Burketown

Location

Burketown sits on the Albert River and on the east-west dividing line between the wetlands to the north and the beginning of the savannah grass plains (Plains of Promise) to the south, some 25 kilometres from the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Surrounding environs include flat, grassy plains to the south and immense salt flats and wetlands to the north. The Nicholson River is some 17 kilometres to the west and is fresh water and perennial. The wetlands are breeding grounds for crocodiles, barramundi and prawns and a vast amount of bird species which are prolific during the summer months.

The grasslands to the south are the habitat of a great array of wildlife including emus, kangaroos and birdlife.

Burketown is 425 kilometres north of Mt Isa.

History

The area was originally named for the Plains of Promise or 'Province of Albert' after Prince Albert, the Queen's Consort in 1841. The town was named in honour of ill-fated explorer Robert O'Hara Burke following the overland expedition in 1861.

Burketown is the administrative centre of the vast Burke Shire Council. The town is roughly 30 km inland from the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The first European settlers arrived in the region not long after Burke and partner William John Wills' expedition to the Gulf of Carpentaria. By the mid 1860s, several cattle stations — including Gregory Downs, Floraville, and Donors Hill — had been founded inland from the present site of Burketown.

The town of Burketown developed around a site on the Albert River where supplies for these stations landed. At first, hopes the town would develop into a major settlement in north-western Queensland were high. Unfortunately, tropical diseases ravaged the population in 1866 and the town was hit by a damaging tropical cyclone in 1887 resulting in the destruction of 98 percent of Burketown.

Burketown is believed to be the basis of 'Willstown' (note the name of Burke's partner, above), a very amenity challenged town fictionally developed into a successful and growing community to become A Town Like Alice by Jean Paget, a character created by Nevil Shute in his bestselling novel of that name.

In more recent times, Burketown has been known as the Barramundi capital of Australia and holds an annual Barramundi Fishing Competition during Easter each year.

Accommodation Options

Burketown Pub

Phone:

(07) 4745 5104

Email:

info@burketownpub.com.au

Burketown Caravan Park

Phone:

(07) 4745 5118

Email:

stay@burketowncaravanpark.com.au

Savannah Lodge

Phone:

(07) 4745 5177

Email:

savannalodge@bigpond.com

Other Services Available

• Convenience Store and Post Office
• Service Station/Mechanical repairs shop
• General stores (takeaways etc)
• Hospital
• Police Station
• State School (Prep to Year 7)
• Burketown Marine Charters (www.burketownmarinecharters.com.au)

View other locations