Day 118 Country Drive

Today we went for a country drive. Our first town to see was Gladstone nestled in the Rocky River Valley at the southern end of the beautiful Flinders Ranges. It boasts a rich history linked to farming, railways, and the historic Gladstone Gaol. Once a major railway junction, it's now home to Australia's largest inland grain facility.






Gladstone station opened in 1876 when a line opened from Port Pirie in the west, it was later extended east to Peterborough and ultimately Broken Hill. In 1888, a line was built north to Laura and ultimately Wilmington. When the Hamley Bridge line from Balaklava in the south reached Gladstone in 1894, it became a four-way junction station. All were built as narrow gauge lines.

In 1927, the line from the south was converted to broad gauge, making Gladstone a break of gauge station. As part of the standardisation project, the line between Port Augusta and Broken Hill was converted to standard gauge in 1969, thus Gladstone became a junction for three gauges.




We drove through Laura again today as we did yesterday however on different roads. C. J. Dennis was born in Auburn, South Australia. His father owned hotels in Auburn, and then later in Gladstone and Laura.
Statue in the main street depicts a family group with a very young Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis.






This historic building is the former J.F. Roennfeldt Saddlery, Harness, and Collar Maker shop and residence. A prominent local saddler and served as the Mayor of Laura in the early 20th century.



Melrose is the oldest town in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. The town was once named "Mount Remarkable". The town is known for its proximity to Mount Remarkable and the surrounding National Park. The North Star Hotel Melrose is the oldest licensed hotel in the Flinders Ranges.








Wilmington the town was first named "Beautiful Valley" by early pioneers in the 1850s. It later became a key stopover for horse-drawn wagons carrying grain and wool.





Quorn became an important railway centre after the Great Northern Railway opened in 1879. Building the line started at Port Augusta in August 1878.










the next town was Orroroo the name is traditionally believed to derive from an Indigenous onomatopoeia imitating the wind blowing through acacia trees, or from the Ngadjuri term 'Oorooroo', potentially meaning "rendezvous of the magpie".

This magnificent Giant River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) is estimated to be over 500 years old, making it a true survivor of Australia's harsh and changing landscapes. With an impressive circumference of more than 10 metres and a towering trunk that rises over 6 metres before branching, the tree is a remarkable example of natural resilience and beauty.

Often nicknamed the "Widow Maker" due to its tendency to shed large limbs, this ancient giant commands both respect and admiration. Its twisting trunk, weathered bark and expansive canopy create a striking visual experience.



1896 Rock Poem. Two Poems were carved in the rockface by a local boy D McDonald in a secluded gully. The latter of these poems, carved in 1901, was a sentimental expression of farewell to the district. The author was departing for America, where he hoped to exploit his invention of a chainless pushbike. It was the father of “Roland Nutt” one of the friends mentioned in the poem who erected the former Yatina Hotel, visible for many miles on the Orroroo–Jamestown Road (this old two storey hotel was built in the 1870’s when it was incorrectly anticipated that the Northern Railway would pass by, but proved a boon to early teamsters).




Tank Hill Lookout water is gravitated from the concrete tank at the "lookout" to the town. From the tank an excellent view is obtained over the artesian basin in the valley of the Walloway plain, the reservoir and the township of Orroroo.









Magnetic Hill, a giant magnet that sits on Magnetic Hill it has often been speculated as the reason why 'gravity reverses'. Park your car at the bottom of the hill, put it in neutral and feel it roll UPHILL. An optical illusion I am sure but a bit of fun.