The first Limina conference in 2006 focussed on Australia’s coastal zone, the beach, as a liminal space. In contrast, Boom and Bust argues that Australia’s real liminal spaces are to be found inland, in the desert. Although these areas are geographically dominant, covering about seventy per cent of the continent, the semi-arid zone is home to relatively few Australians and as a result, it has often been neglected in mainstream discussions of the Australian environment.