Pooncarie

Postcode: 2648

Pooncarie is a small town in New South Wales, Australia in Wentworth Shire. It is on the Darling River between Wentworth and Menindee. 50km west of Pooncarie on Malara Station is the B-Max Ginco Mineral sands mine.

The Burke and Wills expedition passed through Pooncarie on their journey across Australia from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria. They reached the Darling River near Tarcoola Station to the south of town on Wednesday, 26 September 1860 and the next day made Camp XXX, (their thirtieth camp since leaving Melbourne) at what is now Bilbarka Park. The expedition stayed here until the morning of the 11 October 1860 when they headed north to Menindee.

Today there is little other than a hotel, a store, a post office and several dozen people. However, it still hosts what is thought of as one of the better race meetings cum gymkhana in the region every October.

Fishing and camping along the Darling is usually a rewarding experience. The camping area at Pooncarie carries a small charge but it is a fine location and there are facilities available such as showers.

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