Pluto Belt

November, 2014

The Migaloo Mountains, one of the primary obstacles braved by this continent's colonisers, remain, despite their resinous appeal, largely aloof to the world outside. The permanent residents are of course of the opinion this should not and likely will not change. Stunted enough already is the economic situation, catering to daytime visitors, passers-by and watchers of rare birds. The number of winter-inhabited bungalows lined along the roads near Destiny Point have reached so great a height of unsustainability that, eight months every year, whole streets lie empty. Granted, this is not without its silver lining in that those "in the know" get free use of many vacant driveways - a privilege not insignificant during weekends when the "Sydneyites invade". The catch however is that while appearing to outside perception fairly thriving, the townships within the area worthy of such title are in truth still minor settlements, overwhelmed by a skewered investment market. The mountain folks' dependence on an insufficient promise like that of a sad but patient wife, hopeful every time her husband loses work and promises to do better next time, really next time, next time after that. Ad infinitum ...  

In short, to strip away the winter-people, tour buses, school excursions, hikers, hunters, hipsters from the lowland who extol the cafes, quirky shops and indigenous art, your towns of Guradaramu, Fetherstone and Plover's Point are still just sleepy halfway haunts where bushman once would spend a night, ensconced in homely tavern smoke, before their journey home upon the inland plains. 

Hardly special in the greater scheme of things, any one of these towns mentioned suffers the same fate as many in the mountainous regions of North America and Europe. Like the ski country of Kosciusko in summer, there is something alien about the area when not tainted grey or white in winter's cosy gloom. For this reason, from November through May, only the most generous small-business owners keep more than a couple employees working. 

Those of the Migaloo Mountains, so coveted their tranquil existence in concept if not actuality, need and yet resent those hailing from outside their bohemian bubble, which, throughout the coming years, will be, like even the world's furthest corners, subject to the changing world that ravishes like fire.