There’s something beautiful about seeing history brought back to life, and that’s exactly what’s happening in Eudunda, about an hour and a half from Adelaide. The town’s 1878 railway station, once a proud stop along the Morgan line, is about to get a second chance before crumbling.
The long-abandoned building has been rescued by locals Skye Howard and her husband, Chris Biacsi, who have taken on the enormous task of reviving it after decades of neglect. They are currently also restoring the old Eudunda Bank House.
“It wasn’t even for sale,” Skye says.
“We just asked the owners if they’d consider letting it go. It was fenced off and sitting empty, but we could see the potential straight away.”
The pair plan to transform the stone station into boutique tourist accommodation and a café.
“Eudunda has a few places to stay, but nothing with that high-end, heritage feel,” Skye says.
“We want guests to unwind, enjoy a glass of local wine under the stars, and wake up somewhere that still holds the stories of the past.”
The property sits on an acre of land with views of the nearby silo art, and the project has already sparked curiosity among locals walking the Lavender Trail. The café will serve light bites and coffee to travellers passing through.
“We’re keeping it small and simple,” Skye says.
“It’s not about competing with anyone already in town; it’s about adding something that complements what’s here.”
The building has endured a tough few decades, weathered by time and patched up by well-meaning hands.
“We’re replacing every piece of timber that’s been destroyed by white ants, but keeping it true to how it once was,” she says.
“We found the original plans in State Records, and the station at Morgan is almost identical, so that’s been a great reference.”
The couple have already discovered layers of history in the walls.
“Every time the station was extended, a different kind of stone was used,” Skye says. “Unfortunately, some sections were filled with concrete years ago. It’s eaten into the stone over time, but we’ll fix that. We just want to do it right.”
There’s even hope that some of the station’s missing pieces might one day return.
“Someone took the main doors years back,” she says.
“If anyone still has them, we’d love to buy them back. No questions asked. We’ve already found an original SAR clock, and that’ll go up when the restoration’s complete.”
The Eudunda Silos and Skye Howard
“We’re custodians of this place,” Skye says.
“It belongs to the community. I’d love to create a Friends of the Station group where locals can help care for different parts of it.”
It’s a ten-year plan that will see the roof replaced, the stonework restored, and the grounds turned into gardens where visitors can sit and watch the sunset.
“There’s a lot of excitement in town right now,” she says.
“New housing developments are coming, young families are moving in, and people are thinking about how to make Eudunda thrive again. We want to be part of that story.”
And just like that, a quiet relic on the main street is ready to whistle back into life — one stone, one memory, and one part of Skye and Chris’s dream at a time.
To find out more about the history and visit the GoFundMe page, click here.
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