Birdsville, Australia

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Marree in South Australia to be loaded on to trains. The track, which was used from 1880 onwards, runs through the most arid region in the Australian interior between the Simpson Desert and Sturt's Stony Desert.

The track can be negotiated by all-terrain vehicles, properly equipped and provisioned, between May and October. It is advisable not to drive alone.

At the end of the 19th C. Birdsville, originally called Diamantina Crossing because of its situation at a crossing of the (often dry) Diamantina River, was a busy little township thanks to the cattle-droving traffic and its function as a customs post near the border with South Australia. In those days it had three hotels, three shops, offices and even a doctor.

After the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901 the duty on the export of cattle was abolished and the town's income disappeared. Most of the houses fell into disrepair, and the decline was accelerated by a drought lasting several years.

Birdsville's water comes, almost at boiling point, from a well 1200m deep and is brought down to a normal temperature in cooling ponds.

The ruins of the Royal Hotel are a reminder of the town's heyday. The local pub, however, still survives and does great business during the annual Birdsville Races in August or September, one of Australia's most famous horse race meetings, which attracts thousands of visitors. The Birdsville Working Museum is worth a visit and houses a curious collection of utensils from 200 years of Australian pioneering.