Spit the Dummy Traditional Cache
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Hampden was a portion of the huge Anlaby estate, and was named after William Hampden Dutton, the brother of the original owner of the land.
Hampden Railway was on the Adelaide-Morgan line which opened in 1878, and in 1909 the Hampden Railway Siding was built to enable farmers to contact the railway easier. It is 1152 feet above sea level, making it the 20th highest station in SA. In the years following, up to 80000 bags of wheat were sent away each year. Fares to Adelaide in the 1950’s were 17/- ($1.70) return and 14/11 ($1.50) for a weekend excursion.
Anlaby built their own wheat shed in the railway yards, and their wheat was stacked in there, other farmers used huge wheat stacks.
Cream and eggs were collected from surrounding areas for dispatch to Farmers Union etc and were speedily returned to Hampden to meet the 3pm rail service. Prior to seeding, many truck loads of superphosphate were delivered and during harvest loads of wheat were carted from the farmers paddocks to the siding.
A special train would arrive at Adelaide Show time to shift all the competing Jersey and stud cattle of the area.
The last passenger service ran on 15/12/68 and the last grain train on 11/3/94.
The mail of course arrived by train, and a non-official Post Office was opened in 1910. This was also a Telegraph Office until 1914, when telephone and trunk line facilities were introduced.
The Hampden School opened on 1 September 1925, the building still stands as the Hampden Hall.
Mr AG Obst ran the Hampden General Store, a thriving business where almost anything could be purchased.
It’s hard to imagine this hive activity as you visit now, but try to imagine what it was like in days past, and we all lament the fact that these railways are probably gone forever.
If you have time take a stroll eastwards as far as you wish down the old railway corridor – very pleasant. If you walk far enough you will reach Eudunda!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
N uvag? - Jung n cvcrqernz!
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures