Goyders Line

[Martin Butterfield <>]

I think the key issue with Goyder's Line was that it was meant to represent the area beyond which wheat could not be grown reliably.  It closely follows the 10" isohyet but I don't think that is how Goyder drew it.  So finding patches that get >10" isn't surprising.  (Neither would it be surprising that a sign was erected in the wrong place!)

My memory (supported by Wikipedia) from when I lived in SA was that his declaration of the line was followed by several wet years allowing wheat to be grown well outside the line, leading to agricultural interests expanding North and East.  The word "reliably" then got emphasised with a run of dry years which broke many of the bold pioneers.

Back in the day I spent a little time interviewing farmers in the SA Mallee - close to, but below, the line - was that they expected:

• they'd get a good cereal crop 3 years in 10;
• be able to sell some surplus 2 years in 10;
• Get seed and feed (for their sheep) 3 years in 10;
• 2 years in 10 they wouldn't get enough crop back to match the seed they had sown.
• Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/

On Thu, 12 Sep 2019 at 15:56, Gary Wright <> wrote:

I am 65 and what i learnt in primary school was that Goyder's line represented the 10" (inch) rainfall line and the  line above which wheat could  not be grown.   I have often thought about it as when driving from Melrose to Wilmington where I live in SA there is a sign indicating that you are crossing Goyder's line and that point probably received more than 20" of rain per year.  

Unfortunately the way things are going it won't be long until it gets down close to 10.  Last year in Wilmington we had 10 inches (250 mm) and this year so far we have  had 214 mm.   When I moved to Wilmington 22 years ago the official average for Wilmington was 450 mm.  I don't remember us ever getting that but things are getting dry in the last 10 -15 years.

I would expect Goyder's line in general will be heading south.

Gary

On Thu, 12 Sep 2019 at 13:34, Chris Brandis <m("speedlink.com.au","cbrandis");" target="_blank">> wrote:

Hi

I remember that the line was set where rainfall/evaporation was < 1/3,
but I can not remember for how many months or years, but my question is
with climate change has it moved from where Goyder drew it ?

Cheers Chris



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