Camooweal is located in the far north west of outback Queensland, about 12 kilometres east of the Queensland-Northern Territory border. Camooweal is 188 kilometres west of Mount Isa, 450 km west of Tennant Creek (NT) and 330 km south of Burketown. The town is situated on the Barkly Highway, and is adjacent to the Georgina River.
The first recorded European explorer in the Camooweal region was William Landsborough, who passed through the area in 1862 while searching for Burke and Wills. Pastoralists soon followed, with the town of Camooweal being gazetted in 1884. Camooweal developed as an important service centre for the surrounding cattle properties. One hundred years ago, bullock trains were found in the main street and the town was bustling with energy. Long before the mining town of Mount Isa to the east became a major centre, Camooweal was the gateway to Queensland's Gulf region and the Northern Territory. Eventually, however, Camooweal's growth was eclipsed by the that of Mount Isa. With local government in Camooweal being provided by the Mount Isa City Council, Camooweal is now considered something of a suburb of Mount Isa. The road from Mount Isa to Camooweal was constucted during World War II with the assistance of American funding, being designed as a link between the southern Australian states and a theoretical front line in the Northern Territory.
The Camooweal region is honeycombed with rare sinkhole caves formed during the Cambrian Period about 500 million years ago. One cave can be found about 5 km west of town on the road to Gregory Downs, while another cave is located off the road between Mount Isa and Camooweal. Sinkhole caves can also be found at the Camooweal Caves National Park 20 km south of Camooweal. Note that while visiting the Camooweal caves is a great experience, only experienced cavers with appropriate equipment should venture into the depths.
The Georgina River is a significant attraction, and is home to more than 50 bird species. River views can be enjoyed from the Georgina River Bridge which was constructed in 2002 to ensure accessibility to the town during river floods. Other attractions in the area include the Barkly Tableland Heritage Centre, the Drovers Camp Information Centre, Freckleton's Store, Camooweal Cemetery, and Lawn Hill National Park and Riversleigh to the north. The Barkly Tableland Heritage Centre provides a valuable insight into the social, economic and cultural history of the Barkly region over the past century. The shire hall was constructed in 1935 and is part of Camooweal’s National Heritage. It is a fine example of colonial architecture and is now home to a historical photographs display.