Outback Towns

Camooweal

The Barkly Highway between Mount Isa and Camooweal is considered the longest main street in the world at 188km long!

About Camooweal

Camooweal – Gateway to the Northern Territory

Camooweal is the 'Gateway’ between Queensland and the Northern Territory along the Barkly Highway. The road from Mount Isa to Camooweal, known to locals as 'Tojo's Highway', was built during World War II with American funds. It has been upgraded and is now a first class bitumen road.

Camooweal is part of the Mount Isa Shire, so the Barkly Highway between Mount Isa and Camooweal is considered the ‘longest main street in the world’ at 188 kilometres.

Camooweal History

The 1935 shire hall is an example of colonial architecture and is part of the town’s National Heritage. It houses a display of historic photographs. See a cairn erected to commemorate William Landsborough’s discovery of the Barkly Tableland in 1861 and another cairn erected by personnel stationed in Camooweal during World War II.

Visit the Drovers Camp Information Centre on the edge of town (Mount Isa side) and pick up a ‘Town Walk’ map and a ‘Cemetery Guide’ to learn more about the interesting history of Camooweal.

A visit to the Drovers Camp is a must-do while in Camooweal. Take a FREE guided tour of its impressive display of droving history and memorabilia and beautiful art gallery.

Camooweal Caves National Park

The Camooweal district is honeycombed with rare sink holes and caves, dating back to the Cambrian Period, about 500 million years ago. Experienced cavers only. The national park is the home of many birds, and there is a little billabong beside the bush camping area.

Camooweal Events

The Drover’s Camp Festival in August celebrates and commemorates the 'hard yakka' put in by Queensland’s drovers who travelled the Camooweal region to forge the cattle industry.

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