The Dig Tree
Submitted: Thursday, Apr 07, 2005 at 00:38
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Black Jack
Hi folks, I'm looking for a clarification about
the Dig Tree near Innaminka. One person told me it was burnt to the ground and someone else said the tree that was burnt was another of the Burke & Wills' trees in the Gulf. Is
the Dig Tree still standing and in tact?
Thanks
Jack
Reply By: Footloose - Thursday, Apr 07, 2005 at 08:41
Thursday, Apr 07, 2005 at 08:41
I could be wrong but I suspect that we have done relatively little to protect and enhance much of our history. In part this may be due to the unsavoury and politically incorrect nature of their backgrounds eg Sumerset at the Cape.
Even the original (white) min min site is just a pile of broken glass in the dust.
It seems the only time we protect our
heritage is if there's a $ to be made.
Crazy.
AnswerID:
105504
Reply By: Member - Banjo (SA) - Thursday, Apr 07, 2005 at 08:41
Thursday, Apr 07, 2005 at 08:41
Agree with A & J above - get a good book on the subject - the SM version is good - you can get good info off the web too - read up about the saga and then when you get into the
Innamincka region, the sites will mean a lot more. Far as I know, most
explorers in that era (even earlier) were in the habit of "blazing" trees (cutting a section of bark off and whittling a message into the wood) as a means to say "was wuz here". The only method they had at the time to leave a trail for others who might follow (and in case they perished). I thought there was only a couple of actual digs, but many blaze trees - there is a blaze at
Birdsville not far from the Caravan Park - might be genuine (Ruth ?) - could be like Tom Kruse's trucks but - every derelict truck in the outback might end up with "E.G. Kruse" painted on the door. Having been to
Innamincka quite a bit, and read up on the B&W story, we don't rely on Nardoo spores for a feed any more ! :-)
AnswerID:
105505
Reply By: Member - Banjo (SA) - Thursday, Apr 07, 2005 at 18:41
Thursday, Apr 07, 2005 at 18:41
The Murgatroyd book should be
well known by Libraries (there are others too, but look out for the very early ones - some of those are considered unreliable in their portrayal of what "really" went on....also try the ABC
shop - the main Bookshop type chains should have it too. Bloke called Peter does to the river cruises up at
Innamincka in a flat bottomed tinny - he lives at
Mannum now I think - goes up for quite a few months per year and takes off each evening. You'll see him scooting about in a VW blitz wagon (or whatever they call them). If you know absolutely nothing about the region and might not be back, the $45 (from memory) odd PP may be worth it - we like it up there, have done some reading and visited most of the spots including Coongie - we have not been on Peter's cruise.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Glenno - Thursday, Apr 07, 2005 at 22:16
Thursday, Apr 07, 2005 at 22:16
If you want a reference book, ask any primary school teacher. It must be in the curiculum (for Qld anyway). My wife was a walking encyclopedia on Burke and Wills before the trip, now she is a professsor. the only bit we didnt see was
Wills Grave out of
Innamincka as the road was marked as closed. The local rangers have all quit so the current rangers are fly-in's from Pt Agusta. I asked if the road was open the
ranger said yup
check it this morning its all good to go. I said why does the
sign say two parts closed. He gave me a confused look and said the road was open. Drove up and heaps of sand across the track so we didnt push on as the map showed a
creek crossing which may or may not have been in good shape. The
cooper creek sure was nice and full.
Anyway gods own country out there so enjoy. And dont mention at the
Innamincka hotel if the half lobster is stuffed with seafood extender, you will get evicted (sly grin). Its not by the way.
Cheers,
Glenn.
AnswerID:
105676