About Birdsville
Birdsville is a small outback town situated on the banks of the Diamantina River between the sands of the Simpson Desert and the gibbers of Sturts Stony Desert. The area is steeped in history, from aboriginal meeting places to European settlement in the late 1870s and beyond.
The Birdsville population currently stands at approximately 120. The town provides modern facilities for all travellers along with many thriving businesses. Comfortable accommodation and general supplies are available in the town. Facilities include:
 Hotel/Motel Caravan Park/Coffee shop
Bakery
Two service stations & General Store
Post Office
Working Museum
Art gallery
Guided Tours
Police, Medical Clinic and Emergency Services
Tourist Information/Library/Internet Facilities
Airport with a sealed 1700m runway and unsealed cross-strip
'Road trains' supply the town with fresh produce and general supplies from both Adelaide (South) and Quilpie (East) on a fortnightly basis.
Airservices are provided by Macair who operate from Brisbane to Birdsville then Mt Isa and back the following day twice a week carrying both passengers and mail. From the South, Westwing Aviation operate the world's longest mail run from Port Augusta to Birdsville on a Wednesday, overnighting in Birdsville Wednesday night and Birdsville back to Pt Augusta on Thursdays, stopping at isolated outback stations along the way.
Birdsville is located in the Temperate Zone with a generally arid climate. Rainfall average totals 160mm each year occurring mostly in summer with September being the driest month of the year. Daytime temperatures in the region reach an extreme mid 40C in the summer (November - February) down to typical desert nights of 4C in the winter. Milder daytime temperatures reach (15-35C) during the winter months.
Summer rains produce an abundance of native grasses whilst winter rainfall results in a variety of lush herbage and attractive displays of wildflowers particularly in the Simpson Desert to the west of Birdsville.
Approximately every three to five years Birdsville will experience a flood in the Dimantina River. The flood, as a result of extensive rains in the river catchment further to the North, results in the Diamantina bursting its banks and the river stretching out to many kilometres in width and at times flooding all access roads into Birdsville. It is not uncommon during a flood period for Birdsville to be inaccessible by road for up to three weeks.
The image below was taken in February 2004 and shows the extent of recent flooding around the Birdsville township.
For an up to date weather forecast for Birdsville race week check out Weatherzone.
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