The Flinders Ranges
The Flinders Ranges is the largest mountain range in South Australia, which starts approximately 366 km (227 mi) north of Adelaide. The discontinuous ranges stretch for over 430 km (270 mi) from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna.
Sedimentary rocks were lifted and folded to form the mountain range about 540 million years ago.
The fossilized remains of what is thought to have been the first life form on earth were discovered in 1946. There are several sites where the fossils are located, but details have not been released in order to protect the important finds.
Sedimentary rocks were lifted and folded to form the mountain range about 540 million years ago.
The fossilized remains of what is thought to have been the first life form on earth were discovered in 1946. There are several sites where the fossils are located, but details have not been released in order to protect the important finds.
Wilpena Pound
Wilpena Pound is a natural amphitheatre of mountains in the heart of the Flinders Ranges National Park, The Pound covers nearly 80 square kilometres (31 sq mi), and contains the Flinders Range's highest peak, St Mary Peak of 1170 metres.
Wilpena Pound is a natural amphitheatre of mountains in the heart of the Flinders Ranges National Park, The Pound covers nearly 80 square kilometres (31 sq mi), and contains the Flinders Range's highest peak, St Mary Peak of 1170 metres.
Bond's Chalet:
The Bond’s Scenic Motor Tours Company operated coach tours from Adelaide in winter and spring from the 1930s. There are photos from the early to mid-1930s showing Bond buses in front of the chalet. But some sources say it was 1948 before the building seen in this photo was completed. Photo : January 1951
Quorn
The railway arrived from Port Augusta at Quorn, at the southern end of the Flinders Ranges, in1879.
The stone and brick station building (seen above) was built in 1916 to replace an original timber station.
When this photo was taken in January 1951, the station was still serving the Central Australia Railway.
However in 1956 a new main line was opened west of the Flinders Ranges, and activity waned at Quorn until a railway preservation society started a tourist railway between the town and the Pichi Richi Pass.
Quorn Railway Station played a major role during World War Two as a staging post for the movement of troops and supplies to and from Darwin.
The stone and brick station building (seen above) was built in 1916 to replace an original timber station.
When this photo was taken in January 1951, the station was still serving the Central Australia Railway.
However in 1956 a new main line was opened west of the Flinders Ranges, and activity waned at Quorn until a railway preservation society started a tourist railway between the town and the Pichi Richi Pass.
Quorn Railway Station played a major role during World War Two as a staging post for the movement of troops and supplies to and from Darwin.
Pichi Richi Pass
Horrock's Pass
Horrocks Pass is in the southern Flinders Ranges, about 6 kilometres west of the town of Wilmington.
Horrocks Highway travels through the pass between Port Augusta and Wilmington.
It is named after John Horrocks who travelled through the area with his party in August 1846 during his ill-fated exploration of land north of Spencer Gulf.
At the top of the pass is a lookout and monument to Horrocks and his party.
Horrocks died from gangrene a month after he was accidentally shot by his own rifle while hunting.
Horrocks Highway travels through the pass between Port Augusta and Wilmington.
It is named after John Horrocks who travelled through the area with his party in August 1846 during his ill-fated exploration of land north of Spencer Gulf.
At the top of the pass is a lookout and monument to Horrocks and his party.
Horrocks died from gangrene a month after he was accidentally shot by his own rifle while hunting.
Port Germein Pass
The Whyalla Water Pipeline
The town of Whyalla was established early in the 1900s as a base for iron ore mining.
By 1937 it was evident that an assured water supply was essential for the town’s continued growth.
By 1937 it was evident that an assured water supply was essential for the town’s continued growth.
Construction of the pipeline (photos above and below taken on 24 January 1951) started in 1940 and was completed in 1944.
Water is taken from the Murray River at Morgan and the pipeline route is via Hanson, Spalding, Helshaby and Port Augusta.
The water passes through the Morgan Water Treatment Plant , and four pumping stations are needed to transport it along the 379 kilometres to Whyalla.
Water is taken from the Murray River at Morgan and the pipeline route is via Hanson, Spalding, Helshaby and Port Augusta.
The water passes through the Morgan Water Treatment Plant , and four pumping stations are needed to transport it along the 379 kilometres to Whyalla.
Whyalla shipyards
As war clouds began to gather, the Whyalla shipbuilding yards were started in 1939 and took their first order from the Royal Australian Navy in June 1940. The keel was laid in July while the yards were still being built.
The corvette HMAS Whyalla was launched on 12 May 1941.
Another three corvettes were built for the Navy in quick succession,Kalgoorlie, Gawler and Pirie, and were were all completed that year.
More naval ships were built during World War Two , and with war’s end the yard continued to build ships , mainly large bulk ore carriers and oil tankers.
In the late 1950s the Whyalla shipyards adopted all-welded construction and this produced even bigger ships.
Fierce competition from Japanese ship builders resulted in the closing of the shipyards in 1978, which at the time were the largest in Australia.
In all, some 64 ships were built between 1940 and 1978.
The corvette HMAS Whyalla was launched on 12 May 1941.
Another three corvettes were built for the Navy in quick succession,Kalgoorlie, Gawler and Pirie, and were were all completed that year.
More naval ships were built during World War Two , and with war’s end the yard continued to build ships , mainly large bulk ore carriers and oil tankers.
In the late 1950s the Whyalla shipyards adopted all-welded construction and this produced even bigger ships.
Fierce competition from Japanese ship builders resulted in the closing of the shipyards in 1978, which at the time were the largest in Australia.
In all, some 64 ships were built between 1940 and 1978.
Flinders Memorial
The arch honours famous British navigator and explorer, Matthew Flinders who made the first recorded visit to the area by a European.
An exploration party from his ship “ Investigator" climbed Mount Brown in March 1802.
The Arch was unveiled on Pioneers Day ( 28 April ) 1948 by the then Mayor of Port Augusta, Mr L.G. Riches, MP, ‘as a fitting memorial to an adventurous spirit to whom Australia owed a great deal’.
The archway is sited overlooking Spencer Gulf and Mount Brown both named by Matthew Flinders, and with a view of the Flinders Ranges named in his honour.
The Historical Memorial Committee of the Royal Geographical Society was largely responsible for the construction of the memorial.
A plaque attached to the arch reads
Matthew Flinders RN
(1774-1814)
Commander of H.M. Sloop ‘Investigator’
discovered, surveyed and named Spencer Gulf
February – March 1802. In a cutter he
reached the head of the Gulf 11th March.
He named Curlew Point
and
Mounts Brown and Arden.
Unveiled Pioneers Day April 1948
An exploration party from his ship “ Investigator" climbed Mount Brown in March 1802.
The Arch was unveiled on Pioneers Day ( 28 April ) 1948 by the then Mayor of Port Augusta, Mr L.G. Riches, MP, ‘as a fitting memorial to an adventurous spirit to whom Australia owed a great deal’.
The archway is sited overlooking Spencer Gulf and Mount Brown both named by Matthew Flinders, and with a view of the Flinders Ranges named in his honour.
The Historical Memorial Committee of the Royal Geographical Society was largely responsible for the construction of the memorial.
A plaque attached to the arch reads
Matthew Flinders RN
(1774-1814)
Commander of H.M. Sloop ‘Investigator’
discovered, surveyed and named Spencer Gulf
February – March 1802. In a cutter he
reached the head of the Gulf 11th March.
He named Curlew Point
and
Mounts Brown and Arden.
Unveiled Pioneers Day April 1948
Port Pirie
The Mighty Murray
Murray River Lock at Blanchetown, South Australia. Photo 29 January 1951.
Named the W. R. Randell Lock , it is the first lock on the Murray River. At normal flows, the river level below the lock is 0.75 metres and above the lock is 3.3 metres.The day this photo was taken, we croseed the Murray River on a Punt which operated from1869 until 1963, when a bridge was opened.