October 2016 A bit of family history

 We are just back from a short Northern camping trip via the Flinders and then Greenfield country.

Cattle yards at Guts Gully

Air Raid Shelter, Roxby

Sturt Pea on the track from the Roxby homestead to the shearing shed

Five days into our camping trip we had over-nighted at Farina then drove in via the Mulgaria Track to Andamooka on Sunday 9th October. A hot 40 degree day with a strong northerly wind. The 4WD track runs for 150km around the top of Lake Torrens  in dramatically red sand ridge country. The day felt even hotter for pommie me as, just to get us in the right frame of mind, the air con system in the car had stopped working!

Mulgaria Track

Blooming Desert

Andamooka Town

We arrived into the slightly run down looking town of Roxby Downs just as the cold front arrived. The population of the town is down by 40% as BHP is now operating the 7 on 7 off system and people fly in and out.

A Mulgaria Track Tawny Frogmouth pretending to be a large twig

On a house block in the mining town of Roxby Downs

When asked the tourist information centre knew very little about access and routes to Roxby Down Station other than remembering Leo and occasional rabbit shooting. The station has been given back to the Kokatha people along with Andamooka and Purple Downs after a twenty year land rights claim. They have had full control of the 3 properties since early 2016.
We eventually drove into the Station via the publicly owned Billakallina road some 30km south of the town. Past Purple Downs Homestead through the Purple gate and entered Roxby HS. After passing the private property sign we started looking around. Ants was giving me the tour of the things he remembered or things he didn't. Then a ute drove up and David the aboriginal Kothatha Station Manager introduced himself, a friendly man. David has worked at Anna Creek as a Stockman for most of his working life and now lives at Roxby.

The Purple Gate, not a great photo but an important gate!

Access to the property we now know is by contacting Jeanette Noble General Manager 8642 2068 or visit www.kokatha.com.au

Entrance to the Old Roxby HS

Ants asked David how many people now

work on the 3 stations. David said that its a struggle regardless with sometimes four men (which seems like one) The men are on employment schemes and still learning the trade.

Ayers House

Recreation hut (with a bar inside that Ants did not remember)

The front gate of Lake Campbell stone

Davis's house

Main House with a collapsed sleepout

Davis's house (Ants remembered the green internal plaster walls)

A scullery off the main house kitchen which Ants nor Joan could remember

 The Main House Kitchen with the Cooker removed

The back kitchen Area

Cooker in Ayers House

Main House Duck under Door!

Main House Living Room

The Meat Store with Outback cooling system

Dave the Station manager/Stockman next to The Smithy

Windmill/ Stone tank/ Swimming Pool

Roxby Boat

 We drove across to the Shearing Shed which is all still in good condition and quite useable.

8 Stand Shearing Shed in Good Condition

Lister Motor at Shearing Shed/ No roof in Engine Shed

Interior Shearing Shed

Exterior Shearing Shed

Meat House

Kitchen next to Shearing Shed

Sheep pens by Shearing Shed

Baler & Gear (Krupps ?)

Wool baler

After Smoko at the Shearing Shed we decided to give South Gap Station a call to see if we could camp by Lake Torrens and see some of South Gap. Kate Greenfield said no worries but to drive from Mount Gunson side over the top end of Lake Torrens we would need  to ask Colin and Jill Greenfield of Billa Kallina who now own Pernatty Station. Jill answered the phone and gave the OK. A great fun 4WD trip to South Gap with beautiful green views.

Pernatty

On the Pernatty Road

Pernatty station

Fox on a fence

Old Pernatty HS

South Gap HS

Nugget the South Gap Kelpie pup and mate

Whittata

Shed at South Gap

Wood Heap at South Gap

We camped near a running Creek near Lake Torrens at South Gap

Camping at South gap

On the way out of South Gap along a Oz Minerals maintain track that is like a dirt highway

We had a good chat with Kate of South Gap and she told us of Oz minerals developing a copper deposit just to the North on Carrapateena Arm. It is the largest Copper ore body in the Sourthern Hemisphere.  She also said we might see Bob (in his 70's) who was mustering sheep with her husband and son on Whittata.

A great history trip for both of us