The Salty Story of Murray Sunset's Pink Lakes: From Camels to Conservation

Nestled in the remote western corner of Victoria, the Pink Lakes of the Murray-Sunset National Park are a breathtaking natural wonder — but beneath their shimmering, blush-hued surfaces lies a rich and unexpected history of industry, resilience, and transformation.

A Vision in Pink — and Salt

Long before the area became known for eco-tourism and outback serenity, the Pink Lakes were a thriving center for salt extraction. The lakes — most notably Lake Crosbie, Lake Becking, and Lake Kenyon — get their distinct pink color from the presence of a red algae called Dunaliella Salina, which thrives in the salty water and produces beta-carotene. But in the early 20th century, it wasn’t the color that drew people — it was the salt.

1916: Ebenezer Jones and the Beginning of an Era

It all began in 1916 with a determined man named Ebenezer Jones, who became the first to commercially harvest salt from the Pink Lakes. Armed with little more than shovels and wheelbarrows, Jones manually gathered crystallized salt from the lake beds, setting in motion what would become a decades-long industry.

Jones's efforts quickly caught attention, and it wasn’t long before larger operations moved in to capitalize on the abundance of natural salt in the region.

1922: Steam, Salt, and the Sailor Salt Co.

By 1922, the Sailor Salt Company was operating a narrow 2-foot gauge tramway to improve the transportation of salt from the lakes to the nearby rail siding at Linga. The tramway, a novel innovation in such a remote location, offered new promise — but harsh conditions and maintenance difficulties proved too much.

1927: Return of the Camels

Just five years later, in 1927, the company turned back the clock and reintroduced camels to haul the salt. These hardy animals had once served explorers and pastoralists in the outback and were once again vital to an unforgiving landscape. For years, teams of camels plodded across the salt flats, dragging loaded sleds across the dry crust.

WWII: A War-Time Boom

During World War II, the demand for salt surged due to its use in food preservation, tanning leather, and other industrial purposes essential to the war effort. To meet the demand, camel trains were retired in favor of motorized road haulage, which could handle greater volumes with increased speed and efficiency. The Pink Lakes became a small but important contributor to Australia's wartime logistics.

Decline and End of an Era

Salt production continued into the early 1970s, when it became increasingly uneconomical to extract salt from such a remote location. Competition from larger-scale operations elsewhere, combined with improved refrigeration and changing technologies, led to the end of extraction.

By 1982, the final grazing lease in the area expired, marking the end of a chapter in the region’s working history.

1991: A Protected Landscape

In 1991, the Pink Lakes were formally incorporated into the Murray-Sunset National Park, one of Victoria's largest national parks. Today, visitors can walk among the remnants of salt harvesting equipment, view old tramway relics, and imagine what life must have been like for pioneers like Ebenezer Jones.

The transformation from industrial site to protected wilderness is a powerful reminder of how landscapes evolve — and how human ingenuity and resilience leave their mark.

Visit the Past — and the Pink

The Pink Lakes are not just a scenic stop; they're a living museum. Whether you're walking the Lake Crosbie loop, camping under the stars, or photographing the surreal, color-shifting waters, you’re stepping into a history that includes camel teams, war-time logistics, and one man’s dream with a shovel.

Out and about in Sunraysia? Be sure to include the Pink Lakes on your itinerary — and take a moment to stand where Ebenezer Jones once stood, surrounded by salt, sun, and the wide open sky.