Bourke (New South Wales)

Bourke is a town in the north of the Australian state of New South Wales. It is located about 800 kilometers northwest of Sydney on the south bank of the Darling River, cross two bridges north of the city. Bourke can be reached via the Mitchell Highway and the airport Bourke.

In 2011 lived in the village of 2047 people, of which over a third Aborigines.

History

Bourke was settled in the 1820s by British settlers. The place was originally called Pratte Ville and was renamed in the 1830s after the Governor of New South Wales, Richard Bourke. Previously Bourke was of camel caravans supplied (→ camels in Australia) and was home to a large community of Afghan camel drivers, of which today confirms a mosque on the site of the cemetery.

Originally, Bourke a major port for the transport of wool of sheep bred in the area dar. The port on the river was abandoned after Bourke was connected to the railway network in 1886. The railway ceased operation in 1988. The former station houses a tourist information center today.

Economy

The landscape around Bourke is characterized by the sheep as well as some fruits and cotton fields in the vicinity of the Darling River. In the area there was a great drought 2005-2008, which threatened the existence of agriculture.

In order to revive the economy Bourke invested in 2008 /09 in the old port and wants to make tourism attractive with steamships.

Personalities

• Jobie Dajka (1981-2009), cyclist
• Jane Harrison ( born 1960 ), theater writer
• Mathew Helm ( born 1980 ), water Springer