The Burke, Wills, King and Yandruwandha National Heritage Place, National Heritage site in Innamincka, Australia
This national heritage site covers both South Australia and Queensland, tracing the major stopping points of the Burke and Wills expedition across the Australian interior. The Dig Tree acts as the main reference point where multiple stations and marked locations connect across the landscape.
The 1860-1861 expedition led by Burke and Wills attempted the first south-to-north crossing of Australia but ended in tragedy with most members dying. This failed journey nonetheless shifted European understanding of the Australian interior and became a defining moment in the continent's exploration history.
The site honors the Yandruwandha people, whose support proved essential to John King's survival after the expedition collapsed. Visitors can see how this collaboration between the expedition members and Indigenous Australians is remembered and respected across the landscape today.
The site is accessed through marked routes along the Birdsville Track, with the Dig Tree serving as the main focal point for visitors. Expect remote conditions, significant distances between points of interest, and limited facilities in this isolated region.
Several trees throughout the heritage area bear carvings and messages left by expedition members as a way to communicate across the vast distances they traveled. These inscribed trees provide a direct physical record of how the group stayed connected during their journey through the remote interior.
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