His promising reports soon led to occupation of the district by pastoralists, one of whom was Herbert Bristow Hughes (c. 1821 – 18 May 1892).

[5] Laura is administered by the Northern Areas Council, and is in the state electoral district of Stuart and the federal Division of Grey.

Laura is a vibrant, artistic rural community with a population of approximately 650, situated beside the Rocky River and amongst the rolling hills of the Southern Flinders Ranges.

The former Laura Courthouse in Hughes Street is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.

Its first iteration, Laura Standard (subtitled: and Beetaloo, Wirrabara, Melrose, Booleroo Centre and Yarrowie Advertiser) ran from 1889.