A DAWN IN THE WEST
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L i t t l e R i v e r, V i c t o r i a
Bruce Pascoe: Sophisticated land management practices were found at Lake Eyre in the great sandy desert. B r u c e P a s c o e t e l l s o f C h a r l e s S t u r t ’s t h i r d a n d f i n a l e x p e d i t i o n , i n a t t e m p t i n g t o l o c a t e A u s t r a l i a ’s n o n e x i s t e n t t h e i n l a n d s e a , h e came accross aboriginal settlements. “ A b o r i g i n a l p e o p l e h a d a n o r g a n i z e d e c o n o m y, i n l a r g e s c a l e practices of sewing seeds and harvesting produce. This was not done in a conventional English fashion, but a complex Australian w a y. ” P a s c o e s p e a k s a b o u t S t u r t ’s r e c o u n t o f l a r g e s c a l e s y s tems used to grow grain and harvesting methods. “The grain was stooped to dry in large stacks, so that the grain would separate from the stalk, in order to harvest the seed.” P a n i c u m a n d K a n g a r o o G r a s s c a n b e g r o u n d t o m a k e f l o w e r, T h e produce is still being researched and the commercial viability is anticipated. K a y o l i n i s a f i e r y, g l u e y p o w d e r w h i c h w a s u s e d f o r m a k i n g p o t t e r y, i t c a n b e f i r e d .
Native Millet Panicum decompositum
Murnong Daisy Flower Microseris lanceolata
Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra