Day 6 Head off early on route to Pt Lowly, which is just outside Whyalla. Pass a number of ruins from the late 1800’s as new settlers try to push north looking for arable farm land to grow crops. One in particular caught our attention when we visited the region in 1994, this was Kanyaka Station, a sheep and cattle ranch. It was established by Hugh Proby in 1852. He was born in Stamford Lincolnshire England.
Kanyaka Station 
Hugh Proby
The Flinders Ranges is a very dry country, so it is both tragic and ironic that on 30 August 1852, Proby drowned when he was swept from his horse crossing the swollen Willochra Creek while trying to herd a mob of cattle during a thunderstorm. Aged 24, he was buried the following day. Six years later in 1858 his grave was marked with an engraved slab shipped from Britain by his brothers and sisters; it was said to weigh one and a half tons and posed a significant challenge to transport it to the grave site, from Adelaide via bullock and cart over 300 klm away.
The station was one of the largest in the area, with 70 families living and working there. They had to be self sufficient due to lack of transport, but with severe drought resulting in massive sheep loss, the station was eventually abandoned.
Beautiful Quorn, this was our base in 1994, established in 1879, it still retains many of it original buildings. It was also an important rail junction. Today the local heritage Pichi Richi steam trains runs between Quorn & Port Augusta. We stop for morning tea and soak up the the warm temps, 25 C deg, and the relax nature of the town. Pop.1300, great place to visit.
Rail Station & Yard
Off to our final destination for the night in Pt Lowly, just outside Whyalla, which is South Australia’s fourth largest town, (pop 21000) Whyalla is a steel producing town and exporter, also shipbuilding in past years.
The Whyalla a navy minesweeper vessel build in WWII
Our neighbour Joe migrated from Scotland in the mid 60’s with his brother as a young man of 23, this would have been pioneering territory back then, so remote. The brochures in the 60’s may have painted a port by the sea, warm weather, great opportunities etc. alas Joe did not last long and moved to Melbourne. I think the moon is closer to Melbourne. Joe turns 80 next year.
Bit of supermarket supplies, then Pt Lowly. Honesty system for the park tonight, $10 in an envelope in the box, amenities, library /DVD exchange system, situated high up in the Spencer Gulf, overlooking the Yorke Peninsula
Library Freezer is DVD, fridge mags books
Pt Lowly
Trish & Sarah prepared a lavish meal of seasoned Whyalla chicken, baked potatoes with Greek Salad, maybe take out the word Whyalla and Greek.
Super Moon tonight
