Thread: Ghan Heritage Trail - what a disappointment....

a couple of weeks ago I id from Quorn to Marree then to Oodnadatta along the bottom half of the Ghan route, then to Alice springs. it was in places in excellent condition an in other places in very poor and like you said vandalised. unfortunately most of it had been deserted well before the last Ghan ran and in poor repair then. its a pity so much is lost, but have to be thankful for the dedication of the likes of the associations who are looking after Farina, Marree, William Creek.


Apart from the Pichi Richi Railway, the only moving and "living" parts left of the old railway are stuffed an mounted in Peterborough and Alice Springs.

Originally Posted by Simon

Drove this last week from Maryvale to Finke.

May as well take the signs down, call it the Desert Race access road and be done with it.

What remains of the sidings is covered in graffiti and full of rubbish, the trail itself is just a chopped up mess from all the race spectators.

15-08-13 Ghan Trail 5.jpg

Even the water tower had graffiti all over it. So much for valuing heritage.

(Sorry, rant over)

and a snippet of what it once was...

09 Aug 1951 - LANDSCAPE AT THE CENTRE

It has always amazed me why someone would actually pack a spray can of paint when they go travelling

The other thing is, why would anyone travel all that way to see a place, just to wreck it and then sign it to prove what a dickhead you are.

The perfect excample of a dickhead is the "so called" Melbourne artist, who put up the Maccas sign in the Simpson desert

The lengths stupid people go too, to do stupid things astounds me

Baz.

There were 2 cavemen sitting in a cave. One was tracing his hand on the wall and drawing stick figures, the other one said **** off, you're ruining my cave. There's arty types, and Artie Beetson types.

Originally Posted by Redback

It has always amazed me why someone would actually pack a spray can of paint when they go travelling


The perfect excample of a dickhead is the "so called" Melbourne artist, who put up the Maccas sign in the Simpson desert

why does anyone travel with a spray can anyways? (unless its part of their trade)


the maccas sign isnt what i call graffiti.
easily taken down and made most people smile.

Originally Posted by Eevo

why does anyone travel with a spray can anyways? (unless its part of their trade)


the maccas sign isnt what i call graffiti.
easily taken down and made most people smile.

Yeah not really graffiti, but it has attracted graffiti in the time it's been there, and if left there would of attracted rubbish left behind by dropkicks who don't care.

I reckon where it is now is a good thing, at least control of crap left behind will be easier, gives much needed extra tourists to the town and pub, win win now.

First time I crossed the Simpson the Old Ghan was still running (no pink roadhouse in those days), to come back 5 years later and see the loco at Oodna with smashed windows covered with graffiti was sad. Cant imagine how bad it must be 30 years later.

When I was in the area 7-8 years ago I was impressed with the effort of the S.A. Government only to see it being destroyed by us....