The township of Farina was proclaimed in 1878. The original plans were to grow wheat in the district and for Farina to be a major inland town and the centre of the wheat growing region. The concept of growing wheat was based on the (unbelievable) premise that if the earth was ploughed, the rains would follow.
The area selected for the town was sub-divided into 432 1/4 acre blocks and 88 5 to 11 acre blocks.
Of course, the area proved too dry for wheat but the town survived as the rail terminus for the line north from Port Augusta. At its peak in 1894, Farina boasted a population of 300 people in 30 houses (a far cry from the 382 proposed) as well as two hotels, a school police station, bakery, post office, blacksmith, church as well as a number of other stores.
When the railway was extended north to Maree and Farina was no longer the rail head, the town went into decline and by the 1980s, was finally abandoned.
How sad that a whole town has gone into decline. The houses were quite full if 300 people lived in 30 houses!!! This is a lovely shot of this deserted hotel with very interesting information.
It shows how hard life must have been! Very interesting Terry! It doesn't seem a good idea that if you plough the land you get rain! I wonder how long it took them to realise what a mistake they had made! Very sad though! Great capture! Fav!
