AASV Field Trip, Tibooburra, October 1999

The town of Tibooburra is 337 kilometres North of Broken Hill, near the North West corner of NSW. The boundary itself, Cameron's Corner, is another 130 or so km to the North West of Tibooburra. Here NSW meets South Australia and Queensland.
The AASV expedition went West from the near ghost-town of Milparinka to Depot Glen, where Sturt's earlier expedition were stranded by drought for six months - complete with cows, sheep and a boat.
After a night at Tibooburra, we went through Sturt National Park and on to Olive Downs. The next day we crossed great bands of red sand dunes to pass through the dingo fence and arrive at Cameron's Corner.

	On the way; this Govt. funded art piece baffled most. Apparently it symbolises water.
	Lunch at Packsaddle.
	A lonely grave on the road to Tibooburra.
	"Depot Glen", where in 1845 Sturt's party spent six months by the water.
	Tree engraved as a memorial to James Poole, Sturt's second-in-command, who died of scurvy.
	In the 1880s the gold town of Milparinka had a population of 300-500. This was the Post Office.
	The Milparinka Court House, later built and lasting better.
	The pub is the only building in Milparinka still inhabited - when we got there it no longer had an alcohol license. Note that the 4WDs went through the puddles - the 2WD went round them.
	This device, called a 'whim', was a one-horse-power pump. With a horse harnessed to the cross-beam, its turning the spindle kept pulley ropes hauling one bucket up while dropping another down.
	Beth identified this as a 'Darling Lily', once common down as far as the Murray.
	Motorbike of more relevance to an archaeologist than a mechanic.
	Skeleton of a Woolshed.
	Roger had noted this interesting rock many years before, on the ground - and located it again. Although it looks like a spear-head, Ron could find no evidence that it was.
	This rock, to the trained eye, is definitely an artefact.
	The condition of this bridge (retired) suggests water does occasionally flow through the creek.
	There may be some history here of which we haven't been told.
	Plenty of extra interest for the bird-watchers...
	... and the geologists. Michael diagnosed this rock as partly opalised.
	Ron and Sally examine a 'cyclon', a cylindrical artefact of stone.
	Procession through the dingo fence.
	The Post at Cameron's Corner - SA on the near side, Queensland to the far left, NSW to the far right.
	Brief trip to Queensland.
	Broken Hill caravan park - this vehicle, sadly, was deemed too archaeological to drive the Tibooburra road.

Fotos from Field Trips
Archaeological and Anthropological Society of Victoria