Ilkurlka, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Roadhouse (facility)
A roadhouse is a commercial establishment typically built on a major road or highway, to service passing travellers. Its meaning varies slightly by country.-USA:...
on the Anne Beadell Highway
Anne Beadell Highway
The Anne Beadell Highway is an outback unsealed track linking Coober Pedy, South Australia, and Laverton, Western Australia. The track was surveyed and built by Len Beadell, Australian surveyor, who named it after his wife. -Overview:...
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
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Located 165 km west of the South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
border, it is the only fuel and supplies depot on the 1340 km long desert track between Laverton and Coober Pedy
Coober Pedy, South Australia
Coober Pedy is a town in northern South Australia, 846 kilometres north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway. According to the 2006 census, its population was 1,916 . The town is sometimes referred to as the "opal capital of the world" because of the quantity of precious opals that are mined there...
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Opened in 2003, the roadhouse is managed by Western Australia's Department of Indigenous Affairs
Government of Western Australia
The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...
. Located at the intersection of Madura Loongana Track (Aboriginal Business Road) and the Anne Beadell Highway, it mainly caters to local Aboriginal communities.
Ilkulka Roadhouse was built, is owned and is operated by the Spinifex People
Spinifex people
The Spinifex people, or Pila Nguru, are an Indigenous Australian people, whose traditional lands are situated in the Great Victoria Desert,, The Sydney Morning Herald, 2002-08-03. Retrieved 2007-04-21. in the Australian state of Western Australia, adjoining the border with South Australia, to the...
who hold Native Title
Native title
Native title is the Australian version of the common law doctrine of aboriginal title.Native title is "the recognition by Australian law that some Indigenous people have rights and interests to their land that come from their traditional laws and customs"...
over the Spinifex Native Title Determination area. Ilkulka is located in the centre of these lands. Ilkulka is named after a major rockhole nearby.
It is 600 km east of Laverton and 750 km west of Coober Pedy, and may be the most isolated roadhouse in Australia.
External links
- Dept of Indigenous Affairs - Information on opening hours and permits