Back of Bourke Exhibition Centre

The Back O' Bourke $6 million Exhibition Centre will be a world class facility set amongst the River Red Gums on the Darling River. Telling the story of the river over a 500 year period, taking you on a journey from the dreamtime to a 100 years into the future. Visitors will walk through the colourful history of the area including the paddleboats, early pastoralists, aboriginal history, poets, the unions, early settlers, Afghan cameleers and Cobb and Co Coaches, into a future which will address the major issues of sustainability in our outback occupation. The Exhibition Centre will look at the environment, the future of agriculture and social structures in the outback.

Comeroo Camel Station

Coomeroo is the complete outback experience for the whole family.

It is a working sheep and cattle station covering an area of some 100,000 acres in some of Australia's famous red and black soiled country North West of Bourke.

Much water with some of the best birdlife and wildlife imaginable.

We offer canoeing, fishing, and yabbying plus the general bushwalk to see some of the best outback country.

You may like a camel wagon instead of a walk where you can camp out for a night or two under the big dome.

Enjoy a spa in a natural artesian bore in the open or stay in a spacious cottage enjoying the friendly hospitality that Chris and Bruce offer with a sumptuous steak cooked on the BBQ or a camp oven dinner.

The experience of a lifetime not to be missed.

Bring a tent or van or enjoy the cottage.

Getting there is easy. You don't need a 4WD or an aeroplane but we do have a 1000 metre airstrip 29.14.58 S 145.08.38 E

Let Bruce and Chris treat you to an experience you will never ever forget.

Sites and Facts

THE DARLING RIVER Bourke was established in 1859 as a paddleboat destination. It was surveyed in 1862 and became the major inland port on the Darling River. Paddleboats ran the Darling until 1931.

THE BOURKE BRIDGE [North Bourke] One of the first lift up bridges built over the Darling River in 1883. Travelling north you will venture over the new bridge, which is situated next to the old one.

THE LOCK AND WEIR Built in 1897 to ensure a permanent supply of water to the town. The Bourke Lock was the first to be built in Australia and the only one on the Darling.

Mt OXLEY 49.5k by road from Bourke to the Southeast heading towards Brewarrina. Magnificent views from the top. Wedge-tailed eagles are to be seen. A key and information is available from the Tourist Office.

Mt GUNDABOOKA A large hilly area about 80k's Southwest of Bourke. Consists of beautiful Australian bushland. The area has a number of Aboriginal rock paintings and is a wonderful place for bush walks. Superb views are available and kangaroos, emus and other wildlife are to be seen in abundance. Contact the National Parks & Wildlife Service on 02 6872 2744 for further information. A key is needed to get to the site.

FORT BOURKE STOCKADE (Replica) A replica of a log stockade built 35 k's down stream from Bourke by the explorer Major Mitchell in 1835. It was named after the then Governor of the Colony and the name was later transferred to the district and the town.

REPLICA OF THE BOURKE PADDLEBOAT WHARVES At the end of Sturt Street

"GATEWAY TO THE REAL OUTBACK" Mural [Anson St] painted by John Murray.

LEDKNAPPER WILDFLOWERS (Spring only) 47k north of Bourke on the Mitchell Highway along the Kidman Way and 32k's to the east, is in an area where unique native wildflowers grow in abundance in the spring mostly after good winter rain or late summer rain.

ABUNDANT BIRDLIFE The area abounds in bird life with more than 140 species identified in the district. Emus, Pelicans, Wedge tailed Eagles, Brolgas, Galahs, Budgerigars and white and black cockatoos are among the most common birds to be seen. Make sure you ask for our bird list that will show you some of the birds identified in the area.

ENVIRONMENT AND INDUSTRY ARTESIAN WATER Artesian Bores are an essential source of water for stock in the region. The first really large flow of artesian water in Bourke district at Kallara Station near Tilpa between Bourke and Wilcannia, and probably in Australia was found at Kerribee Station about 70 miles west of Bourke in 1888. Pera Bore, an old experimental irrigation farm along the Wanaaring road has a display that shows the type of produce grown with the use of artesian bore water at the latter stage of last century until the mid 20's

WOOL Wool and sheep have been a major industry in the Bourke District for over a century. The Shire has supported an average of 930,000 sheep per year over the last 15 years generating an average 4.5 million kg's of wool each year.

COTTON Due to the ideal climate, Cotton has proved to be highly successful and now over 10,000ha of cotton has been planted and is expected to return $60,000,000.00 to the district. The industry is a major employer in the area. Stuart runs a wonderful Mini bus tour which takes you around the town and to the cotton farms, cotton gin (April - August) and citrus etc and leaves frequently from the Tourist Office. Ph 02 6872 1222 .

HISTORICAL BUILDINGS OF OLD BOURKE Some of the Oxley St buildings consist of The Old London Bank (1888), Courthouse (1900),Post Office (1880), and Post Office Hotel (1888). At the corner of Mitchell and Wilson Streets is the Carriers Arms Inn, frequented by Henry Lawson in the early 1890's and mentioned in some of his stories. The Inn was also a Cobb & Co coaching stop on the Hungerford route. Further along Mitchell and Wilson St is the Old Towers Drug Co Building (1889), the Lands Department Building (1898), the Riverside Motel (once the Telegraph Hotel built in 1875), and the Catholic Church, St Ignatius.
This is Bourke's oldest documented building and was opened the first Sunday after Easter in 1874. For a guided tour of Bourke and its Historic Buildings contact Bourke Tourist Information

BOURKE CEMETERY Bourke is the resting - place of 1991 Australian of the Year Professor Fred Hollows. Eye Surgeon Fred Hollows developed a commitment to Aboriginal health. He was instrumental in the development of Aboriginal medical centres and the launching of the national trachoma and eye health program. Fred's concern for eye health soon spread and he set up clinics in Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Vietnam and in Latin America. Also in Bourke cemetery are graves of several Afghans associated with the camel trade that ceased in the 1920's. The graves of two policemen killed on duty (one by a bushranger), the grave of local poet F.H.Brown and many other graves of historical interest can be found there.