That’s according to Maranoa MP and Shadow Tourism Minister David Littleproud, whose massive electorate takes in The Dig Tree in a remote spot, within close proximity to the Queensland/South Australian border.
In fact, Mr Littleproud was at that spot only recently, as reported on 4RR-FM’s News for Western Queensland, hence his call for improvements to be made, for the benefit of Outback tourists.
The Dig Tree site, owned by the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, currently has a dilapidated toilet block, as photographed by 4RR-FM when we checked it out, less than two weeks ago.
In fact, on face value, it appears the entrance to the toilets should be completely avoided with a Mains Roads-style ‘witch’s hat’ in the way.
The Dig Tree itself is a Coolibah tree, believed to be up to 250 years old, on the banks of Cooper Creek in the Bulloo Shire.
The base camp party from the 1860-1861 expedition buried supplies there and carved instructions into the tree’s trunks to “dig”, only hours before explorers Burke and Wills returned from the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Burke and Wills did not survive but one member of the expedition did, with the help of the local First Nations people, allowing the epic story to become public knowledge.
PHOTO: The dilapidated toilets at The Dig Tree.
POSTED: Thursday, October 8, 2027