Goyder's Line

In 1865 George Goyder, the then Surveyor-General of the colony, was asked to map the boundary between those areas that received good rainfall and those experiencing drought.

After traversing an estimated 3200 km on horseback (not including the Eyre Peninsula) in November 1865, he submitted his report and map to the colonial government on 6 December.

[2] Ample rains fell in most years between 1867 and 1875, prompting farmers to ignore Goyder's report and settle in the north, starting farms and planting crops.

[5] Goyder's Line starts on the west coast near Ceduna and runs south-east across the Eyre Peninsula to strike Spencer Gulf near Arno Bay.

It continues from near Moonta north to Crystal Brook and Orroroo, then south-east past Peterborough and Burra to the Victorian border near Pinnaroo, crossing the Murray River south of Blanchetown.

Satellite image of vegetation and desert in South Australia . George Goyder provided advice as to the geographic limits of crop growing in South Australia.
Approximation of Goyder's Line within South Australia
Detail of memorial cairn near Redhill , showing a map of Goyder's Line within the southern portion of South Australia