As the debate over the benefits, or otherwise, of rural communities offering free camping for travellers, the Queensland town of Julia Creek is continuing to be held up as an shining example of what can be achieved.
The Outback settlement, 660 kilometres west of Townsville, famously offers free camping for four days next to Julia Creek … and travellers have voted with their wheels.
Figures for the recently ended financial year show the site has seen a 35% increase in visitors in the past financial year. In June, a total of 542 camping permits were issued for the RV site on the eastern side of town compared with 374 for the same month last year … a 45% increase.
McKinlay Shire tourism co-ordinator, Georgia Fleming, told the Townsville Bulletin that travellers appreciated being made to feel welcome.
“For four days they can chill out, throw in a line or a yabby pot, there are free push bikes at the site to ride to town to buy groceries and they can explore the shire and have a good time,” she said.
Ms Fleming told the Bulletin that there were weekly bush dinners at the Julia Creek Caravan Park where visitors and locals got together around a campfire.
“Visitors can experience how the locals live, be it the local post woman, truck driver or helicopter pilot, grazier, housewife, or a mother who home schools her children,” she said. “The guests get to share their lives and experiences.”
The Shire also runs an RV Camp Host program from April through to September where people can stay at the site for up to three weeks in exchange for issuing camp permits and making sure the site runs smoothly.
Current camp hosts Ken and Colette Gordon from the Hunter Valley in New South Wales say what the McKinlay Shire had done is a role model for other towns.
“This town has done its homework,” Mr Gordon told the Townsville Bulletin. “I am sure we will come back and experience things as tourists rather than camp hosts.”
* Have you stayed at Julia Creek? Do you think this is what more towns should be following this model? Comment below.
Yes, we had the pleasure of staying there early this year and think towns like Julia Creek are forward thinking places. Most caravaners today spend that little bit extra on their vans to be self sufficient and we would happily pay a small fee to stay in these kind of places. We also use caravans parks on a regular basis too to spread our support and money around all areas in regional Australia. Well done Julia Creek.
Yes. I support all camp sites like this one. I would rather spend money in the town. I never use caravan parks but I would go to a camp dinner.
We concur with the previous comments. Our preference is for camp sites like that which is supported by the township of Julia Creek.
Just imagine just how much more revenue was gained by this town from over 10 new clients each week.
The system on offer here is what camping is all about.
Well done to Julia Creek.
John
A lot if small towns could learn a lot from Julia Creek The council there need to be Congratulated. The time and effort that they and the town put into making travellers enjoy is brilliant. It works for every one, the. town benefits from the sale of the food for dinner, the organisation benefits from the money they raise, and the travellers benefit from a good cheap meal and an enjoyable nite with. old and new friends
Went out to Julia Creek for a day trip from Cloncurry, had a counter lunch and a bit of a look around.Didnt cheek out c/park but now wjsh we had, Is there a toilet block as our van is there a block as our van has no l\toilet Hehe hope i dont meet George cause at 76 have to turn the music up a bit to listen to Slim.