The central character in Joy Robertson’s Days After Bourke.
The unique charm of Corynnia Station, a working sheep station in the Australian outback, stands as a central character in Joy Robertson’s Days After Bourke – a Bushwoman’s True Story. When the protagonists arrive, they find the farm in a state of disrepair—run down and struggling to cope with the harsh elements of the outback.
In dedicating a significant portion of her book to Corynnia Station, Robertson highlights its unique charm and the profound impact of the outback on those who inhabit it. Corynnia Station is a compelling reminder of the challenges and beauty of rural life, making it an unforgettable element of Days After Bourke.
Here are excerpts from the book:
CORYNNIA STATION
We drove upstream along the river from Hay for about 40 miles and then crossed the Murrumbidgee. It was then just about lunchtime, so we stopped for a picnic lunch on the riverbank beside a very striking-looking bridge. I had packed a cooked leg of lamb and roasted veggies, the leftovers from last night’s dinner and when we had stopped in Hay I had bought tomatoes and fresh bread. Jim set a fire and the boys helped him boil the Billy. We all liked our cup of tea with a picnic. The dogs were left off for a short run but were tied up after a while so that they wouldn’t go wandering off. After our welcome lunch break, we packed everything up again and set off to drive the mile or so to Carrathool which would be our nearest Township. What a tiny village! It had a police station, general store, railway station, small hall and a few houses. We pulled up in front of the store and Jim hopped out and went inside. He was in there quite some time and when he came out he said I have just opened a grocery account for the station so we can order stuff. It also lets people know who we are. The railway line and station went down one side of Main Street, and everything else was on the other period this was one of the little places we must have passed through on the tram some two years earlier when we traveled from young to hate. What a quaint little place!
There wasn’t a soul in the streets so Jim turned the ute around and drove over the railway crossing and headed north. Another 10 miles over open plains the gateway to Corynnia came into view. The boys jumped down and opened the wire gate, and as we drove through I looked at the fence line and thought to myself “There is no fence there just the tops of the posts poking out of the sand”. A couple of miles later we passed the woolshed on the left then shortly afterwards on driving up a sandy rise the Homestead came into view. What desolation! We drove up to the front gate of the house and Jim alighted from the ute with great enthusiasm saying Here we are! The boys and I got out and I just stood there and wept while the boys tried to console me. But I knew my husband! He had a drive in him that made him want to take on any challenge, and who was I to stop him?
Blowing sand had covered nearly everything and we were able to step right over the top bar on the front gate and surrounding saltbush hedge. There was over 8 feet of sand in the front garden and a very plain building with gauzed verandahs, in the middle of it all. I don’t think I had ever seen anything as desolate as this Homestead. I felt like turning around and leaving straight away from the shock of seeing the state the place was in. What a disappointment after our lovely Toogimbie. No wonder Jim had kept quiet about the place! I turned to him and asked What are we supposed to do with this? Goodness only knows! I then took a deep breath walked down the sloping sand to the front door and went inside.
What a mess! It was evident that there had not been anyone living in the main homestead for quite some time. An old man was camping in the quarters beside the kitchen and had been keeping an eye on things until someone turned up. Dalgetys had been paying him to caretake the place and as soon as we showed up he wanted Jim to take him straight into town! He couldn’t get away soon enough! Tomorrow – he was told – as Jim had to go back to Carrathool anyway to pick up materials.
The homestead was big and sprawling and must have been very comfortable in its heyday. The kitchen was just behind the main house and was joined to it by a covered walkway. A big wood stove the biggest I had ever seen was down one wall in the kitchen; The sink and cupboards were under the window and there were ample storage cupboards and a big pantry. It had three doorways leading from it and a big wooden table stood in the middle of the floor. There were a number of cats about and talk about a mess! What had we got ourselves into this time?
I don’t know where to start.
