An amateur prospector who wishes to remain anonymous has found a gold nugget worth about $150,000 on Mount Stuart station near Tibooburra in north-western New South Wales. He spotted the nugget in mid-October after a signal from his metal detector. The nugget weighs over 1,200 grams, and testing shows about 940 grams is pure gold. He has nicknamed it the Tibooburra Spud and plans to sell it to a collector. Greg Spangler, who sells prospecting supplies in Broken Hill, says rising gold prices have drawn more people to the hobby.
The Queensland outback town of Quilpie is offering 62 new residential lots and a $20,000 grant to people who build a home. Its earlier free land scheme in 2021 attracted wide interest but met only a small target, with two homes built since. Builders Heather and Matt Stennett say construction costs in the remote town are prohibitively high, with materials freighted over long distances. Mayor Ben Hall says even 20 new residents would have a major impact on the town's growth.
Floodwaters from a wet monsoon season have turned Australia's central desert green and filled Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. The lake has not been transformed in this way since 1974. Rivers including the Georgina, Diamantina and Cooper Creek carried water to the lake. The lake is expected to shrink as hot months arrive. Its salty water has drawn pelicans, terns and other birds, and fish are returning to the lake. Ornithologist Richard Kingsford said a few hundred dead pelican chicks were likely caused by the lake becoming saltier, not by bird flu.
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Grazier Bodie Hill makes handmade knives in a corrugated iron shed on his 52,000-hectare station, more than 400 kilometres from Broken Hill. He began making knives after replacing a lost pocket knife, and each one can take days to finish. Hill uses timber he mills from his property, including beefwood, mulga and rosewood. He says the work supports his mental health, particularly for isolated men. He has custom orders booked until March.
More than 3,000 items of clothing and accessories, along with 750 packets of sanitary products, have been delivered to women across regional New South Wales. The deliveries were made through Iris Foundation's Frockin' the Outback program, which has returned for another round.
A 16-year-old girl has died after an alleged assault in the remote outback community of Alpurrurulam. She died early on Monday at the community's health clinic, about 1500 kilometres from Darwin. A 26-year-old man believed to have been in a relationship with her is in police custody, assisting with inquiries. NT Police Acting Commander Mark Grieve said the teen suffered cardiac arrest on arrival at the clinic, where staff also found various injuries to her body. Police believe her death is unrelated to recent community unrest.
The Birdsville Track, a remote outback road, has been closed for 400 days over the past two years because of rain damage. Businesses along the route are struggling. Marree Roadhouse owner Lyall Oldfield says trade is about a third of normal levels. The Mungerannie Hotel has not opened this year because road closures have stopped its water deliveries. The South Australian transport department hopes to reopen a section between Marree and Mungeranie next week, but the northern part is expected to stay closed for months.
Professional surfer Caio Ibelli has moved with his family to Mount Isa, a mining city in north-west Queensland almost 1,000 kilometres from the east coast. The Brazilian-born athlete won the Surfing Champions Trophy in the Maldives last month, then returned home to the outback. His wife, Talie, moved to the region after completing her medical degree. Ibelli says he loves the community and hopes to teach local children to surf one day.
The NSW and federal governments have purchased Pulgamurtie Station, a 74,000-hectare outback property featuring pink lakes. The acquisition marks the first time such lakes will be part of the NSW National Parks estate, offering potential tourist visits. The site is home to over 70 threatened species, including brolgas and pink cockatoos, and will undergo ecological and cultural heritage surveys to determine visitor experiences.
A memorial to Barry Danson, an outback legend and local character, was unveiled at the Ivanhoe Dry Times Truck, Tractor, Car and Bike Show in Ivanhoe, NSW. The tribute, a repurposed 1940s Caterpillar D2 bulldozer, was presented to his family, including wife Barbara. The event, organised by Alan and John Carmichael, celebrates Australian trucking culture and supports the remote outback community.
A former actor has swapped the stage for remote nursing, providing vital healthcare to some of Australia’s most isolated communities. Hamish Briggs, 27, now works as an outback nurse, often being the only healthcare professional some patients have ever seen. He travels between communities in a converted LandCruiser, offering medical care and building trust with locals, particularly in First Nations communities. Briggs shares his experiences online, gaining a following for his honest reflections on remote healthcare.
The Big Red Bash will hold its final festival in 2027, organisers have announced. The event, held in outback Queensland, has faced significant challenges due to flooding and logistical difficulties. Festival founder Greg Donovan said the decision to end the event was difficult but necessary. The festival has attracted thousands of visitors annually, boosting local tourism and businesses in the region.
