Storm Brewing Boulia

The artist witnessed for his inspiration of this painting over many days the changing beautiful skyline at the time resulting in a massive build up of much needed rain producing black and dark green clouds, much to joy of the locals. 

Rain that turned a drought stricken desert into an inland sea completely cutting off the town of Boulia, some 300 kilometres south of Mt Isa on the edge of Simpson Desert. 

On the bottom of the painting Spinifex with its new growth in the rich red soil among several white ant mounds, both of which proliferate this area in their thousands. 

European Exploration and Settlement. 

Bourke and Wills were the first Europeans to travel through Boulia Shire in 1861, on their ill-fated trip to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Burke gave his name to the river that stands near where the township of Boulia now lies.

The first European to settle in the area was John Farrar in 1876. The reserve was transferred to Messes Reid and W. Patterson the following year. In 1879 the land was resumed for a township to be established in the area, halfway between Windorah and Camooweal. Boulia became a popular stopping point on a well used stock route. Boulia Divisional Board was gazetted in 1887. 

The shire is well known for two events. The first being the Min Min Light which first appeared near the old Min Min Hotel in 1918. The hotel burned down I 1918 when a stockman claimed the phenomenon as no one has ever seen the light from a close distance. Boulia is also known for its camel races held every year. 

Medium: Acrylic Paint on Stretched Canvas. 

Painted 2006