In 1870, the 472-kilometre (293-mile) track was pioneered by stockman, drover and cattle thief Harry Readford.

Pastoralists then used the track as a stock route in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

[4] After gas was discovered by Santos in the 1960s, it started carrying more traffic as a route to Moomba.

[4] A shorter route is available via a public access road between Moomba and Innamincka, making the distance 458 kilometres (285 miles).

[6] A number of isolated heritage-listed sites are located nearby to the Strzelecki Track: Australian roads portal