Pernatty Station Sold – Outback South Australia

Nicky and I made the shearer’s quarters at Gum Woolshed on Pernatty Station, our base for a couple weeks of our April 2010 outback photography trip.

Les French and Col Greenfield – Former and New Owners of Pernatty Station

As it happened, Pernatty had been sold and the official handover was approaching. A harmonious arrangement between the old and new owners allowed for stock to be brought in early with mustering and sheep management procedures happening.

We even saw a man mustering in an ultralight plane, flying over the shearer’s quarters and he was good enough to give us a cheery wave as he banked around overhead.

It was great to see the old and new owners working together in the yard. These outback pastoralists and their stockmen made some great images as we captured the real people of the outback, being themselves in their environment.

As we were photographing, Col came over and introduced himself. In the conversation he suggested that if we lit the donkey we could all have a hot shower.

Col had a fair crew with a few of stockmen, two shearers and a couple of girls.

So with instructions on lighting a donkey, we set about bringing a bit of home comfort to the mustering crew and ourselves, our first hot shower in a while.

It was great to have a chat around the campfire as the evening wore on and get insights into people and their way of life that we’d otherwise miss. I was especially pleased that my grandson Nicky could be a part of this and be so well accepted by the men.

Nicky had so many experiences on our outback trip that will be the subject of stories he’ll tell his children and grandchildren; stories of when Granddad took him as a ten year old boy on a great, outback camping and photography trip on our motorbikes.

Gum Woolshed on Pernatty Station will, no doubt, figure among the memories and stories.