Phillip Eulo, his daughter Kiara and grand-daughters recently visited extinct artesian spring sites at Yantabulla station with Bush Heritage manager David Akers.
The Eulo family are from the Budjiti people, recognised Traditional Owners of the Paroo–Warrego region which overlays the Qld–NSW border. The site pictured is especially poignant for the family as Phil’s aunty Ruby Eulo was born under a bloodwood tree at a camp on a sand hill about 500 metres from where the family are seen standing, more than 80 years ago.
It's understood that the artesian springs were of vital importance to indigenous people, allowing the movement of people and animals across an arid landscape. Most, but not all artesian springs in the district became extinct following the sinking of bores into the Great Artesian Basin in the early 20th century.
As part of a collaborative state and federally funded rehabilitation scheme, beginning in 2017 a number of flowing bores in the district including one on Naree and two on Yantabulla are to be capped and controlled. This will eliminate the huge loss of Great Artesian Basin water from these bores and result in increased pressure in the basin. It's conceivable that some extinct artesian springs such as the one pictured with the Eulo family could start to flow again.