The Darling River meanders through NSW from its origins in Queensland's Darling Downs - via the Warrego and Culgoa Rivers - and from the northern NSW tributaries of Barwon, Gwydir, Namoi, Castlereagh and Bogan rivers. Part of the Murray Darling Basin, which covers 1,061,469 square kilometres (14% of the total area of Australia), the Darling River is Australia's longest river flowing 2,739 km. The river has always been an integral part of Aboriginal culture was named the Darling after it was 'discovered' by explorer Charles Sturt in 1829 who named it in honour of Sir Ralph Darling - the then Governor of New South Wales.
The Darling River flows south-west though outback NSW through the Menindee Lakes on towards the confluence with the Mighty Murray River at Wentworth on the NSW/Victoria border.
From there the Murray continues to flow through South Australia onto Lake Alexandrina and into The Southern Ocean.
Long before European settlement and their search to find the 'inland sea' of Australia, the region was home the first Australians and indigenous culture in the area is said to go back over 45,000 years with more than an estimated 15 Aboriginal language groups.
The area is steeped in Aboriginal culture from the fish traps at Brewarrina, a vast array of historical and sacred sites, through to the world's oldest ritual burial ground at Lake Mungo. For centuries the river had been home, fishing and hunting ground and trade route to the Aboriginal tribes.
The relative newcomers to the area, the Europeans, believed that the rivers of aastern Australian all ran into a vast inland sea. Early explorers were correct in thinking there was an inland sea but they were about 50 million years too late when the climate was vastly different during the Cretaceous period.
Today we can travel in the comfort of modern motor vehicles, but spare a thought for those 'strangers' to land who explored the Far West. It is no surprise that Sturt, Mitchell, Dowling Burke and Wills are synonymous with the modern history of the region.
The 'Wild West' was a frontier for European settlement in the 19th century and cattlemen began to carve out vast stations and forged stock routes to to the major commercial centres of Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.
In 1859 a riverboat called Gemini skippered by William Randell reached the reached Brewarrina (formerly know as 'Walcha Hut' and early as 'Fishery') and with this first successful navigation of the Darling there was the potential for it to become a major transport route.
By the 1890's, the river ports of Bourke, Wilcannia and Wentworth and serviced the 1+ million hectares wool empires that were enabled by the Darling River opening up the region.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia is a not-for-profit charitable Service providing aeromedical emergency and primary health care services together with communication and education assistance to people who live, work and travel in regional and remote Australia.
The Outback NSW Tourism Organisation is a proud supporter of the RFDS and the work they do to provided essential support to out Outback areas.
Staying with the Outback Beds network allows you to experience working sheep and cattle stations, bush pubs, log cabins, living underground, Bed and Breakfasts, a little luxury and tranquil river campsites.... even camel campouts. It's a true-blue outback adventure.
Gary and Liz Murray from Trilby Station, a 200,000 acres sheep and cattle property on the banks of the Darling River in Outback NSW, invite visitors from around the world to come and taste their unique lifestyle. Trilby Station offers accommodation in the renovated Stockman’s Cottages & Shearer’s Bunkhouse. There’s also powered caravan sites with amenities and secluded Darling River camp spots. Guests can self cater or enjoy a range of delicious Australian country-style meals such as Liz’s farmyard breakfasts, stockman’s lunches and two or three course dinners served to your accommodation.
Turlee Station is a working sheep and wheat station located adjacent to Mungo National Park in outback NSW. Situated within the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area, Turlee is a great place to experience outback station culture whilst exploring the national park. Accommodation options include camping, shearer’s quarters as well as a self contained cottage. Tag-along tours, sheep shearing and sheep dog working demonstrations as well as a self guided drive tour are all available at Turlee. We pride ourselves in our one-on-one interaction with guests and aim to provide our guests with a memorable experience of outback Australia!
The River
