On The Road With Wal & Sue: Laura the childhood home of C. J. Dennis

Thursday, June 5 to Sunday, June 8:

It was time to move and as the long weekend was upon us we decided to stay somewhere further north near Port Augusta. Previously we had stayed at Gladstone so decided to try the next town Laura. We booked in until Monday morning when we will head to Port Augusta, stock up and head north.

When we checked with the Visitor Information Centre before leaving it seems CJ Dennis was born at Auburn SA on the way and grew up at Laura. We wandered around Auburn’s historic homes before heading to Clare for lunch in the bakery. We arrived at the Laura Community Caravan Park which is pretty and well run.

On Friday we headed off to the Visitor Information Centre where they screened a film about the town – the childhood home of CJ Dennis and the home of Golden North Ice Cream which is still operating and is now on the state’s heritage list.

The self guided walk highlighted the key buildings dominated by the statue of C.J. Dennis and a smaller bronze of the Beetaloo Hotel (formerly Bell Hotel) on its original site. C.J’s father James was the hotel licensee (1892 to 1908). C.J’s first job was with the local solicitor W.H. Stockdale and his first verse was published in the local paper, the Laura Standard whose shop was almost opposite. Both buildings are still standing.

While on the walk, one local who was tending the garden in the centre of the road stopped and chatted to me. She was certainly a champion for the town though has only lived there 11 years. “I’ve another 9 to go before I am a local,” she said.

Of course, I had to stop and have a Golden North twin ice cream which is like an Eskimo pie but twice as long and made in town along with the other varieties.

Saturday was nice so we headed off out into the country on the advice of one of the cleaners who suggested we visit Magnetic Hill. After driving and driving on sealed and dirt roads we finally reached Magnetic Hill. At it you simply stop your car, turn off the engine, put the car in neutral and check to see if it rolls up or down the hill. Someone has a vivid imagination and it sucks everyone in.

Enjoyed damper around the fire with people from the park – I made my version and park manager his special – milk, capsicum and garlic added – very nice but mine, although a bit slow on the cooking turned out okay – the first time I have tried this recipe in the camp oven.

Sunday was another day exploring this time we drove to the Beetaloo Reservoir – built 1885.

I did better with my damper tonight but it was a tad over cooked. Still everyone ate it so it must have been okay.