b"June 2022 Trackwatch.qxp_Trackwatch Layout 119/06/20226:27 pmPage 28 4x4 DestinationKanyaka Homestead, SAAn interesting stop, just off the main road on the way to Hawker are the ruins ofthe historic Kanyaka HomesteadOne of the joys of Outback travel iscoming across ruins of formerbuildings that are often testimony tothe folly of early pastoralists and thoseseeking to develop vast areas offringe grazing land.Kanyaka Homestead ruins arelocated just south of the SouthAustralia township of Hawker andprovide an interesting insight into pastlifestyles.By 1862 when the photo (right) was Kanyaka Station Homestead 1862. Image courtesy State Library of SAtaken Kanyaka Homestead and itssurrounding buildings had taken on owner of three runs. Proby had only a the many solid structures such as thethe appearance of a small village. Life few huts built on the Kanyaka Run, sixteen roomed homestead, over-was not a lonely existence because and unfortunately in August 1852 he seer's cottage, stables, men's kitchen,many families lived on the station and was killed when his cattle stampeded. sheds, huts, a massive woolshed,the homestead was on the main route When Proby and his Aboriginal stock- carpenter and blacksmith sheds andto the far north of the State. man rode out to hold the mob, they nearly forty kilometres of dry-stoneHughProby took up the pastoral were confronted by the raging torrent wall fencing.lease of Kanyaka on 1st July, 1851 for of the Willochra Creek. When attempt- The Station enjoyed many successfula rental of 10/ shillings per square ing to cross the creek Proby was years, with 41,000 sheep shorn inmile. swept from his horse and drowned. 1864, but this was followed by severalHugh Probys father was Admiral The station changed hands, before years of severe drought.Granville Leveson Proby a sailor with John Randall Phillips Jnr obtained an By the end of 1867 all the leasesa distinguished Naval career, having additional lease and managed the were combined into one and grantedfought with Nelson. His parents lived station until it became one of the to John Randell Phillips, Georgeat Glenart Castle. largest in the area, employing as Waterhouse, and William Milne forHaving both money ($10,000) and many as seventy families. twenty-one years. Eventually theconnections, Proby was soon looking The new owners changed from cattle station was abandoned, although thefor pastoral land to establish a cattle to sheep and Phillips started to build stone buildings survive.Editorrun rather than invest it in Adelaideproperty. Towards the end of 1851Hugh Proby had taken up his first runon lease number 74, called theMoockra Range Run in the FlindersRanges.By February 1852 he had securedanother run, Kanyaka on leasesnumbered 117 and 118, and hadthem both stocked with 1200 head ofcattle. A month later Proby was the 26JUNE2022 TRACKWATCH"