Koorliatto Waterhole
SW Queensland

New stock yards Koorliatto

I had heard about Ludwig Becker’s Grave on Koorliatto Waterhole from my Mum and Dad. They had visited it in early 1986. Mum had found that Becker’s brother was my Great, Great Grandfather, so I was determined to find the grave as well.

Becker Died in 1861 while on the ill fated Burke and Wills Exploring Expedition. He was buried along with Purcell and Stone who had also died while waiting for Burke and Wills to reach the Gulf of Carpentaria.

When we got to Molesworth Station we found the Bulloo River in flood. The poor little Datsun would be really struggling to make it through the flood waters to the Grave site.

“Mrs Dave” and I decided to camp on the edge of the road for a couple of days to wait for the country to dry out. We were used to the sand hill country which dried out quickly and had no idea this heavy clay country would remain wet and impassable for weeks.

As luck would have it, the manager of Bulloo station came along as we were setting up camp. When he found we were serious about getting into Koorliatto Waterhole he offered to tow the Datsun in with his 4WD Toyota.

He returned later to deliver gas bottles to a yard builder who was working at the abandoned Molesworth Homestead.

He hooked onto the Datsun and took off. What a trip! After the first 20 metres the windscreen was covered in mud and I had to steer the ute by taking quick glances out of the window. The mud seemed to go on for miles but we eventually reached dry ground at the homestead where the manager left us to our own devices.

I went down to the new cattle yards, introduced myself to the yard builder Kevin and his offsider Ewin. Kevin had been held up by the rain and floods and was behind schedule. He asked me to help build the gates for the stock yards. So I signed on as a welder and “Mrs Dave” did all the cooking.

We spent a memorable 10 days camped on the stunning Koorliatto Waterhole, building gates and exploring the area.

Burke and Wills Blazed Tree (Camp LII)

Look for more adventures on Koorliatto Waterhole as Dave visits Ludwig Becker’s grave.

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