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.