Australian Outback Travel Guide

Jundah
Channel Country

Jundah is the administration centre of the Barcoo Shire. With a population of approximately 100 people it is the largest of the three towns within the Shire. The district was originally settled by the Durack and Costello pioneering families in 1880. For 20 years or so over the turn of the century it was a thriving opal mining area, but lack of water caused work on the mines to cease. With the introduction of heavy machinery, the opal mines are once again attracting interest. Sheep and cattle are the main supporting industries in and around Jundah.

Jundah is just two and half hours south-west of Longreach and three and a half hours north-west of Quilpie, and 30 kilometres above the junction of the Barcoo and Thomson Rivers where they form Cooper Creek. The Thomson River, one kilometre out of town, provides a scenic fishing and recreational area with panoramic river drives. The river carries a variety of fish including yellowbelly, catfish and bream. Yabbies caught in the local waterholes along the river provide an entree to an evening meal or just a quick snack.

Jundah's Historical Museum is a window into the early pioneering times of the district. Other points of interest in the town include the Jundah Post Office with its beautiful shopfront mural and the Galaxy Opal, one of the world's largest Boulder Opals which was unearthed in the Jundah area.

Welford National Park, located 45 kilometres south-east of Jundah, covers 124,000 hectares of nature's diverse landscapes. Among the native animals is the rare yellow-footed rock wallaby which makes its home in the park's northern and eastern sections.

Jundah Attractions

Welford National Park

In Welford National Park, wind-blown sand dunes form a dramatic contrast to white-barked ghost gums, golden-green spinifex and delicate wildflowers. The Barcoo River, with its large permanent waterholes, dissects the park, which protects examples of three of Queensland's natural arid regions: mulga lands, channel country and Mitchell grass downs. The entire park is on the Queensland Heritage Register.

Aboriginal reminders include wells and stone arrangements. The rammed earth homestead is a rare example of early pioneer architecture. Watch wildlife, including yellow-footed rock-wallabies sheltering in rocky outcrops and vulnerable Major Mitchell cockatoos. Drive the scenic tracks around the park. Go fishing. Enjoy a bush camp at Little Boomerang or Trafalgar, waterholes on the Barcoo River.

Welford National Park

The Thompson River

Jundah is located on the banks of the Thompson River and provides the perfect spot for fishing, with Yellowbelly, Jew, Bream and Yabbies being caught. Bait and ice can be bought from the Jundah Hotel.

Barcoo Shire Museum

The Barcoo Shire Museum was instigated by a group of Barcoo Shire women who saw the need to preserve the history of the shire and communities within. This eventuated in the official opening of the museum on 13 October 1989.

The museum reflects glimpses from the past, displaying kerosene-case furniture, mortuary tools, early education and further relics from the pioneer days including the mysterious barcoo dog.

The museum committee also undertook the restoration of two wagons, and after many voluntary hours they are now displayed in the Barcoo Shire Memorial Park.

Jundah Weather - Average Temperatures and Rainfall