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History
Innamincka was originally surveyed as a town of 177 allotments in 1890. There had however been a store there on Cooper Creek since 1884 while a police station had been established there at about the same time. The police presence persisted there for many years and up until Federation the station, among other things, administered the collection of an introduced stock tax on cattle moving down the Cooper system toward the Strzelecki stock route.
The orginal hotel served a large and thirsty area and counted among its regulars teams of shearers travelling by bicycle between stations like Cordillo Downs, Nappa Merrie and Blanchewater( now part of Murnpeowie). The bottle pile outside the hotel was a regional feature.
An inland mission hospital was established at Innamincka and served the far north east and parts of the Queensland channel country for many years. It has been restored and refurbished now as a headquarters and information centre for the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The NPWS administer the Innamincka Regional Reserve which surrounds the township, as did Innamincka Station before it became a regional reserve.
Special attractions
The channels of the Cooper around Innamincka have very strong historical connections with the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition. Within easy reach of the township and the permanent Cullyamurra Waterhole are the ‘Dig Tree’, Burke’s Memorial and Wills Grave.
The township is also a jumping off point for exploration of the Coongie wetlands fed by the north west channel of the Cooper and formally recognised internationally as a wetlands of importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Tourist services
There is seven-day fuel and service at Innamincka. The hotel has accommodation units and expansion of these facilities is now proposed. Paid camping is permitted in parts of the regional reserve and there are sites along the township or Queerbirdie Waterhole (also virtually permanent) within site of the hotel. There are public toilets and coin-operated hot showers for travellers and campers. Two airstrips are available – one at the township and one over the Cooper causeway on Innamincka Station near the homestead.
