Algebuckina Bridge Free Camping On The Oodnadatta Track

We spent the night free camping on the Oodnadatta Track at Algebuckina Bridge. This is an iconic free camping spot on the Oodnadatta Track that runs alongside the old Ghan Railway.

Camping At Algebuckina Bridge

Travelling From Beresford Siding To Algebuckina Bridge On The Oodnadatta Track

We travelled from our overnight free camp site at Beresford Siding to Algebuckina Bridge along the Oodnadatta Track. Distance covered was about 195km and included a stop for lunch in the pub at William Creek. The Oodnadatta Track from Beresfield Siding to Algebuckina Bridge was in great condition apart from a bit of damage from recent rain events to some of the dry creek crossings. There was also a creek crossing with water to a depth of about 45cm near the Algebuckina Bridge turnoff.

Leaving William Creek

William Creek

William Creek is a very quirky little town. It consists of a Hotel. An airfield where you can get general charter flights as well as a range of sightseeing flights. There’s also a caravan park.

William Creek Hotel

About The Algebuckina Bridge

58 kilometres south of Oodnadatta you will find the complete and intact Algebuckina Bridge. A wrought iron bridge it once carried the former Alice Springs narrow gauge railway across the flood plain of the River Neales. No train has passed over after the new standard gauge route was opened from Tarcoola. Algebuckina Bridge still exists today and it has a unique and interesting history.

Algebuckina Bridge On The Oodnadatta Track

In 1890, government workers began sinking the cast iron piers, and by the time wrought iron arrived for the superstructure, most of them had been completed. A considerable amount of progress was made during the first half of 1891, and according to the Public Works Report for the period ending 30 June, the pier cylinders had been sunk except for two or three at the northern end, and eleven spans of the superstructure had been completed. On 8 January 1892, it was completed and opened to traffic.

Warrina – Oodnadatta railway section was scheduled to open on 7 January 1891, but delays in delivery of ironwork to the Algebuckina site prevented this. In the meantime, a temporary causeway over the river bed was built to accommodate construction trains during June 1889, and it was during this period when the only floodwaters ever cut the line.

Algebuckina Bridge Alongside The Oodnadatta Track

This occurred for the first time on 5 February 1890, when the track was shut down for sixty hours. Another occurred on 8 April of the same year and lasted 168 hours, while a third took place during the ensuing year, but in this case, no trains were delayed. Following the bridge’s opening, the track across the causeway was laid within six months.

There are 19 spans on the Algebuckina bridge, each 101 feet 6 inches (30.9 metres) long; the total length is 1,928 feet 6 inches (587.8 metres), which is 51 feet 6 inches (15.7 metres) shorter than the Murray bridge; and the girders are 10 feet (3 metres) deep. Also, the clear road width on the Murray bridge is much wider than that on the Algebuckina bridge.