Actually that arid property was fun stuff for young kids. Next to the sheep shearing shed was an old settlers stone and mud cottage. It had really low ceilings, and still largely in place, made of sail cloth. Often damaged and hanging down and very dusty. The cottage was next to the sheep yards and the sheep had access to it, probably to be kept dry in during shearing if it was rainy weather.

We used to hunt snakes in it. Behind sheets of iron against its wall and other debris. Always worried if one fell out of the ceiling where they might also be. The snakes used to hunt mice and rats in the cottage, and in and about the shearing shed. Sometimes we used to find brown snakes in the shearing shed as well.

"Aaaaaaaahhhhh Snake!" Jump!

Probably was aged from 3 to 8 or 10 at the time.

My father and uncle sold that property when they were retiring. Another of my grandfather's properties sold off. I miss that "outback" property. Something different to home. A biut of the outback only a 45 minutes or hour drive away.