Goyder's Line
Encyclopedia
Goyder's Line is a boundary line across South Australia
corresponding to a rainfall boundary believed to indicate the edge of the area suitable for agriculture. North of Goyder's Line, the rainfall is not reliable enough, and the land is only suitable for grazing and not cropping. The line traces a distinct change in vegetation
. To the south, it is composed mainly of mallee
scrub whilst to the north salt-bush. In general Goyder's Line represents the demarcation of a long-term rainfall average of 10 inches (254mm).
provided it. He discouraged farmers from planting crops north of his line, declaring this land suitable only for light grazing
. However farmers were optimistic. 1865 was a year of bumper rains, so many ignored Goyder and headed north, starting farms and planting crops. Just a few years later many had to abandon their farms. Goyder was proved correct and the land was indeed unsuitable for crops. Many farmhouse
ruins can still be seen near Goyder's line.
There have been periods of development north of the line, but invariably nature has won out. Entire towns and farms were abandoned when there was a return to longer-term average rainfall. The line has proven remarkably accurate, an amazing feat since it was surveyed in just two months in 1865 by Goyder, then the surveyor-general of South Australia.
Goyder's line starts on the west coast near Ceduna
and goes south-east across Eyre Peninsula
to strike Spencer Gulf
near Arno Bay
. It continues from near Moonta
north to Crystal Brook
and Orroroo
then south-east past Peterborough
and Burra
to the Victoria
n border near Pinnaroo
, crossing the Murray River
south of Blanchetown
. Much of the land immediately north of the line is covered by saltbush. Agriculture is possible near the Murray River further upstream only because of irrigation
using water drawn from the Murray.
It is easy to see Goyder's line when flying over this area. The change in flora is very distinct when one knows what to look for.
Heritage Icon in 2003, joining other South Australian icons such as Humphrey B. Bear
, brush fencing, stobie pole
s and Penfolds Grange
Hermitage wine. Goyder's name has also been given to a district council, an electorate, the new pavilion at the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, several streets and a park.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
corresponding to a rainfall boundary believed to indicate the edge of the area suitable for agriculture. North of Goyder's Line, the rainfall is not reliable enough, and the land is only suitable for grazing and not cropping. The line traces a distinct change in vegetation
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
. To the south, it is composed mainly of mallee
Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands
Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands is a Major Vegetation Group which occurs in semi-arid areas of southern Australia. The vegetation is dominated by mallee eucalypts which are rarely over 6 metres high...
scrub whilst to the north salt-bush. In general Goyder's Line represents the demarcation of a long-term rainfall average of 10 inches (254mm).
History
With barely 30 years' knowledge of this new country to go on, farmers needed reliable information. In 1865 George GoyderGeorge Goyder
George Woodroffe Goyder was a surveyor in South Australia during the latter half of the nineteenth century....
provided it. He discouraged farmers from planting crops north of his line, declaring this land suitable only for light grazing
Grazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
. However farmers were optimistic. 1865 was a year of bumper rains, so many ignored Goyder and headed north, starting farms and planting crops. Just a few years later many had to abandon their farms. Goyder was proved correct and the land was indeed unsuitable for crops. Many farmhouse
Farmhouse
Farmhouse is a general term for the main house of a farm. It is a type of building or house which serves a residential purpose in a rural or agricultural setting. Most often, the surrounding environment will be a farm. Many farm houses are shaped like a T...
ruins can still be seen near Goyder's line.
There have been periods of development north of the line, but invariably nature has won out. Entire towns and farms were abandoned when there was a return to longer-term average rainfall. The line has proven remarkably accurate, an amazing feat since it was surveyed in just two months in 1865 by Goyder, then the surveyor-general of South Australia.
Goyder's line starts on the west coast near Ceduna
Ceduna, South Australia
Ceduna is a small town in the West Coast region of South Australia. It is situated in the northwest corner of Eyre Peninsula, facing the islands of the Nuyts Archipelago. It lies west of the junction of the Flinders and Eyre Highways around 786 km northwest of the capital Adelaide. The port...
and goes south-east across Eyre Peninsula
Eyre Peninsula
Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded on the east by Spencer Gulf, the west by the Great Australian Bight, and the north by the Gawler Ranges. It is named after explorer Edward John Eyre who explored some of it in 1839-1841. The coastline was first explored by...
to strike Spencer Gulf
Spencer Gulf
The Spencer Gulf is the westernmost of two large inlets on the southern coast of Australia, in the state of South Australia, facing the Great Australian Bight. The Gulf is 322 km long and 129 km wide at its mouth. The western shore of the Gulf is the Eyre Peninsula, while the eastern side is the...
near Arno Bay
Arno Bay, South Australia
Arno Bay is a small fishing and tourist town on the east coast of Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, located on the Lincoln Highway about half way between Whyalla and Port Lincoln. First proclaimed under the name Bligh in 1883, the current name dates back to 1940...
. It continues from near Moonta
Moonta, South Australia
Moonta is a town located on the Yorke Peninsula of South Australia, 165 kilometres north-northwest of the state capital of Adelaide. It is one of three towns known as the Copper Coast or "Little Cornwall" for their shared copper mining history....
north to Crystal Brook
Crystal Brook, South Australia
Crystal Brook is a town in South Australia, named after the spring-fed creek next to which it was founded. It is north of Adelaide and in 2006 had a population of 1,185.Crystal Brook is situated on Goyder's Line near the border of two climate systems...
and Orroroo
Orroroo, South Australia
Orroroo is a town in the Flinders Ranges region of South Australia. At the 2006 census, Orroroo had a population of 543. The Wilmington-Ucolta Road passes through here, intersecting there with the southern stretch of the Birdsville and Oodnadatta Tracks. The narrow gauge rail line was extended to...
then south-east past Peterborough
Peterborough, South Australia
Peterborough is a town in the mid north of South Australia, in wheat country, just off the Barrier Highway. At the 2006 census, Peterborough had a population of 1,689....
and Burra
Burra, South Australia
Burra is a pastoral centre and historic tourist town in the mid-north of South Australia. It lies east of the Clare Valley in the Bald Hills range, part of the northern Mount Lofty Ranges, and on Burra Creek. The town began as a single company mining township that, by 1851, was a set of townships ...
to the Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
n border near Pinnaroo
Pinnaroo, South Australia
Pinnaroo is a town in the Murray Mallee region of South Australia, near the border with Victoria 243 km east of Adelaide. Pinnaroo is on the Mallee Highway, and the railway line between Tailem Bend and Ouyen. The roadhouses on the highway are the first food and leg-stretch stop on the bus route...
, crossing the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
south of Blanchetown
Blanchetown, South Australia
Blanchetown is a small township in South Australia, on the bank of the Murray River, 130 km northeast of Adelaide. The Blanchetown Bridge is the western-most of the four crossings of the Sturt Highway over the Murray River. During the nineteenth century it was an important...
. Much of the land immediately north of the line is covered by saltbush. Agriculture is possible near the Murray River further upstream only because of irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
using water drawn from the Murray.
It is easy to see Goyder's line when flying over this area. The change in flora is very distinct when one knows what to look for.
Cultural significance
Goyder's Line became a National Trust of AustraliaNational Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
Heritage Icon in 2003, joining other South Australian icons such as Humphrey B. Bear
Humphrey B. Bear
Humphrey B. Bear is an Australian children's television series and its fictional character namesake is an icon of Australian children's television. Humphrey B Bear was first broadcast on Adelaide's NWS-9 on Monday, 24 May 1965. The show became one of the most successful programs for pre-schoolers...
, brush fencing, stobie pole
Stobie pole
A Stobie pole is a power line pole made of two steel joists held apart by a slab of concrete in the middle. It was invented by Adelaide Electricity Supply Company design engineer James Cyril Stobie . Stobie used materials easily at hand due to the shortage of suitably long, strong, straight and...
s and Penfolds Grange
Penfolds Grange
Penfolds Grange is an Australian wine, made predominantly from the Shiraz grape and usually a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. It is widely considered Australia's "first growth" and its most collectable wine...
Hermitage wine. Goyder's name has also been given to a district council, an electorate, the new pavilion at the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, several streets and a park.
Map
- The History Trust of South Australia has a map of Goyder's Line.