Travel Guide Birdsville

Of all the outback towns in Queensland, Birdsville is the best known. At the end of the last century, it was a busy town. Cattle heading south had to stop in Birdsville because a tithe was levied on every animal leaving the state of Queensland. With the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia, this tax was abolished. Cattle are now transported by train and truck and Birdsville is now a shadow of its former self. Today, it is this isolation and the rugged road to get there (the Birdsville Track) that make the town famous. The Birdsville pub is now one of Australia's must-see symbols and many individuals take up the challenge and make the trip to Birdsville. There is also an art gallery, a motel, cafes and restaurants, a post office and a gas station.The big event of the year (the first weekend in September) is the Birdsville Race, a horse race for which more than 6,000 enthusiasts come to Birdsville in four-wheel drives or light aircraft. The festival includes many attractions, including the last traveling boxing tournament.The Birdsville Track is a 480 km old cattle track that runs down to Marree, South Australia, along the Simpson Desert. Individuals can do the Birdsville Track, but it is mandatory to fill out a form at the Birdsville Police and report your arrival in Marree.