The Burketown (hot water) Bore
Point of Interest
Contact
Nardoo Burketown Road, Burketown, Queensland.
Description
The Burketown Bore was drilled by the Queensland
Government in 1807 At the time the sinking of the bore was an important new facility for Burketown and
an indicator of the expected economic dovelopment
of the area: The Gulf country's currency
was high in 1890s, largely due to the establishment of the big meat works, and Burketown was to be a major centre for travelling stock.
However the water is suitable only for adult cattle to
drink, and is not much use for anything else.
In a 1959 report C.S.I.R.O. noted that the water was
unsuitable for drinking, domestic use or irrigation, the flow was uncontrolled and the casing was leaking very badly.
Over the decades vast amounts of artesian water, full of all sorts of minerals, have created an unusual environment in the flooded surrounding area. You'll see the large mound of minerals left as the heated water has evaporated over the past century, creating an impressive structure around the old borehole.
Features
Location
Lat: -17.746467 Lng: 139.547452