COLSON CALLING

A journey through the heart of the Simpson Desert along the spectacular and rewarding Colson Track

- WORDS AND PHOTOS GLENN MARSHALL

In 1936, Ted Colson carved his name into outback history as the first European to cross the Simpson Desert. With five camels, two months' worth of supplies, and his Aboriginal companion, Eringa Peter, Colson left Bloods Creek on the desert's western fringe and followed the 26th parallel to Birdsville.

After a three-day rest, Colson and Peter turned around and made the 900km return trip. It took the pair just 36 days from when they first departed.

Colson’s pioneering feat barely registered at the time, lost in the noise of a rapidly modernising world. But among four-wheel drivers, his legacy lives on in the Colson Track – a little- known but uniquely rewarding route that cuts deep into the heart of the Simpson Desert.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS: OLD ANDADO STATION

We kicked off our trip from Old Andado Station. Once home to outback icon Molly Clark, the homestead has been preserved like a time capsule. A wander through the rooms feels like stepping back into Molly’s life before she relocated to Alice Springs. The station features a fantastic campground with flushing toilets and hot showers – provided the water tank is full.

From Old Andado, we tracked 38km north before detouring into the Mac Clark Conservation Reserve, home to the rare Acacia Peuce. These ancient trees have been around since the dinosaur age, with some standing tall for more than 700 years. Bush camping is allowed in the reserve, but there are no facilities, and fires are banned to protect the fragile environment.

TRACKING THE MADIGAN LINE

Backtracking from the reserve entrance, we turned east onto the Madigan Line. Named after explorer Dr Cecil Madigan, the route follows the path of his 1939 scientific expedition - a camel trek across the Simpson Desert.