The Saga at Charlotte Waters in Outback South Australia

Charlotte Waters or to some Bleak House

During the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line a waterhole was located in 1871 by two surveyors McMinn and Knuckey . A repeater station was established in 1872 along with a post office, general store and residence. 

Remains of Station's Building & Underground Water Tank

The Charlotte Waters Overland Telegraph Station was nicknamed Bleak House by the telegraphists as the area was a desolate gibber plain with no plants or trees. As technology improved some telegraph stations including Charlotte Waters were by-passed. The building was then used as police stations, but certain vital equipment and postal services were left, which the policeman and his wife maintained.
The small grave located at the rear of the ruins surrounded with some ironwork railings is that of a dog belonging to a Pat Byrne. (Blacksmith when the Telegraph station was in operation)

Fred Sharpe in his Camel Drawn Car

An old man had been living in the abandoned police station during 1939. Fred Sharpe (Assistant to Old Andado owners McDill) in the same year discovered the man dead body. Sharpe and a policeman buried the old man near the ruins just days before CT Madigan started his expedition.

The Kennetts

Now for the heart breaking saga, which critically affected an outback policeman, his family neighbours and friends, occurred in Central Australia in 1936. Police Constable Jack Kennett, his wife Isabel and their five children lived at the lonely Charlotte Waters Police Station.