Double Desert Adventure - September 2004

Birdsville is a small outback town on the banks of the Diamantina River, between the sands of the Simpson Desert and the gibbers of Sturt's Stony Desert. The area is coloured in history, from an important aboriginal meeting place to "white" settlement in the late 1870s and beyond.
Birdsville's busiest week of the year occurs in September. Visitors converge on this tiny outback town from all parts of Australia and the world on the first Saturday in September for the Annual Birdsville Cup Racing Carnival, held over two days (Friday and Saturday).
The first race meeting was held in 1882 as an event for hack and stock horses with a few local spectators. The meeting now includes a 12 race program with prize money in excess of $110,000 and is famous throughout the world.