The Peake

[5][6][7] The South Australian government maintained a ration depot at the Peake, and an estimated 68 Aboriginal people were present there in the 1890s; some worked as stockmen and others as rabbiters.

[9] European explorer John McDouall Stuart first arrived in the vicinity of the Peake in 1859, as part of an expedition surveying potential pastoral property in northern South Australia.

In June 1859, he recorded the following in his journal: At four miles and a half struck a large broad valley in which there are the largest springs I have yet seen.

[11] The property was managed by Stephen Jarvis (born 1826, Britain; died 1879, Australia), who moved to Mount Margaret with his wife Ester and their four children.

Stephen Jarvis was recruited to help work on the Overland Line, and was instrumental in building the repeater station at Barrow Creek.

The southern section – from Port Augusta to Alberga Creek – was contracted to Edward Meade Bagot, the younger brother of the Mount Margaret Station owners.

[18][19] The Peake was also designated as a depot to supply the construction of the central section of the Overland Telegraph Line, from Alberga Creek to Alice Springs, via Charlotte Waters.

The repeater station received regular supplies from Adelaide and also maintained their own gardens, crops, chickens and goats.

By 1884, there were 4 linesmen stationed at the Peake and also a blacksmith's shop, a cart shed, a harness room and stock yards, as well as a men's quarters and a kitchen.

[22] In 1888, the Great Northern Railway, which had commenced in Port Augusta in 1878, finally arrived near the Peake, bringing with it large work camps, and many laborers.

[24] The influx of people also resulted in an increased police presence, temporary eating houses and the sales of illegal alcohol.

[6][7] In January 1891, the rail line reached Angle Pole, and the settlement of Oodnadatta was established as the railhead, which it would remain until 1926.