At just over 4,200 square kilometres, the Witchelina property is more than twice the size of greater Adelaide. In 2010 the Nature Foundation purchased the pastoral property. Witchelina is now managed as a conservation reserve by the Nature Foundation SA. Witchelina has a long social history. The property straddles the boundaries of the Adnyamathanha and Arabunna peoples who have continued a strong spiritual connection to their country. After European occupation, Witchelina operated as a pastoral station for more than 140 years. Goyder visited the station in 1858 and created a baseline for his Lake Eyre to Lake Torrens survey.
Freddo’s aunt and uncle, Von and Don, managed the property in the 1960’s. My three cousins were educated from Port Augusta over the School of the Air. In 1965 the property was visited by Robert B Goodman, a National Geographic photographer, on a mission to capture the essence of Australia. An image of Don featured on the cover of Goodman and Johnston’s well known coffee table book “The Australians”.
To find this cache you will need to turn off the Marree Road at Farina. Follow the Witchelina signs for 28km on a good country dirt road. The cache is placed adjacent to the Goyder Baseline Marker. Take your time and enjoy a real part of this wide brown land.
