Channel Country, Queensland.

Tree of Knowledge - 1910

Diamantina River, Queensland.

In the heart of Queensland’s vast and unforgiving outback lies a river that defies the aridity surrounding it. The Diamantina River, a serpentine waterway stretching across some of Australia's most remote terrain, is a lifeline for ecosystems and communities in the Channel Country. During flood events, when rains finally fall far to the north, the Diamantina spills its banks, spilling into the adjacent sand dunes and dry channels, bringing a sudden and dramatic pulse of life to the desert.

Originating near the Queensland–Northern Territory border, the Diamantina flows south through sweeping floodplains, crossing through Birdsville and onwards to Goyder Lagoon, before eventually splitting into two distributaries — the Warburton River and Kallakoopah Creek — which funnel its waters into Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre in South Australia. This journey spans more than 1,400 kilometres, threading through the semi-arid and arid landscapes of the Sturt Stony Desert and some of the flattest land in the world.

Despite its ephemeral nature, the Diamantina River system plays a vital ecological role. When in flood, its waters spread widely across floodplains, recharging wetlands, filling ephemeral lakes, and triggering an explosion of life. Birds arrive in massive flocks, frogs and insects emerge from dormancy, and remote desert pastures bloom with wildflowers and greenery. These periodic floods are lifeblood events, nourishing an ancient and fragile landscape adapted to boom-and-bust cycles.

Culturally, the river has long been a part of Indigenous life and lore. Traditional custodians of the region have lived with the rhythms of the Diamantina for millennia, moving across the land with seasonal water availability. Today, pastoralists and ecologists alike continue to rely on and respect its patterns.

The Diamantina is more than a river — it is a reminder of how water shapes identity, culture, and ecology in Australia’s inland deserts. Even when the land appears barren, the river quietly holds the memory of rain, ready to awaken the desert once more.

Gold Award - Epson International Pano Awards 2020