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When I arrived in Tasmania from France, I've heard about a train in a tree in an abandoned mining town on the West Coast.
So I went bushwalking with my family, tracking remains of civilisation in the wilderness, and found the carriage, but not on top of the tree, sitting as the biggest forest pot plant for few Australian Blackwood and ferns that had grown through the rusty structure.
From there we went on to explore other ghost towns in the area, former bustling communities that thrived through the copper mining boom but now lie dormant. Lake Margaret, Linda, Williamsford and Crotty, and then Gormanston, where we finally encountered people.
Previously a vibrant city with thousands of people, six pubs, seven hotels, a school and a swimming pool, Gormanston is now inhabited by eight permanents and thousands of rabbits.
Jenny, Mike, Shane, Taz and Beverley are all residents of Gormanston, some of them newly arrived, and some who have been around forever.
Featuring the voices of: Jenny, Mike, Taz Huxley, Shane Viper, Beverley Legge, Arjan Kok, Julia Drouhin, Emma Drouhin and Sanne Kok Drouhin.
Original music composed by Julia Drouhin and sound design by Simon Drouhin.
Completed at Ina GRM (Groupe de Recherches Musicales) Studio 116, Radio France in September 2013 and facilitated by the Phonurgia Nova Award 2012.
Credits
Producer and composer : Julia Drouhin, Sound Engineer : Angela Grant / Tim Symmonds, Supervising Producer : Miyuki Jokiranta
02.09.2016
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/archived/soundproof/ghost-track/7794724
Photo Arjan Kok