Things to Do
Birdsville Races
Visitors
converge from all parts of Australia and the World on the first
Saturday in September for the Annual XXXX Birdsville Cup Racing
Carnival (Friday and Saturday). Crowds of over 6,000 race goers
celebrate the Carnival each year enjoying two days of quality outback
racing and two great nights of live entertainment. Birdsville Races - 5th & 6th September 2008. www.birdsvilleraces.com
Birdsville Hotel
An icon of the Australian Outback, the original section of the Hotel
was built in 1884 and has since weathered the sands of time. Stepping
inside the Hotel today you can be forgiven for thinking that not a lot
has changed. The front bar is filled with historical memorabilia of
stockmen’s hats, pictures of local characters and, of course, souvenirs
from the Birdsville Races. The pub serves great food, cold beer and
always a warm welcome.
Birdsville Working Museum
If you are interested in the history of Outback Australia, a visit to
John and Judy Menzies shed is essential. As the name implies the
majority of articles on display are in working order, so even if you
find typical museums a little mundane, you’ll enjoy the interactivity
on John’s guided tour. One of the museums highlights is John’s
wheelwright and blacksmith shop, harness shop plus numerous
demonstrations including chaff making.
Tour times: 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm (any time after, by appointment only)
Blue Poles Art Gallery
Our local artist Wolfgang John has a selection of original works for
sale. Feel free to drop in anytime for a browse. Wolfgang, if not in
the gallery, can be found in the house next door. Just knock!
Big Red Sand Dune
This wonder of the outback is definitely worth seeing and provides an
excellent challenge for all visitors. Follow the `Simpson Desert
National Park` signs to approximately 41kms west of Birdsville (past
the Police Station). Big Red is the first of 1140 sand hills (heading
west) which run north-south for hundreds of kilometres. Big Red is
believed to be the highest sand hill in the desert. A slow walk up is
the way to go to appreciate its mammoth height.
Racecourse
The racecourse is located 4kms out of Birdsville. This 115 year old
race attracts thousands who make the yearly pilgrimage on the first
weekend in September to the famous BIRDSVILLE RACES. Visitors are welcome to drive through the gates to have a closer look, and let their imagination take them to the races!
Bird Watching
In the desert country you’ll be amazed to see large numbers of The
billabong and permanent water of the Diamantina River are a bird
watchers delight.
Billabong
Just out of town in a branch of the Diamantina, the billabong is
abundant with bird life, fish, yabbies and many small marsupials.
Pelican Point is especially beautiful at sunset, against the arid
backdrop of the desert.
Royal Hotel Ruins
The Royal Hotel was built in 1883, in Spanish style. It was once a 20
room building but now only 4 rooms remain. The Hotel was acquired by
the Australian Inland Mission and in 1922 it housed the first pedal
radio transmitter, which is now displayed in the Birdsville Working
Museum. The Royal Hotel burnt down in 1951 and the ruins are currently
under preservation. The Hotel is still owned by the family who bought
it in 1915.
Burke & Wills Tree
On the banks of the Diamantina a Coolabah Tree bears the marking
‘BW‑C76 1860’. Local history records that this tree was marked by a
party which later traced the route taken by Burke & Wills. Burke
cut only the letter ‘B’ and camp number in Roman numerals.
Waddi Trees and Dingo Caves
North of Birdsville on a sandy claypan covered by ironstone pebbles
grow the Waddi Trees, one of the most spectacular of all the wattles.
These trees have been found in only three locations in the world.
Behind the Waddi Trees lies a built-up area called the Dingo Caves,
offering a panoramic view of the channel countryside.
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Things to Do
