19-Aug-2007 --

In August 2007 we were working on Sandringham station and decided to attempt to reach the nearby degree confluence point at -24°, 139°. The confluence point is on Sandringham Station, about 5 kilometres north of the Sandringham to Ethabuka track.

We discussed the subject of the confluence point with Shirley, over tea and cakes at Sandringham homestead, she approved the attempt and offered detailed directions to the unmapped Fields Bore access road which passes close to the location of the confluence.

From Sandringham we went back to the main track and then drove north-west towards Fields Bore as far as the -24° line of latitude. We left our vehicles and set out on foot to cover the remaining 2.2 kilometres in a westerly direction following the -24° line of latitude. A couple of kangaroos watched from a distance as we set out from the vehicles.

The confluence is on the eastern edge of the Simpson Desert, so our journey took us over two sand dunes topped with spinifex and small trees and flat stony inter-dunal country. The day was cool, with a cloudless blue sky and a strong wind that kept the flies away. We reached the confluence on the western slope of the third dune after about 30 minutes walking.

There was a good view to the south down the dune corridor, but the northern and eastern vistas were limited by the crest of the near-by dune. To the west the next dune was about 600 metres away. We took a series of photographs and enjoyed the feeling of successfully reaching a remote confluence point.

No permanent marker was left at the location as we thought it best to leave the site in is natural, untouched state.