In the outback there is nothing better than seeing natural running water… it’s rejuvenating, cleansing and cooling and we love it! We last visited East Leichhardt Dam practically two years to the day of this visit… what a vibe!
Since our last adventure in 2017 to the old uranium mining town of Mary Kathleen situated half way between Mount Isa and Cloncurry, there have been some significant improvements, such as signage and a new town plaque. The flooded open pit mine that appears turquoise in colour has become a viral Instagram sensation, with many making the pilgrimage to outback North-western Queensland just to add the mysterious “lake” to their "grids". This time for us however, the colour appeared less turquoise and more royal blue, similar to that seen at the Blue Lake in Mount Gambier in South Australia. According to an article published in 2016 by the North West Star, an enduring Mount Isa news provider, the “spectacular blue colour” is attributed to the minerals seeping from the mine walls; for instance, red rust colours are often associated with iron, whilst blue and green colours are attributed with copper. Despite the appeal, this is definitely not a place to swim, as a former uranium mine there is still a risk of radioactivity present at the site, but massively worth the effort to see it in person as photos never truly capture the genius loci of a place.
After the Major Flooding Event we took a drive 120kms east from Mount Isa through the Selwyn Ranges to Cloncurry and more specifically to the newly reinstated Chinaman Creek Dam Lookout now with a bitumen road and water tank art, which was completed in October 2018 by street artist, The Zookeeper. The mural features local Cloncurry children, Barrack a Mitakoodi dancer with the “Deadly Dancers” group and Brianna also a dancer with the same group who is depicted throwing a paper plane, a reference to Cloncurry as the birthplace of John Flynn’s 1928 Australian Inland Mission Aerial Medical Service, which later became the Royal Flying Doctors Service. Shovel and I read books and enjoyed the view of Chinaman Creek Dam, now a canvas of tonal greens since the heavy rains.
To reach Rosebud Dam, take the turn off to Fountain Springs at the Fountain Springs road-side rest stop halfway between Cloncurry and Mount Isa. Rosebud Dam is past the abandoned township of Bulonga and the remains of the Rosebud Smelter along the usually dry Corella River. When we last visited Rosebud Dam, we used the 2015 Cloncurry Trails Off-Road Touring Guide but since returning to the Isa have upgraded to the 2019 version. Highly recommended!
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November 2023
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