Adaminaby
The town has been a muse for some of Australia’s most notable figures. While debated, many believe Banjo Paterson’s iconic poem “The Man from Snowy River” was inspired by the renowned Adaminaby Stockman, Charlie McKeahnie. Others argue the character was a blend of several individuals involved in the region’s brumby hunts.
Patrick White, the sole Australian to win the Nobel Prize for Fiction, spent two years recuperating as a stockman at Bolaro Station. Though unsuited to the lifestyle, he drew inspiration for his novel “Happy Valley” from his time there.
In 1959, Adaminaby and neighboring towns hosted film stars like Robert Mitchum, Deborah Kerr, Peter Ustinov, and others during the filming of the legendary movie “The Sundowners”. Similarly, the 1980s film “Phar Lap” centered around Adaminaby, using its racecourse to depict scenes from Mexico’s Agua Caliente Racecourse, complete with a temporary grandstand and locals as enthusiastic extras.
Today, Adaminaby’s population stands at just 300, a fraction of its past. Yet, it retains the same enchanting wilderness and quintessential Australian spirit that has long inspired the nation.