattle across the border. Free trade and a severe drought in 1915 reduced the town to a remote outpost, and the Birdsville Pub and a mission hospital are the main remaining features of its hey-day. Facilities in the town include the hotel/motel which provides food and accommodation, a caravan park, a general store, post office agency, a garage offering fuel and mechanical repairs, a public telephone and a sealed runway airport for light planes. There is a well-equipped medical centre and a police station. PLACES TO VISIT: At the rear of the hotel there is a hot artesian waterflow. 32km. west of Birdsville is the famous 'Big Red' sandhill on the road to Poeppel's Corner and the Simpson Desert National Park. Poeppel's Corner is the junction of the South Australian, Queensland and Northern Territory corners. From Poeppel's Corner, the French Line Track crosses the Simpson Desert to Dalhousie Springs in the Witjira National Park. About 10 km. north of Birdsville on the Bedourie Road are the concrete-like Waddi trees. The peg marking Poeppel Corner was cut from a Waddi Tree. TRAVELLING THE BIRDSVILLE TRACK DESERT PARKS PASS: A Desert Parks Permit is required for travel within Conservation and Regional Parks. These can be obtained from the National Parks and Wildlife Service at a cost of around $50.00 and is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Desert Park Passes are available from agents in most outback centres or through the NPWS at P.O. Box 102 Hawker. S.A. 5434 or phone 08 8648 4244. See Birdsville Track Map. PLACES OF INTEREST: The population swells by around 6,000 to 8,000 for the weekend when planes, coaches and cars arrive bringing people from all over Australia for this unique race meeting in the desert town. Not to be missed is you are in the vicinity or have time to attend. 
ACCOMMODATION & SERVICES: Adelaide St. Birdsville. QLD. 4482. Ph: 07 4656 3244 Fax: 07 4656 3262 
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© Copyright Peter W. Wilkins