A demasted sailing ship, probably used as a cargo hulk or barge docked at a wharf, probably at ...

A demasted sailing ship, probably used as a cargo hulk or barge docked at a wharf, probably at Port Augusta, SA after unloading it's cargo (it is riding high in the water). A man can be seen standing on the wharf next to a train carriage and several other piles of wood and building materials are visible in the background, probably connected to the construction of the Trans Australian Railway. The Trans Australian Railway was built from Port Augusta, SA to Kalgoorlie, WA as a condition of Western Australia joining the Federation of Australia. Work on the Trans Australian Railway commenced at Port Augusta in 1912 after a survey was carried out in 1908. The Trans Australian Railway was laid on flat bottom rails and was not ballasted until 1940. One of a series of photographs taken by C. E. W. Bean during a trip he made in 1914 to Coopers Creek, SA with the South Australian Parliamentary Committee. The purpose of this trip was to research the condition of Aboriginal camps and Missions in South Australia. Photographs from the private collection of C. E. W. Bean held at AWM38 3DRL 6673.