Up in the Ayr

With the ongoing fascination of flying, who better to assist us with these new adventures than Delvy.

Last week we headed north from the Whitsundays to the Burdekin district for some time in the air, camping out at the Ayr airfield with a trillion mosquitoes and other bugs. Thankfully, the aerodrome building, complete with flyscreens and cooling fans, gave us somewhere to retreat safely before we sealed ourselves inside the motorhome for a good night’s sleep.

Delvy at the Ayr Aerodrome club

Jabiru hangar

Sunset at the airstrip

At dawn, we were welcomed awake by more flying beasts: this time of the feathered variety. A cross section of tonal honks drew our attention skyward as hundreds of black and white magpie geese effortlessly swished above us. The reason for the mass of friendly flying friends soon became apparent once we were up in the sky.

Sunrise at Ayr Aerodrome

Magpie Geese

A skein of geese

Travelling over 200 kilometres and with a catchment area of approximately 130,000 square kilometres, the Burdekin River is Australia's largest river by (peak) discharge volume. The river's lower catchment is northern Australia's largest irrigation area with approximately 80,000 hectares under irrigation serviced by 391 kilometres of pipeline and channels and 13 pump stations. Subsequently the area is littered with wetlands – a perfect place to attract birds and insects. 

Sugarcane is the predominant crop grown here, but mangoes, sandalwood, grain legumes, watermelons and rockmelons are also part of this enormous food bowl.

Ayr from the air

Four sugar mills are spread either side of this impressive river, which also divides the main towns of Ayr and Home Hill.  A road trip of only 12 kilometres separates the two, and up until 1957 each town provided the same essential services, as every year the district would be cut in half for weeks at a time when the Burdekin River flooded over the low-level bridge.

The Burdekin River with sand levees to keep the freshwater level higher

A reliable roadway was required between north and south Queensland, and so the 1.1-kilometre, ten thousand tonne steel ‘Silver Link’ bridge was built, taking 10 years to do so. Built on sand, as there is no rock in the river bed, 11 x 30 metre caissons each weighing 4000 tonnes were sunk into the riverbed to provide support for the 10-span bridge. Floodwaters are yet to pass over this National Engineering Heritage Landmark.

The Silver Link

Crossing the Burdekin on the Silver Link. Stumps of the old low level bridge can be seen clearly

Now back to flying. Whilst I enjoyed a scenic flight in the Jabiru J-170, Gary is wanting a Recreational Aviation certificate and is therefore learning to fly. So, stay tuned for more flying adventures.

Another Delvy adventure