The Burke and Wills Dig Tree
In 1860, the Government of Victoria, then Australia's richest State, decided to sponsor a lavish expedition to make the first south-north crossing of the continent to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Eighteen men, twenty camels, and over twenty tons of provisions started out from Melbourne in August on their ill-fated trip led by Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills. The party reached Cooper Creek by December and having built a stockade, Burke and Wills started north, along with Grey and King, with four men remaining at the stockade camp. They followed the Corella River into the Gulf and found vast salt marshes lay between them and the sea. Disappointed they left the Normanton area in February 1861 and headed back south. Their progress was slowed by the wet season and food was running out. On the evening of April 21 they staggered into the stock camp which had been decamped only that morning. They tried to walk south and reached the Innamincka area where they were fed by aboriginals but by September when a rescue party had tracked them down only King was still alive. Burke's grave may be seen further downstream near Innamincka.
BURKE & WILLS RESEARCH ARCHIVE
The Dig Tree
The Burke and wills ‘Dig Tree' is one of Australia's national icons and an enduring reminder of our pioneering spirit. Nappa Merrie Station is proud to officially manage the site on behalf of The Royal Historical Society of Queensland. Located on the Northern bank of Coopers Creek the ‘Dig Tree' is a Coolibah (Eucalyptus microtha). It is believed that the tree is 200-250 years old.
Before the base camp party deserted the depot (stockade Depot Camp 65), only hours before Burke and Wills did return from the Gulf, they had buried some provisions in the remote chance of Burke and Wills return and instructions to dig were carved into the trunk of the tree. The three blazes on the dig tree were:
B LXV Trunk, creek side
Dig 3FT NW Trunk, land side
Dec 6 60 April 21 61 Limb upstream
These Blazes have now been covered to help preserve the tree. Burke's face was carved into another tree (the ‘Face Tree') about 30m downstream of the ‘Dig Tree' by John Dick in 1898 and is still clearly visible. Apart from the boardwalk structure built around the tree to help protect it, the site as you view it now is as Burke and Wills and companions would have viewed it nearly 140 years ago.
DIG TREE FACT SHEET
Nappa Merrie Station
A.C. Gregory was one of the first known Europeans to pass through the Nappa Merrie area in search of the lost Leichardt expedition and consequently traced the entire course of Cooper Creek from Strezlecki Creek in the south to the Thomson and Barcoo Rivers. “Nappa Merrie” Station was first settled by John Conrick in 1873. Conrick was an overlander in his earlier years and later an established pastoralist. Only ten years after Burke and Wills travelled through the region, John Conrick and his five companions, who were all under the age of 21, drove over a thousand head of cattle from Warrnambool (Victoria) and took up the original “Nappa Merrie” holding.
The early history of “Nappa Merrie” was dominated by sheep (1892-1937), with the remnants of the old wool scour near the homestead site. Some of the old sheep fences still occur through the landscape. Prior to 1945 cattle grazing was largely confined to the channels and lake systems, which are a feature of the property. In 1945, permanent bores began to be established away from the channel systems and this opened up large areas for livestock grazing.
Nappa Merrie is owned by Santos, and is currently leased to Kidman & Co. The Station runs up to 15,000 head of cattle on an area of 740,600ha.
Conservation Fee
To enter the Dig Tree Reserve, all visitors are required to pay a conservation fee of $20 per private vehicle. This includes bicycles, motorcycles, caras and four wheel drives. The fee for buses is $60 per bus.
If you have prepaid the fee, please leave your pass on the dashboard. You can either pay online at www.thedigtree.com.au or by cash by using one of the envelopes provided. Write your vehicle registration on the envelope and then place it in the box before entering.
The South Australia Desert Parks Pass DOES NOT COVER the Conservation fee as the Dig Tree Reserve is in Queensland.
The Conservation fee supports maintenance and improvements to the Dig Tree Reserve.
Camping is permitted at the site anywhere within the fenced area around the ‘Dig Tree’. Basic bush camping facilities are provided, however you need to bring your own firewood as this is no longer provided.
Fishing is permitted at the site with a good supply of Yellowbelly in Cooper Creek (limits apply). Native flora and fauna is abundant and there are opportunities for birdwatching along the creek.
Shooting is strictly prohibited. Please feel free to contact the Ranger on 07 4655 4323 or UHF1 (One) for more information or assistance.