If you know Bourke you know Australia
Henry Lawson
WELCOME
'Back O' Bourke'- one of the most recognisable terms in the Australian vocabulary, but where, or rather 'what' is it? It is people and it is landscape, solitude and mate-ship. It encompasses history, culture and nature, as well as invention and ingenuity. Small towns and big distances, wide open plains and narrow tracks. As much a concept as it is reality, and only ever truly understood through experience.
This is our backyard. These concepts and hazy vision are the realities of our day to day lives. We can no more point you towards the Back O' Bourke than you could, because we are it. We are the people, the places, the stories and traces. Follow any path you like to get here, take any means available to you, and know that when you arrive you will be invited to discover the hidden journeys Back O' Bourke has to offer.
See & Do
Mount Oxley Rossmore Station
An hour spent with eagles in the silence atop Mount Oxley looking across a 100-kilometre expanse rekindles the experience of explorers Sturt and Hume…
Back O' Bourke Information and Exhibition Centre
The Back O' Bourke Information and Exhibition Centre is set amongst the native garden of the river red gums on the banks of the Darling River.The cen…
Jandra Paddleboat
Experience the famous Darling River aboard the majestic Jandra Paddleboat. Enjoy one of the relaxing daily cruises, or book a private charter for you…
Stay
It's the bitterest land of sweat and sorrow. But if I were free I'd be off tomorrow Out at the Back O' Bourke
Henry Lawson
Social
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EASTER 2026 FLASHBACK — WILL YOU PUSH THE BALE? Have you started training for 2027 yet? Because apparently bragging rights require preparation. The wool bale roll has been causing chaos at Bourke Easter for many, many years — and now we’ve dragged the kids into it with the Swag Toss. Wonderful family fun… unless you’re the announcer, who spends the entire event less worried about who wins and more worried about whose toes are about to disappear under a wool bale. And trust us — naming rights matter. You win this thing, people need to KNOW. So… gym membership? Training program? Secret bale in the backyard? Or are you just going to rock up Easter 2027 and have a crack? WILL. YOU. PUSH. THE. BALE?
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GOOD FRIDAY — AND THE GREEN LIGHT IS ON! There’s only one way to kick off the Back O’ Bourke Easter Festival — with COLOUR. And plenty of it. Some of it even stays with you for the rest of the weekend! If we had to describe Easter in Bourke, it would be every colour of the rainbow — fun, families, friends and colour sprinkled everywhere. The Good Friday Colour Run is our green light that Easter has officially begun. So what will your traffic light be saying in 2027? 🔴 Not coming 🟡 Still thinking 🟢 BOURKE, HERE WE COME! We’re hoping for GREEN. See you Easter 2027 in the Back O’ Bourke!
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EASTER SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN BOURKE = OLD BOYS FOOTY. Once the markets are done, we head to Davidson Oval for the grudge match. If you’ve never experienced Old Boys Rugby on Easter Saturday in Bourke… well, there’s something you need to fix in 2027. The Back O’ Bourke Easter Festival is all about the fun, friends, family, footy… and whatever other F word comes to mind. So the question is… Are you F…ing coming to Bourke for Easter 2027 or what? 😂
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EASTER 2026 FLASHBACK — SATURDAY MORNING MARKETS! Right in the heart of Bourke — stalls, locals, visitors, plenty of yarns and a cracking Saturday morning. And without our stallholders, there simply wouldn’t be a market. They’re the ones who turn up, set up and help make Easter Saturday in Bourke what it is. Now… what are you doing Easter 2027? We’re not being nosy. We’re just making sure Back O’ Bourke is somewhere in your thinking. 😉
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EASTER 2026 FLASHBACK — THE BILLABONG SESSIONS! Fantastic live music, Henry’s famous fish tacos with THAT blue sauce 😂, friends, families and smiles everywhere. Just one of those great Easter afternoons in the Back O’ Bourke. So… what are you doing Easter 2027? We’re not stickybeaks or anything. Just asking for a friend. 😉 #BackOBourke #MakeMemories #visitnsw #FarmStay
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TOO SOON TO TALK EASTER? NEVER. We’ve only just waved goodbye to Mundi Mundi… or Muddi Muddi this year, Christmas is banging on the door and here we are already talking Easter in the Back O’ Bourke! Why? Because Easter out here is just too much fun not to. So this week we’re digging through the photo album and sharing some of the faces, fun and maybe a few questionable decisions from Easters gone by. Have a look through the pics — you might even spot yourself! Tag your mates, share the memories and if it’s been a while since you joined us… maybe 2027 is the year you come back. Save the dates. Start planning. Come back and do Easter in the Back O’ Bourke with us! #BackOBourke #OutbackNSW #communitystories
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HAVE YOU EVEN BEEN ON THE JANDRA… if you didn’t leave with a hat pin, magnet or cap? 😂 We’ve loved welcoming almost 4,000 passengers aboard since Easter — and we’re not done yet! There are still a few months of cruising left, so if the Jandra is still sitting on your Bourke bucket list, it might be time to fix that. Cruise the Darling-Baaka, enjoy the view and yes… you can get the hat pin afterwards. See you soon out here in the Back O’ Bourke.
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IT’S WET OUT WEST… AND WE LOVE IT! We love the rain, we love the puddles and we love having you here in the Back O’ Bourke. But here’s the deal — if a road is closed, it’s CLOSED. Not “she’ll be right”, not “I reckon we’ll get through”. Closed. Council spends plenty keeping our Shire road network in good nick, so please be a good traveller and respect the closures. And locals… yep, we mean you too. Knowing the road doesn’t give you a special pass! Enjoy the beautiful wet weather, don’t be a wet rag and wreck the roads for everyone else. And if you’re looking for somewhere you’re actually SUPPOSED to find water… The Jandra is on the river — and it’s always wet. Jump aboard!
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WELL… YOU’RE ALREADY OUT WEST. COME SEE THE BACK O’ BOURKE. If your Mundi Mundi plans have changed thanks to the beautiful wet weather — and yes, we said beautiful. We’re bush people… you’ll never hear us run down good rain — keep heading west and come our way (rain this way yet). If you’re already nearly at Bourke, trust us, there’s plenty here to fill a few days. Big skies. Sunsets you’ll dream about. The Darling River looking magnificent. Spring starting to show off. History, culture, great food, little villages and plenty of country roads to explore. Make Bourke your base, slow down for a couple of days and see a bit more of the Back O’ Bourke. You’ve come this far… may as well keep going. #VisitBourke #OutbackNSW #BackOBourke #CommunityHistory #campingvibes
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Meet Peter — your friendly Census Field Officer! Peter is one of a team of three Census Field Officers in Bourke this week, helping our community get counted. You’ll find the team at the Bourke Public Library this Thursday and Friday from 9am–12 noon, ready to help with paper forms, online Census questions or anything you’re not quite sure about. Peter and the team will also be out and about around Bourke, collecting completed forms and offering guidance to anyone who still needs a hand. So if you spot Peter around town, be sure to say G’day! Haven’t completed your Census yet? Peter and the team are here to help you get it sorted. Get counted, Bourke. Make your voice count!
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BOURKE – HAVE YOU DONE YOUR CENSUS YET? If not, don’t panic – you still have time! And that talk going around that you’ll be fined because you’re late? Not true! So don’t let that stop you from getting it done. Peter and the Census team are in Bourke this week only and ready to help. No paper copy? Need a hand online? Or just want someone to help you get it sorted? Head around to the Bourke Public Library TODAY, tomorrow or Friday between 9am and midday. Whether you live here, you’re new to town, live out in one of our villages or were staying in Bourke Shire on Census night – we want you counted. Our numbers matter. Let’s make sure Bourke Shire gets a true count! Get it done. Get counted. Make your voice count! Bourke Shire Council
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HEADING TO MUNDI MUNDI THIS WEEK? Don’t just drive through the Back O’ Bourke — stop and have a look around! Make Bourke part of the road trip, but don’t forget our villages either. Take the turn, pull up for a while and discover Byrock, Enngonia, Louth, Wanaaring and Fords Bridge if your travels take you that way. Country pubs, little bits of history, big skies, long roads and plenty of characters along the way. Fill up when you can, take a photo or two, have a yarn with a local and enjoy the drive — because getting to Mundi Mundi is part of the adventure too. See you somewhere around the Back O’ Bourke!