The Peake
| Company type | Pastoral station and telegraph repeater station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Pastoralism, telecommunications (historical) |
| Founded | 1859 |
| Headquarters | Neales River region , Australia |
Area served | Northern South Australia |
| Products | Sheep, cattle, telegraph services (historical) |
| Owner | Arabana Aboriginal Corporation (current landowner), William Cattle Company (property owner) |
The Peake is a deserted site situated along the Neales River in the remote northern region of South Australia, close to the mound springs area known as Freeling Springs. Originally founded as an outstation connected to Mount Margaret Station, it evolved into the principal homestead by the late 1870s. During 1870–1871, The Peake functioned as a supply base for crews constructing the Overland Telegraph Line and operated as a repeater station on this line from 1870 until 1891, making it a key component in Australia's telecommunication infrastructure of the 19th century. Presently, it forms part of the William Cattle Company’s property portfolio.
The Arabana
The site of The Peake is located within the ancestral territory of the Arabana people. Close to the mound springs—referred to as yardiya—there exist important Dreaming locations, with ancestral beings such as Yurkunangku and Kurkari linked to these water sources. Additionally, this region lies along traditional trade routes for pituri and red ochre.
European explorers and settlers, including John McDouall Stuart, made contact with the Arabana from the 1850s onward. In 1875, Francis James Gillen, serving as a telegraphist at The Peake Repeater Station, recorded vocabularies of the Arabana language. He returned in 1903 alongside Walter Baldwin Spencer to gather further cultural data encompassing language, mythology, and place names.
Throughout the 19th century, the Arabana population remained near The Peake, frequently mentioned in newspapers and depicted in illustrations. The South Australian government operated a ration depot at this location; by the 1890s, around 68 Aboriginal individuals lived there, some employed as stockmen or rabbit hunters.
Currently, The Peake is situated on land owned by the Arabana Aboriginal Corporation and continues to hold cultural importance for the Arabana community.
European exploration
The area near The Peake was first reached by European explorer John McDouall Stuart in 1859 during his expedition to survey potential pastoral lands in northern South Australia. In June of that year, he observed:
Stuart named The Peake after Edward John Peake, who was the son-in-law of James Chambers, one of Stuart’s financial supporters.
Pastoral era
Established in 1859, Mount Margaret Station operated as a sheep and cattle ranch spanning roughly 1,250 square kilometers. Its territory extended from the periphery of Lake Eyre northward to include areas such as the Neales River, Umbum Creek, and the mound springs complex at Freeling Springs. Early pastoral activities were concentrated around Umbum waterhole, with The Peake initially functioning as an outstation.
Originally owned by British-born entrepreneur Philip Levi, who managed several sheep and cattle stations throughout South Australia, Mount Margaret was overseen by Stephen Jarvis. Jarvis moved there with his family but faced severe challenges during the "Great Drought" between 1864 and 1867, which forced Levi to dispose of his holdings.
In 1872, ownership passed to siblings John Bagot and Christopher Bagot. Stephen Jarvis contributed labor to constructing the Overland Telegraph Line and assisted with building the Barrow Creek repeater station. The Bagots appointed Ernest Courtenay Kempe ("Eck") as overseer; under his leadership, the homestead was relocated to The Peake, around which a small settlement developed. During the 1890s, Kempe moved the homestead again to Wood Duck.
By the early twentieth century, the Bagots sold Mount Margaret Station; Kempe then purchased it jointly with pastoralist Sidney Kidman. Subsequently, this property became incorporated into Anna Creek Station.
In 2016, Williams Cattle Company acquired both The Peake Station and Anna Creek. Today, The Peake encompasses an area close to 8,130 square kilometers.
Telegraph repeater station
Construction of the Overland Telegraph Line commenced in 1870. The southern segment—from Port Augusta to Alberga Creek—was awarded to Edward Meade Bagot, who received a payment of £41 per mile. To survey the path from Hergott Springs/Marree to Alberga Creek, Bagot engaged Benjamin Herschel Babbage, who pinpointed Strangways Springs and the Peake as vital locations for repeater stations. These stations played a crucial role in powering and sustaining the telegraph network, utilizing equipment imported from Europe.
The Peake also functioned as a supply depot supporting the construction of the central portion stretching from Alberga Creek to Alice Springs, passing through Charlotte Waters. By 1871, a stone ration store had been established, and prominent individuals such as Charles Todd visited during the construction phase. Over time, several stone structures were built at the Peake site, including the Repeater Station itself, the station master’s residence, and various rooms for equipment storage.
Personnel at the repeater station comprised a station master, telegraph assistants, and linesmen tasked with upkeep and repairs. Regular supply deliveries were made from Adelaide, while onsite agriculture and livestock provided additional support. By 1884, the facilities at the Peake included accommodations for four linesmen, a blacksmith’s workshop, a cart shed, a harness room, stockyards, men’s quarters, and a kitchen.
In 1888, the Great Northern Railway extended close to the Peake area, bringing with it large labor camps and numerous workers. A camel depot was set up by Faiz Mahomet and his brother Tagh, housing around 600 camels and likely featuring a temporary mosque. This influx led to an increased police presence alongside makeshift eateries and illicit alcohol sales.
The repeater station attracted visits from explorers such as John Forrest in 1874 and Charles Chewings in 1886; it also served as a venue for the Transcontinental Railway Commission in 1887 and welcomed Premier Playford in 1888. The site was frequently mentioned in newspapers and illustrated periodicals of the time.
By January 1891, the railway line had reached Angle Pole, designating Oodnadatta as the railhead until 1926. Following this development, the telegraph line was realigned alongside the railway track; as a result, operations at the Peake repeater station ceased and services were transferred to Oodnadatta.
In 1987, the repeater station was officially entered on the South Australian Heritage Register.