Cameron Corner
WARNING! This post contains photos and information of people wanted for border infractions in two states.
(But if anyone asks, we weren’t there).
You really can’t come this far north-west NSW and not go to Cameron Corner. Sure, there’s nothing there but a survey marker, but where else can you stand on the corner of three states? Apparently not at Cameron Corner, because you can’t cross any borders. Not unless you are lawless folk like us.
We left Chunky Bum safely in Tibooburra, thanks to the local police officer. We weren’t so much worried about the roads, but we figured we couldn’t be accused of trying to run the border, if our home wasn’t with us. The road was mostly dirt, but we were told by a local that it had just been graded before the lockdown, so hadn’t had much traffic. It showed too, the road was really good, and the countryside was fresh with a decent spattering of green, an uncommon colour in these parts.
Good and smooth with no corrugations. 
Maybe some corrugations…. 
And some ‘not-so-smooth’… 
And some… Well, they did say that the road hadn’t seen much traffic. 
We stopped to look for bilby tracks… Goannas yes, bilbys no… Hmmm… 
Something for everyone here, really lovely landscapes. 
Hugo (AKA Tiny Tim) loves to ‘tip-toe through the tulips’ … Outback Australia style.
We made a couple of stops along the way, stopping to look at a huge dry lake, and climbing a little sand dune looking for Bilby tracks, but we finally made it to the Corner at 12:30. And yes, it was hot, not unbearable but hot, 36 degrees. We looked at the NSW – SA Dingo fence, the NSW – QLD Dingo fence, then peered through the wire at the Corner’s survey post, (riveting stuff).
The gate to freedom. If only we were braver we could do a runner! 
Hugo, the illegal border-jumper in South Australia (NSW in the background). 
Cameron was the man who surveyed the QLD-NSW border and this is the corner of the three states. 
NSW – QLD Dingo fence 
NSW – SA Dingo fence 
Clinging to the barbed wire, this Crimson Chat and his mate don’t need a permit. 
Cameron Corner Pub, way off in the distance. Ahh Queensland, it was good to see you. 
After that we walked towards the fence, looked longingly through to SA, and then we did it! We opened the gate and walked through. Gasp!
Ok, before you judge, take this into account. We are here…
Cameron Corner is the point where the QLD, NSW and SA borders meet. It’s safe to say the area is pretty isolated, and the nearest town in each state from Cameron Corner are as follows.
- South Australia
- Nearest town is Innaminka
- 274km away from the corner
- Population, 12
- Queensland (Cameron Corner Pub is in QLD the store/pub has a population of 5)
- The nearest town is Noccundra
- 242km from the Corner
- Population, 7
- NSW
- Nearest town Tibooburra
- 139km from the corner
- Population, 134
So, holding that in mind, why is it that travellers are banned from crossing the border, in order to take a few photos of the survey marker, then go back from whence they came, yet…you can have a sports stadium filled with 10 thousand people, in close quarters, who are then free to stroll through our cities? And don’t get me started on the protestors. Maybe we’re not the lawless ones after all.
Enough of that. We had fun! And we jumped from NSW, to SA, to QLD over, and over again. Maybe one day soon, we’ll be able to stay longer than a few seconds in QLD or SA then we won’t need to do this…
See you out there somewhere
On tow and on the go!
Sounds like you had a wonderful adventure in Cameron’s Corner. You were so close it would have been a shame not to go.
Loved the photos of the Crimson Chats.
Yeah, we just had to do it.
I love the Crimson Chats too, I don’t always get a shot of them, but I’ve seen them in a few different areas. They just pop up to say Hi, then disappear again.
You can make some fun wherever Hugo!
He is a fun little bear. We had trouble getting him back down off the fence though. He wanted to go home. 🙁
Your photography is fabulous Jo. How wonderful to find the Crimson Chat Couple all the way out there.
Loving living vicariously through Your Adventure
Travel safely
Thanks Lorna
Wait till you see my Rainbow Bee-Eaters.
Hope every one is safe and happy.