SAVOUR some of the earliest history of the area with a visit to Camp 119, located 30km out of town on the Savannah Way heading towards Burketown. Established in the monsoon season of early February 1861, this place of Historical Significance was the most northerly campsite of the Burke and Wills expedition party crossing inland Australia.

From here Burke and Wills set out to reach the ocean, taking a horse and provisions for three days. They never saw the ocean and returned to the camp to rejoin King and Grey and return south. This journey was to end in disaster, with King being the only one of the four to survive.

Burke and Wills blazed a number of trees at the campsite. Memorial plaques mark the spots where they were. Another couple of coolabahs (one of which was only found in 1998) were blazed by Frederick Walker during his search for Burke and Wills in January 1862.

Normanton diary dates

May 5-7 NQLGA Conference
May 22-23 Normanton Gun Club Annual Shoot
June 11 Normanton Show
June 11-13 Normanton Rodeo
July 21-22 Gulf Sports Carnival
August 27 Normanton State School Fete
December 4 Normanton Gun Club Christmas Shoot