Ghan siding murder.

Gday,
Cant say I have but I know a few people and others whos fathers worked and lived along the track.
Ill ask them when I see them.

Cheers

I was in the Oodnadatta hotel in early 70's & played poole with some people that said that one of the players had killed a fettler on the line, (I have some pic's of us all) I don't know if there is any connection, ( a lot more I cannot print) there were 4 in our group & all a little uncumfortable staying the night in the pub. regards, dingo

great post, outback history,not o/t.thats what it's about for me.

The outback has many colourful yarns like that, and I rather suspect many of them are true.

This one for example.
Due east of the Diamantina NP is a very large opal field on Kurran station. It's also a very remote area and noted for some tough operators on that field.

The story goes that a couple of (innocent?) fossickers had heard that "easy pickings" were to be had on leases whilst the owner was away.

Seems that they were "sprung" by a lease holder who, on returning from a session in Jundah caught the pair red handed. Instead of apologising and making amends by handing over the opal they decided to make an argument about it.

"Mr X" went over to his vehicle, took out a rifle and disposed of the pair on the spot.
He then loaded them into their Cruiser and drove it some distance from his camp, brought the excavator over from the mine and within an hour their whole shebang was 3meters below ground.
Never ever to be found.

My knowledge of this, well I heard the story in Opalton late one night when a fair bit of rum had gone down.
Then later I actually heard the bloke who was involved make the comment about someone he was offside with: "I will put that "barsteward" in the ground like I did the other two".

It would seem that people go missing all the time, and uless you have good communications it can be impossible to determine where a party last was seen. This happened about 16yrs. ago, well before sat. phones, epirb etc.
furph

heard he was a collingwood supporter too....

Hi all,
Thanks for your feedback. I'll put a page about it on my website and see what happens. Does anyone know of a book written about the murders along the Stuart Highway? I remember coming across a reference to it but can't find it again. A good friend of mine, Ronnie Marks, was murdered north of Coober Pedy in 1992, thus my interest. Sounds a macabre subject but a lot of people are interested in it.
Geoff from outbacksecrets.com

Geoff, if you want an interesting "Outback Secret" to occupy your time, Google:

Banjawarn station

Aum Sect

You'll be fascinated.

Geoff,

I have checked out your web site, tremendous effort.

Good reading with plenty of history.

Just one point you may consider, The turn off to Alice Well on the Old Ghan Line is not at Rumbalara siding, it is at Bundooma siding. Turn west over the sand dune just on the northern side of the overhead water tank.
This might prevent some poor trekker becoming very frustrated.

And it is worth the diversion with good camping on the river.

cheers,

Geoff.