Ruins of Ryan's Well

Category: Historic

Ryans Well Historical reserve is about 7km south on the east side of the Stuart Hwy. Nearby Ryans Well was dug in the 1800s by Ned and Jerry Ryan, well diggers commissioned to construct a number of wells along the Overland Telegraph line.

In 1914 the Nicker family settled at Ryan’s Well when their dray collapsed on route north. They built a home of mulgar and clay, naming it Glen Maggie after their youngest child. Later a stone residence was built and operated as the telegraph office. It was a stock watering point along the route and charges were made to access their 10,000 gallon tank. The Nicker family left in 1930 because of illness.