the port augusta to government gums railway began in 1878 when premier of south australia, william jervois, broke ground at port augusta. the line reached hawker in june 1880, beltana in july 1881, marree in january 1884, and oodnadatta in january 1891. in 1926 work began to build the line to alice springs. and that section was completed in 1929. until then, the final part of the train journey was made by camel.