So we left Gregory and headed south, calling in at the iconic Burke and Wills Roadhouse - we made our own coffee at our own coffee van haha.
We were going to stay the night up the road at the Quamby pub but decided to come through to Cloncurry. Or The Curry as the locals call it.
On seeing the free camp below the road close to town, we thought initially we should have stayed at Quamby, but it was quieter and better and more convenient than expected.
We went for a walk around town (3500) people) for an hour in the afternoon - that was enough... its hot - 30 degrees.
Next morning we went to the visitors centre where we topped up the water tanks and then went through the John Flynn visitor centre. Flynn of the outback, who started the Flying Doctor Service here in Cloncurry, was quite a guy and it's a heck of a story. Great visit - and even better with a Seniors' Card haha!
From there we drove out to Corella Dam, just 30 or so kilometres down the road. We were stopped by Road Transport on the way - this is the main road to Mt Isa and 99% of the traffic is on the road headed that way, but a significant truck accident on that road had blocked the road for the next 24 hours. Once we explained we were only going to Corella Dam we were allowed through.
This was a great place to stop, a free camp, well off the road near the water. There were probably about 50 or 60 people staying in an area about the size of a large suburb.
We were fortunate to park next to a lovely older fella. We share his fire for the night, and he gave me a turn on his e-bike (we are definitely buying one when we return to Balmain to live!)
Corella Dam, we later found out, was created to provide water to the township of Mary Kathleen, 30 kilometres down the road.
It was a uranium mine and once was a thriving community about 40km east of Mt Isa, where families lived, babies were born and children went to school.
All that's left today are the slabs of old car garages or car ports, streets with curb and guttering. The old mine site is 6km down the road.
On to Mt Isa for the night
Why is Lawn Hill closed? Such a shame - it is lovely there. Next time.....
ReplyDeleteLawn Hill had massive flooding last year. It's been closed all year and they are hoping to be open for 2025. 100% of services were destroyed or washed away, including vehicles and Ranger centre.
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