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nature adventure fun • get out there

Approximately 90km from Jundah towards Yaraka is the historic site of the shanty immortalised in Banjo Paterson's poem "A Bush Christening", not far from the ruins of the Cobb & Co pub and the lonely grave of goldminer Richard Magoffin who perished in 1885.

To visit this historic site and if you are travelling from Jundah; take the Quilpie- Retreat road as far as the crossroads at Retreat station, turn left onto the Retreat - Yaraka road and travel approximately 55.9km, take the turn off to your left and travel a further 4.4km to the Shanty turn off (this time on your right) Magee's Shanty is in about 500m.

If you miss the turn off from the Retreat - Yaraka Road, you know you have gone to far if you reach Powell's Creek (this is just past the turn off over a grid).

Richard Magoffin's grave can also been found not far from the shanty site.

Discover Barcoo Shire's diverse outback landscapes and unique people of our small towns. Our site features must-see locations and must-do activities during your visit to the channel country.

Windorah is surrounded by scenic countryside, picturesque ruins and spectacular red sandhills. Cooper Creek, immortalised in poetry by Andrew "Banjo" Paterson, is one of the great natural attractions of Windorah. There are also ruins, mostly old pub sites, situated within 90km of the town.

Jundah is at the centre of sheep and cattle grazing land and is the administrative centre for the shire. The Barcoo Shire Museum is open 24 hours and there you'll find everything from antique mortuary tools to an old Royal Flying Doctor Service medicine kit.

Situated just off the Thomson Developmental Road, Stonehenge is a small town with a population of 40. You won't find any standing stones like that of England's Stonehenge, but you will find friendly people, beautiful scenery, and great camping and fishing.

Browse our site for more things to do in Barcoo Shire.

Located approximately 43 kilometers south east of Jundah. The park boasts a wide range of flora and fauna, which can be viewed along picturesque drives. There are also some marvellous opportunities for camping, hiking, photography and bird watching along the Barcoo River system.

A former grazing property, Welford was declared as a National Park in 1992.

The park protects examples of three arid zone land types: Mulga Lands, Mitchell Grass Downs and Channel Country.

Welford's varied habitats are important refuges for a diverse range of wildlife, including rare yellow-footed rock-wallabies and mulga parrots. Some species are at or beyond the limits of their recognised range, including mountain yapunyah, poplar box, the emerald spotted tree frog, and several skinks.

Things to do

Follow the flat expanse of the Barcoo River flood plains in the south of the park and take the Mulga Drive to the north-east where the stony escarpment country supports Mulga communities, dissected by sandy creeks and gullies.

Sawyer's Lookout offers views of the escarpment country, where the bright green foliage of the creek lines stands out like veins.

In the west, the Desert Drive travels through sandplains dominated by spinifex and Western bloodwood. The windswept ripples in the scattered red sand dunes are often crisscrossed with a myriad of animal tracks. The desert drive passes by several bores and other signs of its previous pastoral history.

Camping

A self-registration camping stand is located at Little Boomerang campground on the banks of the Barcoo River. Try a spot of fishing or boil the billy under the huge river red gums.

Plan your visit

Visit in April to September, when temperatures range from an overnight 0°C to a daytime 25°C. Most of the annual 300mm of rainfall falls in summer, and temperatures rise above 40°C.

Welford National Park is located 60km south-east of Jundah on the Barcoo River. Travel south-west from Blackall on the Yaraka Retreat Road, or travel north-west from Quilpie on the Diamantina Developmental Road to the Jundah - Quilpie road. Turn off the Jundah - Quilpie road at the park's entrance, which is 50km south-west of Jundah. 4WD vehicles are recommended.

For more information contact the Longreach District office on 07 4652 7333.

Located in Far West Queensland, in the heart of the Channel Country, Barcoo region is one of the more remote shires with an area of 61,974 square kilometres in far Western Queensland, incorporating the townships of Jundah, Stonehenge and Windorah.

The Barcoo Shire lays claim to the most exceptionally unique place in Australia and the world. It is the only place where two prominent and significate inland rivers, the Thomson and Barcoo meet to form a creek the Cooper Creek.

Rich in history, the Barcoo Shire has an outback experience to offer everyone. Along with unique rustic landscapes, distinctive flora and fauna, spectacular wildlife, freshwater fishing, golf, bird watching and stunning sunsets. The Barcoo is also home to Magee’s Shanty, birth place of the famous Bush Christening renowned by Banjo Paterson.

The welcoming three outback towns of Windorah, Jundah and Stonehenge can all be easily accessed via sealed roads and are located within a leisurely drive to the major towns of Longreach or Quilpie.

Barcoo Shire is the gateway to Birdsville, Bedourie, Innaminka, Quilpie or Longreach and Winton to the north.

WHERE IS CHANNEL COUNTRY?

Boulia Shire

Boulia is located 300km south of Mount Isa at the junction of the Diamantina & Kennedy Development Roads. The towns fame largely rests with being the Land of the Min Min Light, a strange spectral light that can appear, hover, disappear and reappear with an eerie will of its own.

Diamantina Shire

Rich in natural, cultural and pastoral heritage, the Diamantina covers 95,000 square kms, yet is home to just 11 stations and 300 residents. It captures the very essence of Australia's Outback, and is accessible to most vehicles, caravans and motor homes.

Barcoo Shire

Located deep in the heart of the Channel Country, this region is one of the more remote shires with an area of 61,974 square kilometres in far Western Queensland, incorporating the townships of Jundah, Stonehenge and Windorah. The main industries are beef, oil, wool, opal, tourism and macroped harvesting.

Areas of Interest in Barcoo Shire

  1. Stonehenge
  2. Jundah
  3. Windorah
  4. Welford National Park
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