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Just south of Betoota, the township of Durrie’s new artesian hot baths have become a massive hit with the local caravan tourists.
The Sir Terry Lewis Hot Baths were installed in August last year, and have made headlines right across the Channel Country this winter.
“What we are finding is that this attraction is providing elderly travellers with the opportunity to take a break from the road and get a bit of hydrotherapy” said the town’s mayor, Councillor Chicko Bjelke OAM.
“It’s good for them to get their hair wet and tread a bit of that mineral-rich water. Get the blood flowing, ya know”
However, Mayor Bjelke says it’s not only the passing tourists that are making the most of the bore water.
“The pools have also with the townie kids who jump the fence after dark and root in them” he said.
“I guess we shoulda seen that coming, but it’s been great for our town, we are growing in numbers each day”
Tourism in North West and New South Wales and Western Queensland has for many years depended on the abundance of hot water from a number of bore springs into the Great Artesian Basin. With many towns offering publicly accessible hot water pools for bathing.
In Durrie, the minerals make the water very healthy for external use and drinking, the public can tap mineral water at a hose in the main street. The Sir Russel Hinze Hot Artesian Bore Baths have been placed on the Register of the National Estate.
Since their opening in August, it is believed that upward of 12 new residents were conceived in the hot springs, with the local teenagers referring to these unplanned children a Bore Water Babies.
