WHY THE OUTBACK TOWN OF FARINA IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA BECAME A GHOST TOWN AFTER A PROMISING START

This unit could standalone as a piece of Australian History. It has elements of history; geography/environment; transport evolution; water resources issues and colonial government planning. You will discover the role of the South Australian Colonial Government in planning a town in the far north of the colony that would provide a thriving wheat farming area for the increasing population of the colony. For the first 2 decades the new town - originally called “Government Gums” and later rename “Farina” - thrived. However during the early twentieth century the early enthusiasm began to wane. Take your students to Farina and find out why it became a ghost town. The attachments provide visual resources for student/screen interpretation.