'Through the Eyes of Goyder: Master Planner': Ron researches the work of one of South Australia's early pioneers

The northern ghost town of Farina near Lyndhurst in the Flinders Ranges is one of the most evocative places in the State. It says a lot about the struggles and broken dreams of the early pioneers.

To South Australians today, the thought of growing wheat crops this far into the interior seems farcical. But back in the 1870s settlers were hungry for land partly because the big pastoralists had gotten in early and taken up massive runs, leaving less and less for small land holders. So when land became available under the new closer Settlement Acts the new farmers and their families came in their droves, spurred on by the dream of bounteous cereal crops swaying in the breeze.

Farina and a host of other northern ghost towns are proof that they were wrong and that they'd defied the advice of Surveyor General and Valuator of Runs, George Woodroofe Goyder.

"I think Goyder has done more for this state than probably any other living person," said Anne McArthur, who has written a book about him

It's a big call, Anne and her group, the Kanawinka Writers and Historians, have studied the life and times of George Woodroofe Goyder in great detail and have produced a fine work which they believe finally puts this great South Australian in his rightful place.

"He was just an amazing man," said Anne. "His thinking was so far ahead I feel sure that he did it because of inner strength and an inner integrity."

Throughout his career Goyder criss crossed the state - re-evaluating pastoral leases. Anne and her fellow historians' book, "Through the Eyes of Goyder: Master Planner" looks at his work reassessing the value of pastoral leases across the lush southeast. Dartmoor Homestead was one. It took in the rolling hills around Naracoorte. Other leases included the picturesque Mullinger Swamp near Kybybolite.

It's prime pastoral country that had been leased to the early pastoralists for a song. As pressure for land grew the Government sent Goyder out to re-evaluate the land and he did so with a singular tenacity and honesty. Much of his work in the southeast had been forgotten until one of Anne's colleagues came across an astonishing find.

"Quite by accident she found a volume containing 85 descriptions of pastoral runs in the south east in the archives," said Anne. "Until then it was never certain that was what he'd done. We knew he was a valuer of runs but we had no idea that this incredible record was left behind."

In the group's beautifully illustrated book, Goyder records the local plant species in meticulous detail. The same detail with which he recorded rainfall readings, stock numbers and the carrying capacity of the land. From his constant travels - particularly up north - emerged a picture of what the land could support. And from it, a line above which stock should be grazed... and below which cropping should take place. Although he never called it Goyder's line it became part of the vernacular. This divide put a temporary break on the push northwards and according to Anne it made George Woodroofe Goyder a very unpopular man.

"He was pilloried for it and the irony is that the government finally gave in and let people settle north of that line and it was a failure. Goyder was very adamant that it was right that it shouldn't happen.

"Whatever he put in (his report) was accurate, on-the-ground observation. I don't think he was ever very keen on the fact that it was called Goyder's Line because that was not why he'd gone up there."

Probably more than any other person, Goyder put his stamp on the economic development of South Australia and to some extent the Northern Territory too. For it was Goyder who finally surveyed the city of Darwin after several earlier bungled attempts by others to establish the site for a city. It was yet another debilitating and momentous task that kept him away from his family for almost a year. And on his return to Adelaide he was confronted with some chilling news - his wife had died in England of an overdose of laudanum.

"It was very sad," said Anne. "That would have been a very low point in his life."

'Through the Eyes of Goyder: Master Planner' can be purchased by contacting Evelynne Bowden - from the Kanawinka Writers and Historians Group on 8737 2152. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

'Through the Eyes of Goyder: Master Planner'
Contact Evelynne Bowden on 8737 2152.
$132 + postage

Published 10th August 2008