We're there, and nobody overtook Mairjimmy unfairly. The sign was 'Diamantina Causeway'. I was returning from Cloncurry, varying the route from the northbound one, and so via Boulia.
It never occurred to me to squeeze Birdsville into the program, but my holiday time was finite, and I had a railway event to chase in Winton.
IIRC we had overnighted in Boulia, and left with a full tank, expecting 360 km to the next petrol. There is a pub at Middleton, half way. I guess that it sells petrol. That didn't show on my map at the time, and I didn't stop to photograph it. That is the the last vestige of a hamlet which grew around a Cobb & Co staging post. I have been on a few development roads over a few holidays. On one I was worried by the rain, and the road surface turning to glue, but was reassured by two sets of recent tyre tracks ahead of me. Then the marks showed that it was the one vehicle, which had made a three-point turn and headed back. I did the same, and went the long way around, on surfaced main roads.
I wrote a biography for a hotel book once. Diamantina, Lady Bowen (nee Roma), was the wife of Queensland's first colonial governor. Both were ideal for the role, and many landmarks have been named after them. IIRC later postings were Victoria and NZ. In turn, assorted river and naval vessels have been named after the river which carried her name. Decommissioned HMAS Diamantina is the centrepiece of Queensland Maritime Museum.
The 'highway' label seems to be a marketing term, as this segment forms part of a Winton to Laverton adventure drive, incorporating many sectors and many names (including the legendary Gunbarrel Hwy).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outback_Highway
I did warn that I regarded this one as severe challenge, but it didn't stall, and the entries did match the available clues.
Mairjimmy should aim for a Darwin stubbie for that achievement before winkling out the next challenge.
Roderick
