In the early years, life was tough and people needed to be both hardy and resourceful. Many workers on stations and the railways lived in camps at first, then huts or cottages. As women joined the men, living quarters became more comfortable. Both men and women worked hard to build lives for themselves and their families in the beautiful but demanding environment of the Flinders.
Improved transport, communications, health and education services have made a huge difference to the texture of daily life. People today live with the seasons, work hard, and can keep in touch with each other in ways that weren’t possible in the early years.
State Library of South Australia B70565 Bushman’s camp in Ferguson Gorge near Wilpena Pound around 1920.
The man is carrying water towards the shelter, which is made of branches from surrounding trees.