Once upon a time there was…

Once upon a time there was a vibrant homestead set deep in a gully. The backdrop to this beautiful setting was rolling hills, green pastures, grazing sheep  and kangaroos, and a bubbling little stream.

In days past, these buildings would have echoed with the shouts of shearers as their blades snipped across the sheep’s back, of children playing in the streams, the house bustling with maids and shepherds and the clanging noise of a blacksmith hammering the horse-shoes into place.

There would have been camels pulling Afghans trains bringing wool down from the Nullarbor stations to float the bales out on a barge to the waiting ships on Tagon Harbour.

Smells of baking bread and kerosene would have filled the air, and perhaps we would have seen the maids or children picking mulberries from the bushes or playing under the large Pepper tree that would have made the worlds best cubby.

Today, the setting is still the same but the buildings stand silent, crumbling, sad and lonely. Though steeped in history they are unable to tell anyone what they have seen, heard or experienced since the 1800’s.

Even with government grants and the landowners hard work, these buildings are still unrestored to their former grace, although I believe at some point they will.

What an incredible journey my kids and I have been on today. These buildings are basically in our back yard. Few remember they are here, except for the ‘old timers’ and historical societies. It’s such a privilege to be able to  explore and share our history here with the kids. This place is what inspired my little bush hut in Blue Skies. Though this house and shearing shed are much larger, it is the fact that it is a forgotten area (as it was in Blue Skies), that inspired its inclusion in the book.

I have been here quite a few times and enjoyed every visit. From walking along the creek, to reading the headstone of the pioneer’s baby boy who died at ten months. I’ve giggled my head off at some rather intoxicated emus and sat under the mulberry tree eating fermented berries (that story made it into Blue Skies and is one hundred percent true!)

I wish we could promote this area to tourists and renovate the buildings to their original state.

To me, our history is important. How else do we know where we came from and how we got to where we are today?

To see more photos of our visit to Lynburn Station head over to here.