We made a point to take a detour from Wilpena Pound on our way back to Adelaide in South Australia to photograph the old Burra Homestead.
Made famous in the 80’s by Midnight Oil’s Album Diesel and Dust, (remember The Beds are Burning?), the Burra Homestead has turned into one of the top 100 must photograph destinations in all of Australia.
Burra Homestead – Is that the cover of a Midnight Oil Album?
Diesel and Dust was Midnight Oil’s biggest international album focusing on the struggle of the indigenous Australians and environmental issues. We were young when this album came out and didn’t listen to the lyrics; we only thought The Beds are Burning was a cool song.
I’m going to make a point of listening closely as it seems that there are still environmental and indigenous concerns in Australia. Has much changed since the 80’s? That I cannot answer as a Canadian looking in from the outside.
The Drive to Wilpena Pound
It’s a beautiful drive from Wilpena Pound, no matter which route you take. For photographers, stopping by Burra is definitely worthwhile. As we kept our eyes peeled while driving along the highway, we spotted an old abandoned cottage sitting in a field. Noticing another truck parked nearby taking photographs, we realized we were in the right place.
The setting is stunning, and the homestead transports you back in time. You can imagine sheep grazing in the fields surrounding the once vibrant homestead managed by dedicated sheep farmers.
Old Homesteads
The old homestead could easily be mistaken for any other abandoned structure in South Australia. The dry environment poses challenges for farming, leading to numerous abandoned homes scattered across the landscape.
Initially, we questioned the excitement surrounding this site. It was a grey day and the building appeared in ruins. Nonetheless, this is indeed a famous cottage. Midnight Oil made Ken Duncan’s photograph iconic, earning it a place among the top views in South Australia according to the Australian Traveller.
Moreover, the Burra Homestead is in urgent need of repair. If the local community cannot gather the necessary funds—around $13,000—to fix the roof, there may soon be nothing left of this renowned location, except for the album cover itself.
Consequently, access to the homestead is now restricted. There is a fence surrounding the property with a no trespassing sign. Yet, it still offers excellent photography opportunities.
Note: The day was perfect for HDR photography. As Dave mentions, “I use HDR whenever there are dramatic skies. It gives you a realistic view of what the eye sees. It shows the contrast between the foreground and the sky and captures the texture in the clouds which would otherwise photograph flat. HDR enhances the drama of the sky while maintaining the vibrancy of the field and homestead as the focus. For more photographs from Dave, visit his photography section…and his portfolio.
Our trip to South Australia was enriched by South Australia Tourism. Truck hire was seamless, thanks to Complete Ute and Van Hire www.completeuteandvanhire.com.au
