The Birdsville Track tells the story of survival and success against all odds and defeat by the relentless elements.
Often described as the "Loneliest Store in the World", Mulka Store and homestead was a profitable operation selling water and stores to the drovers as they drove their mobs of cattle south and to other homesteads in the area. Its owners, ex-policeman and self trained scientist, George Aiston and his wife Mabel reported that they were making handsome profits and even dreamed of an early retirement. Then 7 years of drought in the late 1920s and early 1930s resulted in only a trickle of stock heading south, the loss of most of their own livestock and many owners of surrounding properties walking off their land.
George died of cancer in 1943 but Mabel stayed on in the store until 1953 by which time, it could be days in between customers to the store.
I don't know if you watched the movie "Titanic" but there's this part at the beginning where the view of the sunken ship fades into the live action scene of long ago. If I stare at your picture here, I can imagine it coming life with its owners and the cattlemen moving about.
