Pooncarie
Pooncarie is a small service town on the Darling River (and as such is a great stop for the Darling River Run and one of the nearest towns to Lake Mungo National Park). The famous explorers Burke and Wills reached the Darling River at nearby Tarcoola Station and made camp at what is now Bilbarka Park in September 1860 on the way to their ill-fated expedition north west to the Gulf.
About Pooncarie:
Originally gazetted as Pooncaira' in 1863, the area was first 'established' by Europeans in the 1840's as settlers took up illegal livestock runs on Crown land. By the 1860's the Federal Government, in an attempt to gain control of the area, formalised these illegal (and unfenced) claims.
More settlers followed and the town established itself as a service hub for outlying stations and more importantly, at the time, a port for the paddle-steamer trade that was pushing up the Darling River.
The highlight on the social calendar is the Pooncarie Cup (October)
Pooncarie provides wonderful access to the Darling River and the Darling River Run extends upstream to Menindee (and the Menindee Lakes) and downstream to the confluence of the Murray and Darling rivers at Wentworth.
One of the best outback attraction in NSW is probably Lake Mungo (Mungo National Park) and Pooncarie is nearest upstream town to this magnificent natural wonder and culturally (indigenous) significant sites.
Pooncarie Visitor Information:
Visitor Information Centre (Broken Hill):Darling Street, Wentworth. NSW Telephone 02 6832 1610 |
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Regional Transport Services (Wentworth):
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Products & Attractions
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