Broken Hill to Burra

We left Broken Hill about 8am for our drive to Burra. Our first stop was at Mannahill. We followed this load of sheep as we dawdled through roadworks.

On a recommendation from friends we explored Terowie, an historic town that is almost abandoned. The town grew late in the nineteenth century as a transhipment point from broad gauge rail to narrow gauge. In the 1970s the line to Peterborough was converted to broad gauge and Terowie became a near ghost town. Several abandoned shops are now owned by the South Australian Government. Unfortunately there is a risk associated with asbestos being blown around the town. The population fell from about 2000 to 130.


In 1942 General Macarthur passed through Terowie on his way to Adelaide and Melbourne. He made a public speech at the railway station famously asserting "I came out of Bataan [in the Phillipines] and I shall return". A plaque marks the location at the remains of the railway station.

The final leg of today's trip to Burra was only 64kms but it took a very long time due to extensive roadworks. During our many stops I could photograph the interesting cloud formation, a prelude to very windy cold weather.

We stopped for a late lunch and were able to park behind the Bon Accord Hotel at Burra. The menu is limited but the food was passable. We were given a guided tour of the building.


While we were having lunch Tilly was feeling the cold so opened the curtains to lie in the sun coming through the window. 

Our home for two nights is the Burra Caravan Park backing onto the Burra Creek. I put a coat on Blue and took him for a short walk around the historic town.













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