Day 25 – Friday 13 August 2021 – 392km

Up early as the laundry opens at 7am & we have a load of washing, as we got back from our cruise too late last night. The Barramundi Discovery Centre in Karumba opens at 9am and we were there waiting for around 10 minutes for it to open.  This is a really interesting and new centre where they breed barramundi for release back into the rivers and lakes to provide a sustainable fishery for both amateur and professional fishers alike. The displays are very informative with loads of information on not only barramundi but the birdlife that inhabits the gulf region. Outside is a very large pond that is stocked with lots of barramundi. There are some big fish in there and the barramundi were busy feeding on the multitudes of flying grasshoppers that landed in the water. Black kites circling overhead were also feasting on the grasshoppers.

On the road back to Normanton we saw lots of brolgas on the side of the road, including one flock that must have had more than 200 of these magnificent birds not 50 metres from the road, an amazing sight. The trip from Normanton to Croydon was uneventful with the old railway line running along not far from the side of the road, crossing over at Black Bull.

We stopped in Croydon to refuel and have lunch, then we walked around the town exploring some of the old historic buildings on display. Croydon is an old gold mining town and in the late 1800s had a thriving and wealthy community. The old Courthouse, Council chambers, Police Station and Police Sergeant’s house have all been preserved and restored with some remarkable written history and displays. Even old coffins that were unused from more than 100 years ago. In town there is also displays of some of the old gold mining machinery, with gold battery stampers and steam engines and associated pulleys and wheels, all very interesting. The Gilbert River was a vast wide expanse of sand as we crossed the road bridge. It must carry some water when in flood. 

On the road to Georgetown the road changes down to poor single lane conditions many times and we are thankful we don’t meet too many cars or trucks coming the other way. We stop to look at a solitary chimney standing in a paddock. A remnant of a very large gold mine and large town. All else has gone.

In Georgetown we pull into the Goldfields Caravan Park, with two very large quartz rocks marking the entrance. We were lucky we got the last site. After setting up we walk down the main street looking at the buildings (they do not have very many old or for that matter any houses as the town is very small now) and we admire one house (the only one) that has a very lovely & colourful garden, with a magnificent mural painted on the side of the house.  The house had many different uses but at present it is a museum. We chat to the lady tending the garden for a while, she told us that they are hoping to celebrate 151 years since its establishment (They couldn’t celebrate last year because of Covid, hopefully this year).  We then head to the Uwena pub across the road for dinner & a Corona beer. While we waited for our food we had a chat with James, he is now working from home. N.S.W. & A.C.T are locked down to try & control the spread of some confirmed Covid cases. We are living in a worrying time now.  Very nice meal but once again we are so full. Another great day.