Fitzroy Crossing, Geikie Gorge and Fitzroy River
Images of Fitzroy Crossing, Geikie Gorge and the Fitzroy River.
91 imagesFitzroy Crossing, 392km from Broome and 2524km from Perth on the banks of the Fitzroy River, where early travellers were able to ford the river. At 114m above sea level, the town is situated on the massive Fitzroy flood plain. In full flood, 30,000 cubic metres of water flow down the Fitzroy every second. The Fitroy contains 40 species of freshwater fish including the endangered sawfish. The town of Fitzroy Crossing was established in the the 1890s, with the first post office and telegraph station built in 1892. A police camp was established in 1894 and the post office was moved to higher ground in 1895. In 1935 the first bridge was built over the Fitzroy River, with a higher bridge built over the old bridge in 1958. The most recent bridge was constructed in 1974. The town has a population of approximately 1500 with another 1800 people in outlying communities and the greater Fitzroy region.
21 images20km from Firtzroy Crossing, Geikie Gorge is a cleft in the ancient devonian reef formed by the Fitzroy River. Water levels can rise up to 16.5m in the wet season, scouring the limestone white. Fauna in the waters of the gorge include freshwater crocodiles, barramundi and sawfish.