STRZELECKI TRACK AND INNAMINCKA
Strzelecki Track
Day Four
The Strzelecki Track has its origins in the Strzelecki Creek. The track more or less follows the route of the Strzelecki Creek. The first European party to see the creek was led by Charles Sturt on his northern expedition of 1844-45. Sturt named the creek after his colleague Sir Paul Edmond de Strzelecki, a Prussian nobleman who had explored parts of southern Australia.
After 1870, when Harry Redford used it as a water source to move a thousand head of stolen cattle down from Queensland to South Australia, the route was realised as a viable way to move livestock by the then pastoralists of the day. Today, the Strzelecki Track supports freight and needed supplies to Innamincka and the Moomba Gas fields. Sections of the road are sealed.
Innamincka
The township is situated at the junction of the Cooper and Strzelecki Creeks. Innamincka was the last place cattle could be watered before travel down the Strzelecki Track. The Innamincka Hotel and a police station was established in the 1880s. The police station closed in 1952. The Hotel along with a store operate to the present day.
Moomba Gas Fields
SANTOS (South Australia Northern Territory Oil Search) was founded in 1954 and operates the extensive natural gas fields in the Cooper Basin region to the present time. In 1963, Santos discovered natural gas in the Cooper Basin region. Further discoveries of oil were made in central Australia in the 1970s. A liquids recovery plant was built at Moomba. Moomba was purpose built along with a small village for SANTOS workers in Outback South Australia. Access to the associated Moomba village is restricted to employees and their families.
Traveldriven
AUDIO RECORDING
HOWARD OF DESERT SKY TOURS
OUTBACK ODDITY
MOOMBA GAS FIELDS
STRZELECKI TRACK
INNAMINCKA TOWN ENTRY SIGNAGE
BUY WATER AT THE
DRINKING WATER STATION
OUTBACK ROAD TRAIN
OUTBACK ROAD SIGNAGE
COOPER CREEK, INNAMINCKA
CROSSING COOPER CREEK
INNAMINCKA TRADING POST
GENERAL STORE
INNAMINCKA HOTEL EXTERIOR
INNAMINCKA HOTEL INTERIOR
OUTBACK BREAKFEAST
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