Welcome to Marree
Introduction | Special Dates | Centenary of Federation
Aboriginal Connections | Colourful Characters
Connecting the Kids | Photo Gallery | WebCam
Repeater Station (Archived Chats and Forum)

Aboriginal trade routes have existed in this area for centuries, providing access for the trade of ochre from Lyndhurst and Parachilna in exchange for pituri, a narcotic from the Simpson Desert.

The springs were discovered in April 1859 by David Hergott, one of John McDouall Stuart's exploration party during their first attempt to cross Australia.

Originally called Hergott Springs but later named Marree because of anti-German sentiment during the Great War, this settlement helped open up Australia to the world and during the laying of the line, grew into a busy township with a cosmopolitan mix of races. The Afghans settled here, guiding their ships of the desert in their relentless toil.

While the Afghans had contact with the Aboriginals of the area, they didn't tend to mingle with the Europeans who worked on the line and kept to their own area which was known as Ghan Town.

All groups gravitated to their own areas and little contact was enjoyed between the Europeans and the other two groups. This is still evident today at Marree where even the cemetaries are divided along these same lines.

In 1860 the springs were declared a government water reserve and have remained so ever since.

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