The Road to War: Building the Barkly Hwy

Derek Barry
Updated July 24 2021 - 10:05am, first published 10:01am
The caravan resting site 50km west of Mount Isa, with sections of the old road next to the new Barkly Highway.
The caravan resting site 50km west of Mount Isa, with sections of the old road next to the new Barkly Highway.

I've driven west from Mount Isa numerous times, heading to Camooweal and points in the Territory. The first time I drove it was in 2002 when the Mount Isa to Camooweal stretch was mostly just one lane. But otherwise it was a fine road to Tennant Creek, and since those times even the Queensland section has improved out of sight. Around 50km west of Mount Isa there is a caravan resting site with a monument commemorating the opening of the site in 1995 and also a section of the older original road still visible. Nearby, as cars and trucks zoom past at 110kph, interpretative signage tells the history of the road, built as a wartime project.

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Derek Barry

Derek Barry

Editor, the North West Star

Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.

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