RV TRAVEL
The definition of a shortcut is usually‘ a shorter route than is usually taken’. And that’ s what I thought when we headed offroad to another destination, but little did I know what we were going to find along the way.
The‘ original’ plan was to head across to the Flinders Ranges after recent rainfall from Broken Hill into South Australia and up to Wilpena Pound to hike and revisit the area. But with an overnight stay at Yunta, SA, we found that we could cut across the desolate plains towards the Flinders and perhaps save some time … or so we thought.
Now, Yunta, on the Barrier Highway between Broken Hill and Adelaide, has a population of just under 100 people, but it was once a bustling rail town. Today, it ' s just a stop for fuel.
The ruins of a baker ' s oven.
HARRY DING’ S BASE
Established in 1887, Yunta was extremely busy. More than 5000 miners passed through on their way towards new goldfields in Teetulpa and Waukaringa to the north. It was also a busy rail town on the growing Adelaide to Broken Hill line. Around Yunta, you’ ll still find a few rail relics from that bygone era.
Yunta is also known for being a base for the well known Harry Ding, who took on Arthur Kruse’ s business in 1934, which included a general store and a post office. It was from here that the legendary Tom Kruse, at the ripe old age of 22, started his iconic runs up to Birdsville on January 1 1936. For nearly 20 years, Tom and his Aboriginal offsider, Henry Butler, worked tirelessly to get the mail truck to Birdsville and back, enduring a range of conditions and hardships.
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