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Written by Norman A. Richardson in 1925, this charming little book is his attempt to relate as accurately as possible the history of the pastoral country west and north-west of Port Augusta and west of Lake Torrens, best known at the time as the Gawler Range and North-West country. His account ranges from 1856 to 1914 and includes photographs and detailed descriptions of the lands and pioneers themselves.

The first pastoral lease was granted in 1857. From that date up to 1870 my knowledge has been gained from Government records and from some of the original lessees, most of whom have since passed away. From 1870 the narrative is principally derived from my own knowledge and experience gained by having lived for over fifty years in the district and in close contact with all that occurred therein. With most of the pioneer police I was personally acquainted, having for forty-two years held all the mail contracts in this country-and I claim to know something about them. The anecdotes with which these records are interspersed are all founded on fact, and in many cases are related as they actually occurred. The men who bore the heat and burden of those early times blazed the track for those who successfully occupy the country to-day, and whose names and features in a few years' time would be forgotten were not some such record as I have tried to make in existence. -  N.A.Richardson

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