Ilfracombe Information
Highlights of Outback Queensland
Birdsville, between the sands of the Simpson Desert and the gibber plains of Sturt's Stony Desert..
Charleville InformationCharleville is in the heart of Queensland's 'mulga country'. It is the largest town in the south..
Longreach InformationSoak up the history and heritage that surrounds the legendary township of Longreach, home of the..
Australian Workers Heritage Centre InfoLocated in the iconic outback Queensland town of Barcaldine, the Australian Workers Heritage Centre..
Mount Isa InformationDescribed as the Oasis of the Outback - a gleaming mirage on the horizon for travellers from all..
Barcaldine InformationBarcaldine's charming facade, one that has earned it the tag of 'Garden City of the West' hides..
Augathella InformationAugathella, with its fascinating history of bushrangers, bullockies and bullock teams, has some..
Blackall InformationBlackall is where shearing legend, Jack Howe, set a world record shearing 321 sheep in seven hours..
Hughenden InformationHughenden is located half-way between Townsville and Mount Isa on the Flinders Highway, North West..
Julia Creek InformationJulia Creek is located on the Overlander's Way, the main route from Townsville that runs west to..
Mitchell InformationLocated on the Warrego Highway 587 kilometres west of Brisbane and 176 kilometres east of..
Thargomindah InformationFollow the tracks of Cobb and Co. Fish mighty rivers like the Bulloo, Wilson and Paroo and Cooper's..
See all locations in Outback QueenslandIlfracombe Information
Ilfracombe, named after a small town in Devonshire England, originated in 1891 as a transport nucleus for Wellshot Station, the largest sheep station in the world at the time (in terms of stock numbers). The town had three hotels each with its own dance hall, a soft drink maker, a coach builder, two general stores, a billiard saloon, a dressmaker, three commission agents, a couple of butchers, a baker and a saddler. Today there are just 350 people living in a shire which covers an area of 6,500 square kilometres.
Another record claimed by the shire is that of the largest mob of sheep ever moved as a single flock. In 1886 a mob of 43,000 sheep were moved through the area by a droving team of 27 horsemen and that doesn't include the cooks, blacksmiths and hands which would have been needed to accompany the drovers.
Email a travel consultant
Transport was once the lifeblood of the area when, long before the railway reached as far as Ilfracombe, wagons drawn by up to 30 horses and taking three months carried the wool to the nearest port, Rockhampton, 650 kilometres away. It is unlikely that any other Australian town could boast such a brilliant display of historical machinery, as does Ilfracombe. Not only that, but it’s all on public show, with antique machinery and farm equipment lining the entry road to the town.
Nowadays Ilfracombe is a small western Queensland township surrounded by large grazing properties, located 27 kilometres east of Longreach and 80 kilometres west of Barcaldine.
Visiting Ilfracombe?
Highlights of Queensland
Nestled into the extreme south east corner of Queensland, Australia's Sunshine State, the Gold..
Tropical North Queensland InformationBursting at the seams with both natural and man-made attractions, Tropical North Queensland is a..
Brisbane Region InformationBrisbane is the capital city of Australia's Sunshine State, Queensland. Tucked into the south-east..
Sunshine Coast InformationThe blue waters of the many beaches, the thundering waterfalls of the ranges, the perfect..
Surfers Paradise InformationWithout doubt on of Australia's most popular and enduring holiday spots is Surfers Paradise, the..
Whitsundays InformationThe Whitsunday Islands sit just off the Queensland coast around 1000 kilometres north of Brisbane...
Cairns InformationThe city of Cairns is a modern and sophisticated hub of excitement. Not only does it have..
Great Barrier Reef InformationThe Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world and stretches along around 2000..
See all locations in QueenslandPopular Searches
