"WIDE OPEN SPACES"

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 107, 7 May 1936, Page 19

"WIDE OPEN SPACES"

AMONG-THE BUFFALOES

"Something takes you back; for after a • short tipie you long for the Territory.": With'these Mrs. A. Hardy, of; Annaburroo buffalo and cattle- station, 130 miles from Darwin, described her feelings • towards her home in "the wide open spaces." Mrs. arrived in, Sydney recently from Darwin,, and will spend her nine months' leave there, states the bydney Morning. Herald." ; She has lived _for 19 years, in the Territory, and f0r.15 on Annaburroo, which covers rough y 360 square miles. Her husband built the present house. 15 years aga with timber off the property, and with native labour. Mrs. Hardy finds it possible to ' grow most southern flowers and vegetables af her home as the; annual; rainfall' is 50 inches. A large; part of Annaburroo is covered : with jungle,and swamps, and the latter are. ablaze with red-water lilies in the dry season.

: A single, vtrack "narrow-gauge railway runs near the ■ homestead,; and there is a train every Wednesday Just a: ; little,, slow..train,:which takes all day, to cover 90 miles," said Mrs Hardy. .Riding is •one "of Mrs.' Hardy's interests, and she has.on occasions been present at the cattle mustering, which takes place twice yearly. She is not at all freightened 'of the ' buffaloes, ,which though wild give very little trouble. All the neighbours help each iother to handle.their cattle, which arc [branded.