31/01/2026
On this day in 1861, George Woodroffe Goyder stepped into the role of Surveyor‑General of South Australia, a moment that would shape our region forever.
Just a few years later, in January 1865, Goyder travelled through drought‑stricken country and mapped the boundary between reliable and unreliable rainfall. That boundary became known as Goyder’s Line, a guide that helped farmers understand where cropping could thrive, and where pastoralism was the safer choice.
More than 160 years on, Goyder’s Line still influences how the land is used across South Australia. It’s one of the most important pieces of agricultural wisdom in our state’s history, born from a harsh drought in 1864/65 and a remarkable eye for the landscape.
As you drive through the Goyder region, especially along World’s End Highway and the Dare’s Hill Circuit Drive, the change in country on either side of the line is striking. Lush to sparse, cropping to grazing… the land tells the story.
📍The Goyder Line
📸Regional Council of Goyder
