General

51 FNQR has strong ties with all the communities located within the Battalion Area of Resonsibility. GRES members of the Battalion are drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds and civilian employment sectors. As such, the Battalion has routine interaction with the communities of Cape York and the Torres Strait. Some indicative occupations of our part-time members include;

• Community Workers,
• Small Business Operators,
• Queensland Police Service,
• Emergency Services,
• State and Commonwealth Public Service,
• Mining Company Employees,
• University Students,
• Some unemployed members, and
• Station Hands.

Close relations with the civilian population are essential for successful information gathering. Local inhabitants are often the first to notice abnormal movements of personnel, vehicles or aircraft. 51 FNQR therefore seeks to maintain both formal and informal close working relationships with isolated civilian communities. Patrols regularly visit stations and outlying communities, and the Battalion supports and participates in local community events.

Transiting Cape York

There are two main supply routes into and out of the Cape York Peninsula - The Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) and the Bamaga Road (also called the Overland Telegraph Line Track (OTL)). The PDR connects Cairns to Weipa, and the Bamaga Road, which turns off the PDR 145km south of Weipa, connects to the towns of the North Peninsula Area (NPA). The NPA refers to the area and towns north of the Jardine River. The Bamaga Road only partially follows the OTL, the former has been realigned and follows a more weather resistant route, whereas the latter can be serious 4x4 country, pending weather, maintenance and usage. It is well worthwhile carrying spare water, food, tyres, etc when travelling around the Cape York Peninsula as help can be a long way away.

Cape York Roads

The Peninsula Development Road
The PDR is approximately 850km long and is mostly corrugated dirt north of Lakeland with the worst of the road being between Musgrave Telegraph Station and Archer River Roadhouses. As a rough guide the ?, ? and ? way points on the PDR are the roadhouses at Lakeland (BP Ph 4060 2040 or Mobil Ph 4060 2188), Musgrave (Ph 4060 3229), and Archer River (Ph 4060 3266) (each being approx 2? - 3? hours drive, pending road conditions). Fuel, food and camping facilities can be found at each of these and at the townships of Laura and Coen and the roadhouses at Mt Carbine (Ph 4094 3043), Palmer River (Ph 4060 2020 ) and Hann River (Ph 4060 3242) (fuel can cost $0.20 or more per litre than in Cairns and the availability of gas can not be assumed). Radio stations can be received until just north of Lakeland; however, beyond that point they are retransmitted on from local FM repeaters in Laura, Coen and Weipa. In those locations FM radio range is approx 20km (so bring your favourite tapes as it rattles a bit too much for most CD players). Likewise mobile phones (CDMA) can only be used in the above townships.

Jardine Crossing

The Telegraph Road
The Telegraph Road runs to the tip of Cape York Peninsula. It is a corrugated dirt road. The Jardine River is a major obstacle on the road, but can be crossed on a ferry for the sum of $88 (in 2003). The Jardine River is the boundary between the Cape York Peninsula and NPA. Fuel is unavailable between Archer River and Bamaga.

The attached map details some of the major roads and settlements on Cape York Peninsula.

Cape York Peninsula Map (PDF)

ADF elements planning activities in Far North Queensland should contact 51 FNQR for expert advice regarding roads and local travelling conditions.