The Ghan is Going Part 1 of 4

A program made by channel 7 just before the new standard gauge line opened.

The first sod was turned on Friiday 18th January 1878 to start building the line heading towards Quorn. Men working on the construction where paid 6 shilling a day (.60 cents) & later 8 shillings

It opened on 15th Dec 1879 to Quorn.

When the northern railway was finished it soon became known as The GHAN. This train eventually ran from Port Augusta via Quorn, Hawker, Parachilna, Copley, Farina, Marree, Curdimurka, William Creek and Oodnadatta to Alice Springs. Construction of this narrow gauge line started in 1878, at the hight of the railway boom, in the hope to develop the pastoral and mining potential of the inland.


The railway went through some of Australia's most desolate and flood prone country, often suffering wash-outs with passengers marooned for several days. By 1881 it had reached Beltana. Within two years it reached Farina and by 1884 Hergott Springs (Marree) had become the railhead. After some years the line was pushed further north past Callanna, Alberrie Creek, Curdimurka, Coward Springs, Strangways Springs, William Creek, Anna Creek, Box Creek, Edwards Creek, Warrina, Algebuckina and Mount Dutton until it finally reached Oodnadatta in 1891.



Oodnadatta remained the railhead for the next forty years. In an effort to advance the line and get construction going once again, it was stated in 1895 'that the interior was not all desert, but had extensive areas of good land fit for cultivation and a variety of tropical products'. Unfortunately it was not until 1929 when the line was extended to Alice Springs, and where it has remained until 2003.