Comments on: Camped in a Hut – Andamooka Station

By: Laurie

Laurie — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:02:40 +0000

Pleased you liked the story and photos, Janet.

By: Janet

Janet — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 02:48:02 +0000

Thank you Laurie, that was an intersting read which served to jog my memory as I was quite young when I left Andamooka to live in Adelaide. I am Bruce Foulis’ youngest child. I have only been back to the station once, passing through after staying at Purple Downs, but my brother John has been back several times. I now live in WA and I love the outback country here, probably because in some ways it is similar to SA.
Janet

By: Laurie

Laurie — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 05:01:14 +0000

Hi there, Stephanie! Thanks for the comment.

My grandson accompanied me on my most recent outback trip, April 2010. We tried to get through from Arcoona, heading north to Andamooka but were beaten by the wet conditions, there having been heavy rain a week or so before hand.

I’d be pleased to see your owl photo and maybe publish it as an extra on the story.

Thanks.

By: Stephanie Wallace

Stephanie Wallace — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 01:41:52 +0000

Hello Laurie,
I also was very interested in your bush hut-stay and the photos.
My parents lived on Andamooka from the early to mid 1940s, so I’m thinking that my father, Eric Foote, followed Sally’s grandfather as station manager. Would you please contact Sally, if possible, and see if she would be interested in talking to me- I also am related to some Foulis’ from the northern areas of South Australia.
My husband and I visited the station in late October, 2007. I believe the current manager was about to leave Andamooka, but I certainly didn’t know anything about the fact that BHP were about to take over. We saw plenty of stock around.
I was lucky enough to get a photo of an owl perched on that wooden ledge above the fireplace just before it took off and flew out the window.
Thanks and good luck with you further adventures!
Stephanie

By: Laurie

Laurie — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 02:58:05 +0000

Thanks Sally, for that input to the story.

Yes, Andamooka sure must have been isolated in those days. It’s isolated still, to an extent.

The old homestead is still quite livable and looks from the outside to be in better order than the new one. Mind you, the new homestead has a fair sized, in ground swimming pool.

Across the creek at the woolshed, the shearing shed itself is still standing and in good order. There’s also another hut, built to the same design as the one I camped in. But the shearer’s quarters have been demolished due to their dangerous condition.

By: Sally Hetherton

Sally Hetherton — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 04:25:34 +0000

Hi Laurie,
Very interested in your article and pictures.
Mt grandfather, Bruce McKenzie Foulis was manager of Andamooka Station in 1920’s to early 40’s.
He and two of his stockmen discovered the first opal. My mother Nancy has great memories of her life at the station and many photos,. She was born in 1925.She has many interesting stories to tell of events and life in general in such an isolated area,
Sad to hear that it is now deserted.Apparently a new homestead was built next to the old one where my Grandparents and my mother and her 5 brothers and sisters lived.They had a tennis court and a lovely garden.
Must go and see it before it becomes too delapitated.
Thank you so much.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:34:37 +0000

Thanks Chris.

It’s hard to put into words the feelings I have out there. The isolation and being reduced to the bare necessities to survive, travel and photograph give a simple meaning to life.

By: Chris McFerran

Chris McFerran — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:37:58 +0000

A wonderful and heart warming story Laurie.