Beyond the Black Stump, an
apocryphal Australian
locale, is the furthest any Australian person can go in this
Wide Brown Land.
"Black Stump" refers to a burnt tree stump, which is a strong icon in the Australian experience, usually standing for "desolation". Imagining a place beyond that black stump conjurs up images of desert and scrub, unpopulated, flat, dry and hot.
"Cheryl wanted me to meet her parents, but mate, they live way out beyond the black stump."