You might wonder what the lace monitors and bearded dragons make of it, but the rusty hunk of metal on the banks of the Darling River marks the site of a major tragedy. In 1872 the boiler on the riverboat PS Providence exploded, killing all on board except one.

It could have been a mechanical problem, or human error due to a large celebration in Menindee the night before. The only thing that is certain is that the explosion was so loud it was heard in the Kinchega Woolshed, and so powerful that it threw the ship's cook into a tree.

However, as you picnic under the shade of the majestic gums reflecting on the history of the area, the trees will be filled with kingfishers, egrets and black kites instead.