Strzelecki Track

{{Infobox Australian road

| type = track

| road_name = Strzelecki Track

| state = sa

| image = Strzelecki Track 0316.svg

| caption = The Strzelecki Track (blue and white) and the old part of the track at the northern end
File:Transferring mail from camel-drawn coach to motor truck at Carraweena, Strzelecki Track, 1920 (HTSA GN04206 rotated).jpg

| length = 472

| length_ref = {{google maps |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-27.7473681,140.7361374/-30.2876567,138.3493729/@-29.0324803,139.0173542,8.79z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0?hl=en |title=Strzelecki Track |access-date=13 July 2022}}

| direction_a = Northeast

| direction_b = Southwest

| coordinates_a = {{coord|-27.747383|140.736138|type:landmark_region:AU-SA|display=inline}}

| coordinates_b = {{coord|-30.287657|138.349378|type:landmark_region:AU-SA|display=inline}}

| alternative_location_map = nomap

| end_a = Cordillo Downs Road
{{small|Innamincka, South Australia}}

| end_b = The Outback Highway
{{small|Lyndhurst, South Australia}}

| exits = Adventure Way

| region = Far North{{cite web |url=https://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/?map=hybrid&x=136.19383&y=-32.61774&z=7&uids=20 |title=Location SA Map viewer with regional layers |publisher=Government of South Australia |accessdate=16 June 2022}}

| restrictions =

| permit =

| fuel = {{SAcity|Lyndhurst|Innamincka}}, {{QLDcity|Cameron Corner}}

| facilities =

}}

Strzelecki Track is a mostly unsealed outback track in South Australia, linking Innamincka to Lyndhurst.

History

In 1870, the {{convert|472|km|abbr=off|adj=on}} track was pioneered by stockman, drover and cattle thief Harry Readford. He stole 1,000 head of cattle from a remote cattle station in Queensland. He drove them down the track, and sold them at Blanchewater Station. He then fled to Adelaide. Pastoralists then used the track as a stock route in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

After gas was discovered by Santos in the 1960s, it started carrying more traffic as a route to Moomba. Some sections were sealed.

Description

The track links Innamincka to Lyndhurst through the Strzelecki Desert. It is mostly unsealed, but with a few short sealed sections to facilitate overtaking.{{cite map |title=Australia Road and 4WD Atlas|last=Hema |first=Maps|year=2007 |publisher=Hema Maps|location=Eight Mile Plains Queensland|isbn=978-1-86500-456-3|pages=72-73 }} It is passable to conventional vehicles during the dry season, although caution is required.{{cite web| url=http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/strzelec.htm|title=The Strzelecki Track|publisher=Flinders Range Research|accessdate=2 January 2014}}

The track is prone to flooding after heavy rains. At other times the surface can be corrugated, with loose stones and dust.

The Strzelecki Track is linked with the Birdsville Track via the Walkers Crossing Track. It is closed in summer and only traversable in dry weather.{{cite web|url=https://innaminckahotel.com.au/getting-to-innamincka/driving-to-innamincka/|title=Getting to Innamincka by road|publisher=Innamincka Hotel|access-date=12 December 2021}}

A shorter route is available via a public access road between Moomba and Innamincka, making the distance {{convert|458|km|abbr=off}}.{{cite map |title=Australia’s Great Desert Tracks SE Sheet|last=Hema |first=Maps|year=2006 |publisher=Hema Maps|location=Eight Mile Plains Queensland|isbn=978-1-86500-162-3}}

Heritage listings

A number of isolated heritage-listed sites are located nearby to the Strzelecki Track:

Tinga Tingana Homestead Ruins{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=55 | title=Tinga Tingana Homestead (Ruin) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | accessdate=12 February 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}
Gray's Tree{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=57 | title=Tree, possibly marking the burial site of Charles Gray, member of Burke & Wills' 1861 expedition', Lake Massacre, Innamincka Regional Reserve | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305180817/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=57 | archive-date=5 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }}
Well and Whim, Coochilara Waterhole, Merty Merty Station{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=59 | title=Well and Whim, Coochilara Waterhole, Merty Merty Station | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312002542/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=59 | archive-date=12 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }}
Old Mulga Bore, Merty Merty Station{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=34 | title=Horse Capstan, Pump & Well, Old Mulga Bore, Merty Merty Station | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311183859/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=34 | archive-date=11 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }}

Strzelecki Track

History

Description

Heritage listings

See also

References

External links

Further reading