Birdum 2006
Friends, Colleagues, Heritage Clan, outback explorers and
other variants,
In the early hours of 4 September 1929 the first steam train from Darwin pulled
in to Birdum (2 days and 316 miles south of Darwin). It was quite cold (as it can
be in inland Australia) and the intrepid passengers elected to sleep in the
train prior to boarding the vintage road transport across 600 miles of dusty
track to Alice Springs.
On 4 September 2004 we inaugurated an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the
first train to Birdum. The cold starry night was perfect to see the headlight of
the ghost train bobbing along in the distance at 4am. Finally, residents of
nearby Larrimah (Ann Kanters and Barry Sharp) arrived on the restored fettlers
trolley. Due ceremony was conducted as we huddled around a large camp fire.
The event was so popular that we ran it again in 2005 this time under the banner
of BIRDUM ALIVE IN 2005. This time we enjoyed music by the top band in Daly
Waters playing in the "Starlight Ballroom" of the original Birdum Hotel. The
fettlers trolley made regular 7km trips to Larrimah and we visited a number of
historic sites in the area.
By popular request we plan to run BIRDUM 2006 on the weekend of 2-3 September
2006. This is the first official notification of the event. We will be sending
out regular bulletins as the event approaches and evolves.
The general plot will be that participants will make their own way to Larrimah
on Friday 1 September (or earlier as desired).
Early arrivals will be encouraged to join to track crew to undertake the annual
clearing of undergrowth, sand etc.
A celebratory/welcome dinner will probably be conducted in the dining room of the Larrimah Wayside Inn on Friday evening. (Larrimah Wayside Inn is actually in the building that was originally the Birdum Hotel until it was relocated in 1952).
Historic tours will be conducted on Saturday (possibly including the Rock Hole)
but definitely including the WW2 hospital site, the 1872 Overland Telegraph
Route (Birdum is named after the supervisor's wife) , #2 bore on the overland
stock route, pump hole weir that supplied Birdum with water, Birdum Airstrip,
the very very end of the Never Never line, etc, etc.
On site catering will be provided by Rilla / Nola and crew at a nominal charge.
Bring your own camping gear.
We'll probably break camp on Sunday afternoon and head for home. Commemorative
T-Shirts will be printed for the occasion. We will have a selection of
historical material on Birdum at site. But its always an opportunity to learn
more about the fascinating history of this place (which only happened to be
there because of the financial constraints of the Great Depression). Its said
that for a time in 1942, US military operations were conducted from the verandah
of the Birdum Hotel.
SPECIAL GUEST in 2006 will be Mrs. Ethel Webb from Brisbane along with
members of her family (husband Russell, daughter Jan from Sydney and cousin
David from NZ). Ethel is the daughter of Bill Jacobsen who was killed at Birdum
in January 1936. Ethel was only a toddler at the time and has a lovely
photograph of father Bill holding her.
INTERESTED?
We may need to limit numbers this year to ensure that
Birdum is not further damaged. So if this event is of interest to you, could you
please indicate in the near future - to assist our planning.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET OFF THIS MAILING LIST? We don't want to annoy you if this
is of no interest and will be happy to delete you from this special "Birdum
2006" broadcast list if you let us know.
Regards,
Trevor Horman
for Friends of the North Australian Railway Inc.
0417 838 578