South Australia

We left Broken Hill as it threatened rain and crossed the border into South Australia at Cockburn, we followed the sunny skies to Peterborough.

A good way to start the day

Another lovely drive through our beautiful country, the landscape changing constantly. We went from the outback to pasture in about 5 hours as we got closer to Adelaide and the coast.

Please pass

Look at this sky

Olary SA

We stopped at Olary a small stopover with a train station, a pub and only a few houses. This village was devastated by fire last year when 3 historic houses, a bakery and a shop were lost. The cause of the fire is still unknown but it was a 45degree day with howling winds. The efforts of the local people saved the pub and what is left. The fire brigade took over an hour to come from Broken Hill.

 

Olary Railway Station

Fellow travellers on the pub verandah



Olary Hotel

We met the 4 guys from this old rally vehicle
they were on their way to the Birdsville Races

Following the railway line

 

Mannahill SA

Our next stop, we had our picnic lunch near the lovely old station opposite the historic hotel and museum. In the photo you may notice the same vehicle we saw at Olary...we know they were on the way the Birdsville races and we think they were pub crawling all the way!

Railway Station

Mannahill Hotel

Interesting ever changing country

Peterborough SA

As we began to see more pasture land we knew we were leaving the outback behind. Peterborough was the next town so we decided to stay in the caravan park there, it has great facilities and a pretty good view over farmland.

It's a railway town because of the triple gauge line connection there, the museum has many relics of many journeys and model trains are spotted all over town.

This one greeted us at the gate of the caravan park

There is also a sweet statue of Bob the Railway Dog who lived at the station and is a favourite of young and old.

Bob

Whyte Yarcowie SA

Stunning farming country everywhere you look and also many ruins of old stone farm houses. Can't help wondering what became of the people who raised their families and lived lives in them.

 

 

Wind farms dotted the hills of the area.

 

Burra SA

Another historic town which we unfortunately mostly missed and just saw the edges of. Still it looked pretty so maybe another day. I did take just a few lovely photos.

Now a private home

We are on a mission now as we have to decided to go to Geelong to see Steph and John and want to be there by Thursday 8^th. So although we have plenty of time no dilly dallying or back tracking from now on!

 

Amazing colours

Yellow bushes stand out

 

Morgan SA

Another lovely town on the Murray River with historic houses and streets lined with flowers. We had our picnic lunch in a lovely park watching the ferry crossing the river.

 

Menindee NSW

We felt the trip would not be complete without a trip to the historic town of Menindee which is on the Darling River and about 110 km from Broken Hill.
The terrain was a little different with more small trees and more stock grazing on the land.

Blue skies over stunning land

Ever changing landscape

Amazing flowers and sheep...no fences out here

Pipeline with drinking water from Menindee
to Broken Hill
 

We saw lots of wildlife and many domestic animals like sheep, cattle and goats.

I actually saw kangaroos fighting today, they were in a group of about 8 animals. We almost ran over a few stumpy tail lizards and saw some bearded dragons. Lots of Emus are along the roads in small groups or alone and can be seen about every 5 km which makes me think they are territorial.

 

Slow moving Stumpy Tail Lizard

Emu

 

We had a picnic lunch beside a very muddy Darling River which is affected by flood waters from Queensland.

 

River looks like milk...very muddy

 

Saw a wonderful exhibition of Aboriginal Art at the tourist information centre and there was lots of written information there.

 

Authentic Aboriginal art

Carvings and instruments

 

I asked the lady on reception about the empty lake and the town and didn't get much of an answer as she was busy with a computer game at the time...oh well I guess she has a life too!

It turns out that Menindee Lake is empty and we are not sure why except that people are not happy about what has happened and they have been protesting. There are lots of white crosses along the roads, these are a part of the protest.

 

That is Lake Menindee
Cattle grazing there.

Lake Copi Hollow
A man made lake for recreation

 

 

It's a protest!

Bourke & Wills are a big part of this little towns history as Menindee was the very last European settlement they visited before their fateful journey north. They stayed at the hotel, their camp was nearby. Their intention was to return, some of their party did, unfortunately neither Bourke or Wills did.

 

This is outside the spot where the hotel they stayed
 was back in the day

Lovely park entrance

Grave of Dost Mahomet who was part of the Bourke & Wills
expedition.
He died back in Menindee and is buried at the place he prayed.

 

Menindee is a tiny place with a small population, a few houses no shops except a small supermarket and that's it! It was worth the trip, we loved the country and enjoyed the drive, just a pity there was not more about Bourke & Wills.

We came back into Broken Hill in time to revisit the cemetery, unfortunately no one was there to assist us so we spent a few minutes saying goodbye to our family, leaving wild flowers with our memories.

 

 

History is being made right now, mining still goes on in Broken Hill and the mining industry is alive and well, this is the richest source of silver, lead and zinc in the world.

Our ancestors who are a part of this history were there at the beginning and we are proud of them.

 

An amazing train that goes into the underground mines

 

 

I'm sure leaving Broken Hill tomorrow will be emotional for us but we are so glad we came and really feel as if we are a part of this place.