Aah, that brings back memories. I knew
Diamantina Lakes Park when it was “
Diamantina Lakes”, the property. Sherwin Pastoral owned it then and Garth
Tully was the manager. He is still on “Cluny” as far as I know.
I was a Stock Inspector in
Winton at the time and the Lakes had been destocked because of the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign. With others, I covered all of that country, by helicopter, bike and vehicle to make sure every beast had gone. Saw the lakes, the
ruins, the
sand dunes, Hunter’s Gorge, Gum
Creek and Gum Holes, and of course
miles and
miles of lignum, Coolibahs and channels.
So, I saw pretty much all that you saw and had no idea that it would become a national
park.
There was a
sign over the
gate at the
homestead, with a diamond and TNA or somesuch. Wonder if it is still there?
I suppose that you came to a
fork in the road, and had to take it. If you had gone right instead of left at the Lakes, you would have gone up the river through “
Brighton Downs” and “Verdun Valley” and came to Old Cork and the Cork
Waterhole. There are words in a song about the dusty Diamantina and Old Cork Station.
Big A.