2020-03-01_Australian_Geographic

28 Australian Geographic

AUSSIE TOWNS

JERICHO, QLD

With a name that invokes a famous event in the bible, this

tiny outback town could be en route to the Promised Land.

J

ERICHO IS A tiny rural service centre on the Capricorn Highway,

midway between the outback towns of Emerald and Longreach.

This region of Central Western Queensland is predominantly cattle

country. Today, Jericho’s primary function is to service the surrounding

large landholdings and entertain passing travellers with its remarkable

ability to exploit its tenuous biblical connections, the most notable

example being its Crystal Trumpeters display in the main street, which

symbolises various moments in the Old Testament. These include the

parting of the Red Sea, receiving the Ten Commandments, crossing

the River Jordan and arriving in the Promised Land.

Jericho is on the Capricorn

Highway, 224km west of

Emerald, 191km east of

Longreach and 1054km,

via Toowoomba and

Emerald, from Brisbane.

VISITOR INFORMATION

Jericho doesn’t have its own visitor centre,

so try the Barcaldine Tourist Information Centre,

149 Oak Street, Barcaldine, about an hour’s drive

to the west; open daily 8.15am–4.30pm.

Call 07 4651 1724.

outbackqueensland.com.au/town/jericho

Jericho

QLD

The local Jordan River

was named after an early

European settler,

Harry Jordan. It was a small

step to apply a biblical

reference and name the

settlement on its banks

Jericho.

ORIGIN

OF NAME

1

2 4 5

3 The Palace

60km south