Milparinka Sturt Kidman Centre

Members of Charles Sturt’s Central Australian Expedition were the first Europeans to visit the Milparinka area when they camped for a short time on Evelyn Creek. Soon after arriving in the area, they moved to Preservation Creek near Mount Poole. This interpretive centre tells the story of the expedition in illustrative text, photographs and maps. The centrepiece of the room is a five-metre-long diorama with hand-carved figures representing the people and animals involved in the expedition. A feature of one wall is a life-size portrait of Sturt by artist Clark Barrett, while a metal representation of Sturt’s saddle is featured on an external wall. A touch screen display features a docuseries about Sturt and the expedition, written and narrated by actor Neil Piggott and filmed and directed by Jason King Media. Adjoining the Sturt room is the Kidman Heritage Centre. Kidman was a prominent landholder in the far west of New South Wales. In a simple but effective display, the Kidman story is told. A section of film shot during the 1920s is a major feature of the exhibit. Artworks by Clark Barrett illustrate the extent of Kidman’s landholdings as well as a scene from a station property with which Kidman would have been very familiar.