Bourke - Day 2

Fine and clear and 29 degrees today.

We have decided to stay an extra day in Bourke and do a bit of maintenance brought on by the rough roads over the last few days. A few things had been letting go and dropping off walls including a drawer that dropped onto the floor and spilt it contents. All fixed now, but some of the very undulating roads northwest of Lightning Ridge need a slower speed than the 85-90 that we were doing.

We were talking to John and Denise from Stanley in Tasmania today. They have a big F-Truck with a slide on camper and have recently done the great Inland highway from Leonora in WA (north of Kalgoorlie) via Uluru and the Plenty Highway to Boulia, Windorah, and Quilpie to Bourke. At one roadhouse they were asked $2.30 per litre for fuel and a $20 fee for being 5 minutes after closing time, even though the road-house was still open. The road-house did themselves out of a sale as John had a 900 kms range and could wait until the next roadhouse.

Bourke being located on the Darling River was a Maritime Port with a Maritime Court that is located the furthest inland of any Maritime court in Australia. The courthouse has a crown on the roof to indicate its status as a Maritime Court. The Bourke Wharf has a number of loading levels to cater for the fluctuating river levels.

Crossley steam engine at Bourke Wharf

Di at Bourke Wharf (level 1)

Bourke Wharf level 2

Bourke Wharf levels 3 and 4

Fitzgerald's Post Office Hotel circa 1888

Bourke Post Office circa 1880

Bourke Court House built in 1900 for 9,500 pounds

Crown on the Bourke Court House

Bourke Police Station circa 1889

PV Jandra moored on the Darling River near Bourke

George paddling up the Darling River

Black Cockatoos feeding in the caravan park