The Long Ride — High Country, 1984–85

In 1984–85, I set out from Melbourne on horseback, travelling along the National Horse Trail towards Sydney with a packhorse and my Kelpie, Mick, as companions.

The journey took me through some of Australia's most spectacular and remote country, from the Victorian High Country and the mountain settlements around Omeo, Porepunkah and Merrijig to the country of the Snowy Mountains and Adaminaby.

When I reached Merrijig, I encountered High Country cattlemen protesting against the proposed closure of the Victorian High Plains to cattle grazing. What began as a long-distance horseback journey became an unexpected encounter with an important chapter in the history of the Australian High Country.

These photographs record more than landscapes. They capture the people, horses, cattle, country towns, pubs, stockyards and everyday life encountered along the way — a glimpse of rural Australia in the mid-1980s.

Photographed on the journey from Melbourne to Sydney, these images are a personal record of a time, a landscape and a way of life that has continued to change.

High Country Crossing - Two packhorses stand beside the road in open mountain country, with the dramatic ridges of the High Country stretching across the background. A small Kelpie waits nearby as the journey continues through the rugged landscape.

High Country Crossing - Two packhorses stand beside the road in open mountain country, with the dramatic ridges of the High Country stretching across the background. A small Kelpie waits nearby as the journey continues through the rugged landscape.

Packhorses in the High Country - Two heavily laden horses pause among the high mountain country, their packs ready for another stage of the journey. Snow remains in the sheltered hollows of the mountains behind them, capturing the remoteness and hars

Packhorses in the High Country - Two heavily laden horses pause among the high mountain country, their packs ready for another stage of the journey. Snow remains in the sheltered hollows of the mountains behind them, capturing the remoteness and harshness of travelling through the Australian Alps on horseback.

A Horse and Dray in the Country Town - A team of horses pulls a traditional dray along the main street of an Australian country town. The scene captures a passing moment of rural life in the mid-1980s, when horses and horse-drawn transport still form

A Horse and Dray in the Country Town - A team of horses pulls a traditional dray along the main street of an Australian country town. The scene captures a passing moment of rural life in the mid-1980s, when horses and horse-drawn transport still formed part of the visual character of country Australia.

Omeo Main Street - The quiet main street of Omeo, Victoria, photographed during the journey. Historic shopfronts, wide streets and the surrounding mountain country reflect the distinctive character of this High Country settlement in the 1980s.

Omeo Main Street - The quiet main street of Omeo, Victoria, photographed during the journey. Historic shopfronts, wide streets and the surrounding mountain country reflect the distinctive character of this High Country settlement in the 1980s.

Stopping at the Country Newsagent - Two saddled horses wait outside a country newsagent while the riders pause during their journey. Newspapers, advertisements and shop signs provide an intimate glimpse of everyday country life in Australia during th

Stopping at the Country Newsagent - Two saddled horses wait outside a country newsagent while the riders pause during their journey. Newspapers, advertisements and shop signs provide an intimate glimpse of everyday country life in Australia during the 1980s.

Adaminaby 17 Miles - A roadside sign marks the distance to Adaminaby, standing alone against the broad landscape of the Snowy Mountains. The simple sign becomes a reminder of the distances covered on a journey made largely on horseback.

Adaminaby 17 Miles - A roadside sign marks the distance to Adaminaby, standing alone against the broad landscape of the Snowy Mountains. The simple sign becomes a reminder of the distances covered on a journey made largely on horseback.

Along the High Country Road - A rugged four-wheel-drive sits beneath a spreading tree beside open farmland, with mountains rising in the distance. The combination of vehicle, country landscape and dramatic sky evokes the isolation and changing charac

Along the High Country Road - A rugged four-wheel-drive sits beneath a spreading tree beside open farmland, with mountains rising in the distance. The combination of vehicle, country landscape and dramatic sky evokes the isolation and changing character of rural Australia.

The Old Bush Workshop - An old timber shelter filled with tools, equipment and everyday objects offers a glimpse into an earlier rural way of life. Weathered timber, rough workmanship and the open fireplace give the scene an unmistakably Australian b

The Old Bush Workshop - An old timber shelter filled with tools, equipment and everyday objects offers a glimpse into an earlier rural way of life. Weathered timber, rough workmanship and the open fireplace give the scene an unmistakably Australian bush character.

Life Under the Old Verandah - An old timber structure provides a sheltered outdoor living space surrounded by trees and bushland. The worn furniture, tools and objects left beneath the roof create an intimate portrait of rural life and the improvisat

Life Under the Old Verandah - An old timber structure provides a sheltered outdoor living space surrounded by trees and bushland. The worn furniture, tools and objects left beneath the roof create an intimate portrait of rural life and the improvisational character of an Australian bush homestead.

The Cattlemen - Cattle stand in the yards while a group of country men watch from behind the rails. Their hats, clothing and relaxed postures convey the strong connection between the people of the High Country and the cattle they worked with.

The Cattlemen - Cattle stand in the yards while a group of country men watch from behind the rails. Their hats, clothing and relaxed postures convey the strong connection between the people of the High Country and the cattle they worked with.

The Bull - A powerful Hereford bull looks directly towards the camera from the cattle yards, its face filling the frame. Behind it, cattlemen lean against the rails, creating a striking portrait of both the animal and the people whose lives were clos

The Bull - A powerful Hereford bull looks directly towards the camera from the cattle yards, its face filling the frame. Behind it, cattlemen lean against the rails, creating a striking portrait of both the animal and the people whose lives were closely connected with cattle.

Watching the Cattle - Cattle fill the foreground while a group of cattlemen watch from behind the timber rails. The photograph captures the atmosphere of a country stockyard and the close attention paid to the animals by the men gathered around them.

Watching the Cattle - Cattle fill the foreground while a group of cattlemen watch from behind the timber rails. The photograph captures the atmosphere of a country stockyard and the close attention paid to the animals by the men gathered around them.

At the Cattle Yards - Men stand and sit along the rails of the cattle yards as cattle move through the pens below. Photographed against the evening sky, the scene has the character of a quiet documentary record of rural Australia.

At the Cattle Yards - Men stand and sit along the rails of the cattle yards as cattle move through the pens below. Photographed against the evening sky, the scene has the character of a quiet documentary record of rural Australia.

The Cattlemen and Their Stock - A group of cattlemen gathers around the yards as cattle move through the pens. Their distinctive hats and working clothes, combined with the weathered timber yards, create a strong portrait of Australian rural life in

The Cattlemen and Their Stock - A group of cattlemen gathers around the yards as cattle move through the pens. Their distinctive hats and working clothes, combined with the weathered timber yards, create a strong portrait of Australian rural life in the 1980s.

Men of the High Country - Several cattlemen rest along the timber rails of the stockyards while cattle move below them. The photograph concentrates on the men rather than the animals, capturing the distinctive appearance and camaraderie of country pe

Men of the High Country - Several cattlemen rest along the timber rails of the stockyards while cattle move below them. The photograph concentrates on the men rather than the animals, capturing the distinctive appearance and camaraderie of country people whose lives were bound to the land and livestock.

Summer by the River - A group of people relaxes among the rocks and trees beside the water. The informal gathering provides a quieter counterpoint to the stockyards and mountain landscapes, capturing a moment of leisure during the journey through cou

Summer by the River - A group of people relaxes among the rocks and trees beside the water. The informal gathering provides a quieter counterpoint to the stockyards and mountain landscapes, capturing a moment of leisure during the journey through country Australia.

Inside the Country Pub - The bar of an Australian country pub comes alive with conversation. Patrons gather around the timber bar beneath shelves of bottles and glasses, creating an evocative portrait of the social heart of a rural community in the 1

Inside the Country Pub - The bar of an Australian country pub comes alive with conversation. Patrons gather around the timber bar beneath shelves of bottles and glasses, creating an evocative portrait of the social heart of a rural community in the 1980s.