Day 117 Port Germein

Today we drove to Port Germein a quiet seaside town on the eastern shore of the Spencer Gulf, famous for having one of the longest wooden jetties in the Southern Hemisphere. It opened in 1881 and was extended to 1,680 metres in 1883 to allow ships to load local wheat, later being shortened to about 1.5 kilometres after storm damage. The jetty and adjacent railway sheds are listed on the South Australian Heritage Register and the site once supported a lighthouse.

Sculptures by local artist Max Newbery are located beside the jetty.








The Port Germein Lighthouse is a historic white octagonal cast-iron tower located on the foreshore. Built in 1894 to replace an offshore lightship that previously guided grain and sailing ships in Germein Bay. Originally stood at the end of the landmark Port Germein wooden jetty. Manned by keepers until July 1917, when it was replaced by an automatic flashing AGA light.



The Port Germein Tide Clock is a historic, giant clock-faced tidal gauge. Built around 1800, it originally stood out in shallow water near the shipping channels to indicate water depth so tall sailing ships would not run aground on the sand. The large clock-style face was historically back-lit by oil or gas lamps so incoming vessels could read the depth at night. It used an internal chain mechanism connected to external levers and pulleys that moved with the rise and fall of the tide. The gauge was moved onshore and is now preserved as a heritage attraction.




We then joined the Port Germein Gorge Road, a fantastic little scenic drive up through the Southern Flinders via Bangor. The countryside is just so beautiful, so green and fully of blooms and flowers.








We stopped at Wirrabara for lunch and we went for a walk along the creek to see the sculptures. The Viterra Silos in Wirrabara underwent an extraordinary transformation in October 2018, thanks to the immense talent and vision of artist Smug. These towering structures, standing 28 meters high, became the canvas for Smug’s artistic interpretation, a process that spanned over three weeks of detailed and dedicated work. The finished product now proudly features the likeness of Dion Lebrun, a local resident from Tumby Bay, who was handpicked by Smug to represent the essence of a quintessential South Australian farmer. Resting on his shoulder is a Robin Red Breast, a subtle yet meaningful detail that symbolizes the harmonious bond between man and nature.











We drove on to King Tree Paddock a protected native forest reserve located within the Wirrabara Forest Reserve in the Southern Flinders Ranges. The paddock is named after the ancient King Tree, an iconic and massive River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) estimated to be around 400 years old. The giant tree stands roughly 35.5 to 36.5 meters tall with a base circumference of over 11 meters.










We drove through Laura a picturesque historic country town nestled in the heart of the Southern Flinders Ranges, featuring heritage stone buildings and one of the widest main streets in the state. Completed in 1878 as a "Court of Summary Jurisdiction" served by local justices of the peace or visiting magistrates rather than a full judge. The Union Bank buidling formerly housing the Union Bank branch during the town's early 20th-century development. The prominent sculpture is a twice life-size copper statue of C.J. Dennis, the famous Australian poet and writer who spent his youth in the town.






We continued driving to the Ray Cummings Lookout for amazing scenic views.