It rises west of the Great Dividing Range on low ground as two central Queensland rivers , the Thomson between Longreach and Charters Towers , and the Barcoo in the area around Barcaldine , about inland from Rockhampton .
The creek starts west of the Great Dividing Range as two rivers , the Thomson from near Longreach and Charters Towers , and the Barcoo in the area around Barcaldine , about 500 km inland from Rockhampton .