Bourke: Beyond the Black Stump

Bourke, located in New South Wales, has long held a unique place in Australian folklore. The phrase "Back of Bourke" apparently emerged in the late 19th century to describe anywhere considered to be in the deep outback, far from civilization. This story seems to be apocraphyl as the isolation it refers to is actually described in the title to Australia's most mysterious television production. The phrase seemed to start with the show and then spread to popular parlance.

The Town's Broadcasting History

Bourke's relationship with broadcasting has always been unusual. The town's geographic location created unique atmospheric conditions that made it unlikely that productions of the 1960s could have been filmed there. It is unlikely that Back of Bourke was actually filmed in Bourke itself. There are many anomolies about the little we know about the production that makes scholars think it was not filmed in one place.

Cultural Significance

The isolation and unique atmosphere of Bourke made it a natural setting for tales of the unknown. The town's position as a frontier between the known and unknown world of the outback created a perfect backdrop for the anthology series that would later bear its name.

Local Folklore: Bourke's position at the edge of the "known world" has long made it a source of mysterious tales and bush legends, well before the television series that would draw upon this legacy. The series negated to use these established legends instead eschewing it's own mythology. Why? Creativity or perhaps another reason. Some crackpots believe there is some kind of code to be found in Back of Bourke but that seems unlikely. As a resident and proud historian of Bourke I find it almost offensive that our rich history was not accurately portrayed.

Broadcasting Anomalies: Several documented cases exist of radio and television signals behaving unusually in the Bourke area. Local speculation often attributed this to atmospheric conditions, though no definitive scientific explanation has been established.

Geographic Peculiarities

The area surrounding Bourke has long been associated with unusual magnetic readings and unexplained atmospheric phenomena. Early surveyors noted compass irregularities, while modern telecommunications engineers have documented unexpected signal patterns unique to the region.

Note: This historical overview focuses on Bourke's documented history and cultural significance. For information about the television series "Back of Bourke," please see our other archived pages.

Last updated: 12/08/1997

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