When we arrived in this town we were desperate to not have to camp- the stony, rocky and dusty ground appeared most unforgiving and many bent pegs would be the result. Thankfully we got a room at the motel and for that we were most grateful.
The town was settled many years earlier on the unfulfilled promise of gold. On Christmas day in 1885, a prospector named Charlie Hall found a 28 ounce gold nugget and eventually this fame led to the town being named in his honour. The town however didn't live up to expectations as the more than 15,000 people who travelled to the area to try their luck discovered. Many perished in the harsh conditions and found the aboriginal population unwelcoming. Eventually the town became a trade centre for cattle stations and local Aboriginal communities and miners who were exploring the area.
It was here I discovered a disturbing, humbling and shaming fact- prior to 1962 Aboriginal people in Australia were classified as flora and fauna. Disgraceful. In fact the disparity between the european and indigenous population is still evident, riots had occured just the day before our arrival in Halls Creek, with bottles being thrown at road trains and general anti-social behaviour. Apparently the town still has a great deal of endemic violence and alcohol related issues. By the Way- only light beer can be sold in this town, no other forms of alcohol permitted.
All that remains of the old town
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