Crystal Creek - Jamestown SA

After a few days in Moonta catching up on cleaning, restocking, and general maintenance, we set our sights on Crystal Brook and Bowman Park, an RV stop just 5km east of town.  According to WikiCamps, it was a simple day-use park—open sunrise to sunset—with toilets, playgrounds, and nature trails. What we found, however, was far more than we expected.

On arrival, we were greeted by an old sandstone building that, on closer inspection, had once been transformed into a function centre. This was the second homestead on the property, built in 1852. Time hasn’t been kind—cobwebs and signs of disrepair suggest it hasn’t been used in years—but we managed to peek through a window and read about its fascinating past.

The land itself dates back to 1842, when the Crystal Brook Run was established by William Younghusband and Peter Ferguson. Spanning an enormous 560 square miles, it stretched from the Flinders Ranges to the coast. Known for its fertile country, it was later purchased by the Bowman brothers in 1850 before being subdivided for closer settlement by 1873.

The original homestead, built in 1847, still stands in ruins within the park. Alongside it are remnants of station life—stone walls, gardens, stables, and workshops—now part of a state native fauna reserve. To our surprise, many of these buildings were open, with nothing to discourage entry. Naturally, curiosity got the better of us.

Wandering through these cold, silent stone structures—creaking floorboards beneath our feet, doors groaning on their hinges, and the occasional startled bird breaking the stillness—was equal parts fascinating and eerie. Being the only ones there only added to the atmosphere. That said, we’d definitely question the safety of some of these aging buildings.

The park itself is beautifully laid out, with an impressive adventure playground nestled among gardens showcasing native plants, trees, and cottage varieties. Informational signage shares insights into the local flora, and there’s even a section dedicated to South Australian native bees. But despite its charm, there are clear signs of neglect—an unfortunate reality for what must have once been a well-funded and thriving space.

The RV area, while spacious, sits under large gum trees, limiting solar—so we decided to move on.

A quick search on WikiCamps led us to Jamestown, where we pulled into the town’s RV park. It’s a fully self-contained setup, with permits available from the local supermarket—simple and convenient.

Nestled in the Mid North along Belalie Creek, Jamestown sits on the Crystal Brook–Broken Hill railway line, linking Adelaide, Perth, and Sydney. Established in 1871 and named after Sir James Fergusson, then Governor of South Australia, the town carries a strong Scottish influence—reflected in its street names.

Set against the backdrop of the southern Flinders Ranges, Jamestown is rich in agricultural history and proudly tied to the legacy of R.M. Williams. Though our stay was brief, we made the most of it with a long walk through town, checking out highlights like the R.M. Williams Monument and the surrounds of the Jamestown Railway Station Museum. One unexpected highlight was watching massive freight trains roll past just metres from where we were camped.

In true Unshackled style, the day wasn’t without its hiccups. While sitting in the car making calls and planning our next move, we somehow managed to flatten the battery. A quick jump-start got us going—or so we thought. Moments later, the car threw up an error code we couldn’t clear, even after following the manual.

Thankfully, luck was on our side. A local Toyota dealership had us sorted and back on the road in no time—another reminder that even the bumps in the road become part of the adventure.

** Tip: For the best viewing experience, click the YouTube link in the bottom left corner of the video to watch in higher clarity.