Old Andado, Simpson Desert, Northern Territory, Australia, photographs, travel.



Chambers Pillar
Chambers Pillar
(Photo © Bill Chartres 1990)

All photos © Bill Chartres unless otherwise acknowledged.
Beautiful Australia


OLD ANDADO



Old Andado, situated on the edge of the Simpson Desert, is a step back in time. When we first visited, in June 1990, it was run by Molly Clark.
Old Andado Homestead - June 1990
Old Andado Homestead - June 1990
(Photo © Bill Chartres 1990)
Molly Clark - Old Andado - June
 1990
Molly Clark - Old Andado - June 1990
(Photo © Bill Chartres 2018)

Molly was a remarkable woman, she lived, alone, at Old Andado most of the time only returning to Alice Springs during the very hot summers.

Sadly,
Molly Clark passed away in 2012 leaving the property to her grand children,
and in 2013 the Old Andado Charitable trust was formed to restore and maintain the property.

Visit their:- Facebook for current information about Old Andado.







Molly married Malcolm (Mac) Clark in 1946, they had three sons Graham, Kevin and Philip, and moved to Andado, about 350 km South East of Alice Springs in 1955 where they lived in the original 1920's homestead. However the homestead was on very low ground, near the Andado Swamp, and was often subject to flooding, so they relocated to a new homestead, 18kms to the West (this is the Andado Station homestead today).



Molly had a difficult, often tragic, life. In 1975, their middle son Kevin, had a serious car accident from which he was lucky to survive. In 1978, her husband, Mac, was killed, following a heart attack, while flying his light airplane, and nine months later, in 1979, her eldest son Graham was killed when his semi-trailer collided with a freight train. In the early 1980’s Molly lost her livelihood when the Northern Territory Government forced her to destock all her cattle because of Brucellosis and Tuberculosis.

Molly had to sell the property in 1984, and moved to Alice Springs to live.



In 1987, Molly obtained a Crown Lease over the old homestead and about 45 square kilometres surrounding it. The old homestead became her home once again, and she continued to live there until just before her death in 2012. During this time she developed the holding as a tourist attraction known as Old Andado.
Old Andado Homestead is probably the only Homestead in Australia were you can see how the pioneers lived, without any modern amenities, in the harsh conditions of Australia's outback.


The name Andado comes from a southern Aranda (Arrernte) Aboriginal word for a stone implement.





Old Andado - June 1990
The Meat House, prior to the current homestead being erected in the early 1920's this was the living quarters.

Old Andado - June 1990
Inside the "Saddle House"

The Saddle House
Old Andado - June 1990

Mac Clark Conservation Reserve - Acacia Peuce "Waddy Wood"

Acacia peuce is only found in three places, near Boulia, Birdsville and in the Mac Clark Conservation Reserve.
Old Andado - June 1990

Mac Clarke Conservation Reserve on Old Andado.

Mac Clark was Molly Clark's husband.

Old Andado - June 1990


Mac Clarke Conservation Reserve - Acacia Peuce "Waddy Wood"
Even thought the wood is extremely hard and difficult to use, in the early 1900' s, many of the trees were cut down to build stockyards and shelters.
Old Andado - June 1990



Beside the Mt. Dare to Anadado track
June 1990

Old Andado June 1990
We were camped at Old Andado when the satellite dish was erected, enabling the telephone to be connected.


Beside the Mt Dare to Anadado track
June 1990


Old Andado - 1991

The Old Meat House
Old Andado - 1991

Old Andado - 1991


Old Andado - 1991

Peg Chartres - Old Andado - 1991


Old Andado - 1991


Red Sand Dunes - Old Andado - 1991

Bill Chartres - Old Andado - 1991


Red Sand Dunes - Old Andado - 1991

Old Andado - June 1994

Old Andado - June 1994

Old Andado -June 1994

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Last updated 20thFebruary 2019 3:00 PM

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