28 km north of Lyndhurst is the ghost town of Farina, now nothing more than a fascinating collection of ruins with the surrounding countryside littered with old drays, wheels and rusting pieces of equipment.
It is strange, while wandering around the ruins, to think that people once made their homes here and hoped to grow wheat in the parched surrounding landscape.
The area was originally proclaimed a town on 21/03/1878 and called “Government Gums” because of the mature River Red Gums in the creek to the north of the town.
Later it’s name was changed to “Farina” (Latin for wheat or flour) by farmers who optimistically hoped to turn the vast flat lands here into fields of grain.
For a few years the rains were unusually good, and the farms and town flourished, reaching a population of about 600 before the copper and silver mine closed in 1927.
At its peak the town had a bakery, grain store, two breweries, two hotels, a general store, post office, Anglican church, five blacksmiths and a school.
Then the normal climate returned … bringing years of drought and dust storms which eventually forcing the abandonment of the town.
Farina was the railhead from Port Augusta from 22/5/1882 until 1884 when the line was extended first to Marree and then Alice Springs. The line closed in the 1980’s and was removed in 1993.
Railway buildings included platforms, goods shed, sheep and cattle yards, station masters residence, workman’s cottage and a 5m gallon reservoir.
One of the more unusual cargoes embarked at Farina railway station was South Australia’s biggest meteorite. The 1.2 ton Murnpeowie iron Meteorite was dragged out of the desert north-east of here about a century ago; and can be seen today at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide.
Afghan camel drivers lived on Afghan hill, on the eastern side of the town. They brought in wool from the stations and delivered supplies to them. Chinese came to Farina as construction workers on the railway and some stayed on as gardeners.
The Farina cometary was last used in 1960 and the town was finally abandoned in the 1980’s.
You can view more photos that I took during my road trip travelling from Adelaide to Coober Pedy
Tourist Information
A bush camp ground with facilities has been established adjacent to Farina creek by the owners of Farina station.
Lyndhurst is located 606 km north of Adelaide at the crossroads of the Strzelecki and Oodnadatta Tracks. For more information contact the South Australian Visitor & Travel Centre
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
You wonder what kind of life’s the people had that lived in the homes that now lay in ruins. Who their where and where did they go in the end, where they happy or sad?
…and I thought Coober Pedy was a ghost town! Those are chilling pictures. Puts me in mind of Mad Max.
Interesting information. Thank you for sharing it with us. This really makes me thing how there’s so many other places in the world that was once populated and now it is deserted..Its great to have people out there to research these places and tell us the history.
I’ve visited Australia 5 times and had no idea it had places similar to the place you’ve reviewed in this post. There is a lot of interesting facts one can learn about different lands! Great site!
Great post. There’s just something I love about ghost towns. In the states, I love visiting North Dakota for that reason – just stumble into some places where these tiny towns and churches have been abandoned for years. There’s something endlessly fascinating about that. Good post!
Australia, and especially the Outback, is such a great place to visit ghost towns, lonesome bush towns that had an interesting history. I always imagine how it must have been in the early days without modern day’s transport. I am fascinated by the history of the old ghan railway line. Thanks again for sharing th photos and the stories. I’ll sure be back to your blog.
Thank you for interesting information, but most of all I liked placed photos. This place looks strange, especially with this bicycle
That tricycle reminds me a little bit of The Shining. The place looks as dry as a bone. I don’t know why they thought they could grow crops at any time.
I have visited Farina many times and have written the History of Farina in a book called “Farina. from gibber to ghost town….”….. it is available from me at 7 Burnbank street, Lake Wendouree Vic 3355 at a cost of $ 15.. the ruins are absorbing ‘ the stories behind the people are fascinating,,,,,,,,,,, afghans, pastoralists, aborigines,
The Farina Campsite is a little valley of greenery amongst the saltbush.
It is beautiful desolate country around there. Not as beautiful and as desolate as mine – but easy to get to for a “taste”
Robbo
Finding desolate places, especially where you don’t expect them to be, is quite inspiring. Finding out that people in a remote place LIVED and DIED there long ago gives me a very strange feeling, but one that I like. I hike in the black hills and finding old mines and stuff sunk into the hills is amazing. Word of warning: DO not enter these structures! Touching anything can bring the whole thing down on you.
A group of people interested in Farina history and the restoration of some of its buildings is conducting a working program from 3rd May to 17th May 2009 and would be keen to hear of interested people who would like to be involved (not necessarily for the full time).
If you (or someone you might Know) are interested please contact the convenor at hardingtom@bigpond.com
This site is wonderful. My great grand parents lived in Farina for years. My
Grandmother and her 6 sisters were born snd grew up there. They have passed down
some wonderful stories about the town. My Great Grandfather was Nathaniel Finn he
trained the Afghan Camel drivers. My grandmother must have been the only child who
could not ride a bike for the life of her but could ride a camel with ease.
Thank you for the photos of the town.
have camped many many times in september to watch the rainbow bee eaters burrowing in the creek bank to breed and watch young whiteback swallows huddling together on the power wire behind the ‘donkey’.unfortunately i havent been since my dear companion left this earth.
The last time we were there was in a dust storm and a group of lutheran people were going to the territory for a centenary celebration and they stayed in the old shearing sheds down the creek. she was very sick but loved every moment of the storm proped up in the back of the old hilux and it was in the mid30s overnight without complaint.
legend has it the optomistic town folk joked that the next two towns should be called bran and pollard, as their town Farina was latin for flour. My greatgrandpa was a resident carpenter and block owner at sliding rock where I visit regularly and so i was drawn to Farina and Maree while visiting the ‘old carpenter’. never feel more at ease than when i am in this countryside.
Hello, I am researching family history for McPharlin. the Name Bernard McPharlin and his wife and family are all listed in this area, which include Saltina and Pich Richi. I have deaths noted of this family in these areas but am unable to find cemetaries in these areas.
This is the last part of the family that is unfound and would love to know a bit more about them.
Is there any one who can shine a light for me. Cheers Margret