This is Part IV of Leigh’s trip across Australia in a 1944 Ford GPW. Read Part III here.

Map showing the trip from Montecollina to Cordillo Downs

Leaving Innaminka

Once more the weather was fine as we set off for Innaminka, although this was to be the un-doing of one of the Jeeps as the temperature reached 35 deg C (95 deg F) and combined with the hard going it cracked a cylinder head, yet another MB (Toyota engined) had electrical & clutch trouble, hitting a wash away in the road a bit hard the front diff knocked the alternator & clutch slave cylinder off! Temporary repairs were carried out and they left the convoy to head for home, arriving safely several days later we heard.

Road to Innaminka

Innaminka has a permanent population of about 12 residents and is nestled on the Cooper Creek 1065 km (660 ml) north-east of Adelaide and 459 km (285ml) from Lyndhurst up the Strzeleki Track. The actual “track” was originally blazed by Harry Redford, a cattle thief while droving 1000 head of stolen cattle from central Queensland to Adelaide. He was subsequently caught but due to his heroic efforts in establishing a new route was pardoned and later became one of Australias greatest drovers.

Innaminka Road

Innaminka is best known for the tragic death in 1861 of explorers Burke & Wills on the banks of the Cooper Creek. The full story can be found here.

Burke’s Grave

As the next day was a lay day an impromptu fishing competition was held on Cooper Ck with several Yellowbelly Perch being taken, It was here also that our clutch began to make strange noises, due I thought to the ingress of dust into the spigot bearing – more of this later.

Cooper Creek Yellow Belly

Ex Australia Army International crossing Cooper Creek.

In the following days we visited Burke’s grave & the Dig Tree, Montkeleary Creek, home to millions of friendly flies, so bad you had to wait untill dark to cook & eat, then along the Arrabury Rd toward Cordillo Downs. First leased in 1875, by the turn of the century Cordillo Downs was running more than 85,000 sheep. During this time Afgan camel teams hauled stores to the station from Farina and returned with wool the round trip taking two months.

Today Cordillo runs only cattle with approx 7000 head of poll Hereford cattle on the 7,900 square kilometer (4908 sq. ml) property. Next we head for Birdsville via Cadelga Ruins.

Read Part V Here