Camballin township was initially established to support Northern Developments Pty. Ltd., a company incorporated in Sydney in 1951 to establish small scale rice production in 1952. In 1955, a good crop from 32 ha demonstrated that commercial rice production was feasible if water were available and the Government agreed to undertake weir works on the Fitzroy River which provided 3,360 megalitres of water.

The construction of the 17mile dam on Uralla Creek in 1957, trebled the water storage. Since Kim Duracks planting of rice in 1952 the flood plains have been used to grow a range of crops including Sorghum, Legumes, Oats, Cereals and Cotton. (Diseases and insects have made the crops unviable)

Looma Community purchased the freehold property in 1997 from the education department (previously Camballin School). Investment in the caravan park has been to assist in establishing a sound economic base through the development of the tourism, pastoral and primary industry enterprises throughout the area. The areas of Community Development, Social Development and Commercial Development share many common goals to provide a quality of life to all members through co-ordination and employment projects, strengthening self management skills promoting cultural, sport and recreation development along with improving health and housing standards of the individual/community.

Looma Community is approximately 10km from Camballin and has an approximate Indigenous Population of up to 500. They are members of large, interrelated, extended families that shifted from stations & reserves in the 1970’s and have a cultural bond to this area.

Culture & Religion has linked the people, their land and nature through the ancestral beings, the pre-existence and reincarnation of spirits, totemism, mythology and ritual. The local population has a considerable cultural diversity and express themselves aesthetically through a rich heritage of art and a wealth of songs, music and verbal “literature”.

Location

Latitude 17 59 S Longitude : 124 11 E

Camballin townsite, in the Kimberley district between

Derby and Fitzroy Crossing, was gazetted a townsite

in 1959. (It is about 96 kilometres south-east of

System while Looma Community is a further 10km S)

The ‘Camballin’ name was selected by Northern

Development Ltd in 1957, and the townsite was to

service the Company's Liveringa Rice Project.

 Airstrip

·          Altitude 180ft

·          17deg 59.2min S

·          124deg 09.3min E

·          Red Sand Clay Strip

·          RWY length 1330m

·          RWY/RWS width 33mm

·          RWY slope 0.2% down to the west

·          Clear to 2.2% Clear to 2%

Facilities

You'll find powered and non-powered sites suitable for tents, caravans (camper-trailers), camper vans, RVs and motor homes, also providing on-site accommodation ranging from a permanent caravan to modest, budget donga’s. 

• General Store / Kiosk within 200m

• 5 budget Single Dongas

• A total of 6 concrete based, fully serviced sites

• Male/Female Hot and cold showers

• Basic laundry facilities

• Camp Kitchen

• Public telephone

• Bed linen hire (blankets, sheets, pillow slips, towels)