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Bourke Facts - What to see
and do! |
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The Back
of Bourke is more than a geographic location, it's part
of the Australian language, part of the folklore. Bourke
provoked author Henry Lawson to write after his visit in
1893,
'If you know Bourke, you know Australia.'
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Fast Facts |
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›
Bourke
is a historic river port on
the Darling River
› Black
and Red dirt
plains
and scrub bracket the sweep of the river
› 780 KM
north-west of
Sydney, population 3,000 approx |
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Why
go there |
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Generations of Australians
have talked about the “Back of Bourke” as the edge of
the great unknown, but visitors will be surprised to
learn that Bourke itself is a fascinating and exciting
inland town with a rich historical tradition. In the
1800s, the poet Henry Lawson wrote: “If you know Bourke,
you know Australia”, and there’s still some truth to it.
Once a major late
19th-century river port, Bourke retains much of its
heritage. Whether the Darling is at its lowest ebb or
brimming with life, Bourke is a fascinating place to
spend some time.
Saying is once you cross
the Darling you will always return |
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History |
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Charles Sturt passed
through in 1824, followed by Thomas Mitchell in 1835.
Mitchell constructed what he called a fort, which was
little more than a shed constructed on logs, and called
it Fort Bourke. Eventually, the township of Bourke
developed about 13 km from this fortification.
For a couple of decades
from the early 1860s, Bourke and other towns along the
Darling River became important trading centres and
transportation hubs. |
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Things To Do |
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› Walk
the Heritage Trail
and discover many beautiful colonial buildings.
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Wonder along the Darling
River and
take a ride aboard the paddle-boat Jandra.
›
Explore
the Aboriginal rock art
at Mount Gundabooka National Park, 50 km south-west of
Bourke |
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Events |
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› Bourke
Show,
in May, a real outback event.
› Yaamma
Festival,
in September, celebrates indigenous culture |
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Don't Miss |
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› The
re-creation of Fort
Bourke, about 20 km outside town.
› The
graves of Afghan
camel drivers at the Bourke Cemetery.
› The
Back O’ Bourke
Exhibition Centre heritage facility.
› Eagles
and other wildlife
at Mt Oxley, 50 km south of Bourke |
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Contact Details For The
Tourist Information Centre |
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Bourke Visitor Information
Centre
Anson Street
Bourke, NSW 2840
Telephone: 02 - 6872 1222
Fax: 02 - 6872 2305
Email:
tourinfo@lisp.com.au
Website:
www.visitbourke.com |
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