Strzelecki Track
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- 27°44′51″S 140°44′10″E / 27.747383°S 140.736138°E (Northeast end)
- 30°17′16″S 138°20′58″E / 30.287657°S 138.349378°E (Southwest end)
Innamincka, South Australia
Strzelecki Track | |
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The Strzelecki Track (blue and white) and the old part of the track at the northern end.jpg){kind=spacer} | |
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| Coordinates |
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| General information | |
| Type | Track |
| Length | 472 km (293 mi)[1] |
| Major junctions | |
| Northeast end | Cordillo Downs Road Innamincka, South Australia |
| Adventure Way | |
| Southwest end | The Outback Highway Lyndhurst, South Australia |
| Location(s) | |
| Region | Far North[2] |
| Restrictions | |
| Fuel supply | Lyndhurst, Innamincka, Cameron Corner |
Strzelecki Track is a mostly unsealed outback track in South Australia, linking Innamincka to Lyndhurst.
In 1870, the 472-kilometre (293-mile) track was pioneered by stockman, drover and cattle thief Harry Readford.[3] 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.[4]
After gas was discovered by Santos in the 1960s, it started carrying more traffic as a route to Moomba. Some sections were sealed.[4]
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.[5] It is passable to conventional vehicles during the dry season, although caution is required.[3]
The track is prone to flooding after heavy rains. At other times the surface can be corrugated, with loose stones and dust.[4]
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.[4]
A shorter route is available via a public access road between Moomba and Innamincka, making the distance 458 kilometres (285 miles).[6]
Heritage listings
A number of isolated heritage-listed sites are located nearby to the Strzelecki Track:
