Around Oz 2023-24

Tonight we are camped at Farina south of Marree.
It is a fascinating historical town. It is slowly being restored over the winter months by a group of very keen volunteers. They have the old underground bakery up and running during the restoration season. Sadly, we missed sampling their delights.
There is also a very moving war memorial, for those that served from the area.

Info from Wikicamps...
Originally called The Gums or Government Gums,[12] Farina was settled in 1878 by optimistic farmers hoping that rain follows the plough.[13] The town became a railhead in 1882, but the railway was extended to Marree in 1884. During the wet years of the 1880s, plans were laid out for a town with 432 quarter-acre (0.10 hectares) blocks. It was believed that the area would be good for growing wheat and barley, but normal rainfall proved to be nowhere near enough for that. Several silver and copper mines were opened in the surrounding area.

Farina grew to reach a peak population of about 600 in the late 19th century. In its heyday, the town had two hotels (the Transcontinental and the Exchange), an underground bakery, a bank, two breweries, a general store, an Anglican church, five blacksmiths, a school (1879–1957) and a brothel.[11][citation needed] In 1909, a 1,143-kilogram (2,520 lb) iron meteorite was discovered north-east of the town.[14]Читать далее