railway close to the station. While most of Hawker remained simply pegged-out blocks of bluebush, the 'top end' of the town, where business activity was concentrated, must have been as animated as an ant colony. Hammering could be heard all day long for initially all of the buildings were of wood and iron. There was keen competition to be first with any business service to the public. Constantly teams of horses, bullocks, donkeys, and even camels converged upon, or radiated from, the town, raising the dust in that dry year of 1880." Heritage listings Hawker has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: 20 Cradock Road: St Philip and St James Catholic Church Hawker-Wilpena Road: Mount Desire Dyke Wonoka-Hawker Road: Hawker railway station 1885 Hawker Dam Economy The main economic activities in the area are tourism and pastoral runs of sheep and increasingly cattle. Due to the arid environment, the stocking rates are low, at about one sheep per three to four hectares. Hawker is south of Wilpena Pound, a unique natural dish-shaped range of hills popular with tourists, as well as the spectacular scenery of the Flinders Ranges. Tourism In late May, Hawker Racing Club holds its annual Thoroughbred horse racing meeting, which includes the Hawker Cup and attracts many people from the surrounding area. Climate Hawker has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cool winters. Rainfall is very sparse throughout the year, but more reliable in the winter months. See also Hawker (disambiguation) References External links Official Hawker website Flinders Ranges website – Hawker Aussie Towns – Hawker Towns in South Australia Flinders Ranges Far North (South Australia)