2011 - Theses - Flinders University

depending on the height of the river. But there was something missing. Where was the‘blacks camp’ for the station workers who were not privy to the mens or overseers quarters? Iwalked past the rails of the stock yards, and the ground became gullied where rain turned thesoft earth to runnels leaking into the river bank. I scrambled through it, the powdery dirtmaking pale gray prints on my legs where I stumbled and climbed. I noticed a few bits ofrusted wire, and some bottles. On the other side, the flat claypans held a series of shallowponds, and nearby, amongst some low trees, was a dishevelled collection of wreckedmattresses, tin, wire mesh, cut down oil drums and posts, arranged in more or lessconcentrated piles in the more shaded spots. Here was the camp Jack might have stayed in,across the gully and out of sight of the station buildings but close enough to hear the workbell or the overseer calling out when work was on.Winbar Station, 1913A beautiful woman with bright eyes and hand outstretched walks towards Becky, who isstanding on the deep verandah.‘I’m Mrs Warwick. Edith. Edie. Lovely. I’ll show you around,’ and Becky is briskedthrough the house, catching words and phrases that Edie tosses over her shoulder, and flankedby five small and inquisitive children, until a younger woman, introduced simply as ‘Mu’calls them away.There is bright white linen on the beds; small, white glass jars on the dressing tables;tablecloths and polished wooden chairs with plump cushioned seats in the dining room; andeven a dinner set laid out prettily on the dark wood sideboard: a greenish pattern with sheeplike a countryside scene in England. Only I’ve never seen sheep on any of the china in41