Outback
The
outback is the remote and arid interior and north of
Australia, although the term colloquially can cover any lands outside of the main urban areas. The term outback is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas deemed "
the bush". The outback does not officially exist within any governmental frameworks or boundaries. Many local government
shires do use the term to enhance tourist appeal for their own shire (see picture at right.)
The marginally fertile parts, mainly within the
Lake Eyre Basin, are known as
rangelands and have been traditionally used for
sheep or
cattle farming, on
sheep stations and
cattle stations which are
leased from the Federal Government. Whereas these grassy areas have fairly fertile
clay soils, the remainder of the outback has exceedingly infertile
paleosols which cannot support fodder nutritious enough for the economic raising of stock. Although the north of Australia has high (if extremely seasonal) and fairly reliable rainfall, giving it almost all the continent's
runoff, the soils there are so poor and eroded (consisting mainly of
ironstone or
bauxite) as to make cropping impossible even with fertilisers such as
superphosphate.
Along with agriculture,
tourism and
mining are the main economic activities in this vast and sparsely settled area. Due to the complete absence of mountain building and glaciation since the
Permian (in many areas since the
Cambrian), the outback is extremely rich in
iron,
aluminium,
manganese and
uranium ores, and also contains major deposits of
gold,
nickel,
lead and
zinc ores. Because of its size, the value of grazing and mining is considerable.
 |
An abandoned settlement in the outback |
Less than 10% of the Australian population lives outside the urban settlements on the coastal fringes. Despite this, the outback and the history of its
exploration and settlement provides Australians with a mythical backdrop, and stories of
swagmen,
squatters, outlaws such as
Ned Kelly (though Ned Kelly spent virtually all his time in the relatively temperate
Great Dividing Range) and so on are central to the national ethos of the country. The song
Waltzing Matilda, which is about swagmen and squatters, is a popular traditional Australian song.
Due to the wide expanses and remoteness of people in the outback,
The Flying Doctor Service exists. This service was created in
1928 in
Cloncurry, Queensland. The aim of the service is to provide medical care, primary and emergency, to people who cannot reach
hospitals or
general practitioners. Consultations are carried out via radio or telephone and for serious situations, doctors are flown out to patients.
Culturally, many urban Australians have had very generalised terms for the otherwise complex range of environments that exist within the inland and tropical regions of the continent. Regional terminology can be very specific to specific locations in each mainland state.
Traditionally you are only in "the bush" unless you're beyond the
Black Stump, which might be near a different town depending upon where you are. Once past the Black Stump, you've entered the Outback.
"The Never-Never" is a term referring to remoter parts of the Australian outback. The outback can be also referred to as "back of beyond", "back o' Bourke" although these terms are more frequently used when referring to something a long way from anywhere, or a long way away. The well-watered north of the continent is often called the "Top End" and the arid interior "The Centre".
|
Flying over western New South Wales. Near the bottom of the picture, a squiggly line appears; apparently, a creek created by recent rain. |
There are many popular tourist attractions in the outback. These include:
*
Alice Springs*
Uluru (Ayers Rock)*
Coober Pedy*
Devils Marbles*
Katherine River Gorge*
Kakadu National Park*
Kings Canyon (Watarrka)*
The Olgas (Kata Tjuta)*
MacDonnell Ranges*
Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame*
Monkey Mia*
Broome*
Mount Augustus National ParkVarious towns claim to be home to the
Black Stump, traditionally you aren't in
The Outback until you've travelled beyond the
Black Stump.
Organised travel to the outback is popular, although some Australian and international tourists travel in their own vehicles. Such a trip, particularly once off the few bitumen roads in the outback, requires considerable advance planning and a suitable vehicle (usually a
four wheel drive). On remote routes considerable supplies and equipment may be required, this can include prearranged caches. Some trips cannot be undertaken safely with a single vehicle instead requiring a convoy approach. Deaths from tourists and locals becoming stranded on outback trips occur, and rescues for the ill-prepared are a regular occurrence.
The outback is also criss-crossed by numerous historic tracks, roads and highways, including:
*
Birdsville Track*
Burke Developmental Road*
Canning Stock Route*
Colson Track*
Connie Sue Highway*
French Line*
Gary Highway*
Gibb River Road*
Gunbarrel Highway*
K1 Line*
Kalumburu Road*
Kidson Track*
Oodnadatta Track*
Peninsula Developmental Road*
Plenty Highway*
Rig Road*
Sandover Highway*
Strzelecki Track*
Tallawana Track*
Tanami Track*
WAA Line*
*Photography Galleries
**
Uluru (Ayers Rock)**
Devils Marbles**
Katherine River Gorge**
Kings Canyon (Watarrka)**
The Olgas (Kata Tjuta)**
Coober Pedy
