Navigating the Covid Maze August 2020

 INNES NATIONAL PARK & INNESTON SETTLEMENT Blog 3

( Yorke Peninsula South Australia August 2020 )

Nestled amongst the magical coastal environment of Innes National Park at the bottom of Yorke Peninsula is the rustic historical village of Inneston. 

Inneston was founded on gypsum, with the gypsum mine established in 1913. The gypsum was transported by Clydesdale Hores drawn rail wagons initially on wooden tracks over the six kilometre journey to Stenhouse Bay where it was loaded and shipped to Melbourne for processing. From 1916 the Gypsum was processed on site increasing the settlements population to 150. The processed Gypsum (plaster) continued to be 'railed' to Stenhousde Bay in 160 lb bags for shipment to Adelaide.

Over the years the wooden rail track was undermined by white ants causing numerous derailments so the timber rails were replaced with steel and the horses replaced by small steam locomotives.

For those who can remember school chalk should connect 'Bellco' as the name of the chalk in schools Australia wide and from 1922 to 1930 this chalk was produced at Inneston. Bellco chalk was a subsidary of the gypsum mine which was a Victorian enterprise owned by Messers Bell, Innes and Stenhouse.  The  gypsum and chalk operation was dicontinued in the depression of the 1930's with Bellco chalk continuing it's operations from Mayibyrnong in Melbourne. The chalk at Inneston was produced in a shed no bigger than a domestic garage and coloured chalk residue can be seen in the ground around the shed. 

The settlement and Innes National Park  are well worth a visit and many and varied accommodation options are available including at the settlement in restored houses and the Post Office. Information can be found on the SA Parks website.

 Bay old gypsum wharf infrastructure Stenhouse

Stenhouse Bay Jetty

Entering the Park from Stenhouse Bay. Magnificent views of the South Coast.

Our accommodation for 3 nights in the restored Inneston Post Office

Scenes of old Inneston

Walking the 13 Km return old rail corridor from Inneston to Stenhouse Bay

Local inhabitants

                                                                     Coastal Flora

Plenty of beauty to behold in your own backyard.

NAVIGATING THE COVID MAZE - JUNE 2020

 OVERSEAS CANCELLATIONS = LOCAL TRAVEL Blog 2

Within a short time after our arrival home from Cairns our International Borders were shut with severe restrictions on coming into and out off the country. We were planning and had pre booked  our next overseas trip to Ireland the UK and Europe for the mid year. After navigating the cancellations we decided to embark on a road trip to Darwin, across to Broome, Perth, Esperance and Eyre Peninsular planning for the same dates as the overseas trip. No sooner had I started planning the shutters came down on the NT & WA borders. Luckily I had only booked to Darwin via Uluru. More cancellations. Over this period Covid was playing havoc across the nation and closer to home our neighbouring area of the Barossa Valley fell victim to a major cluster thus being declared a 'Hotspot'. Sadly a death resulted from this outbreak. All was put on hold and with Ngaire working locally in aged care and me working in the cluster zone, apart from work, we were on tight restrictions Fortunately the all clear was given after 28 days of no new cases so back to planning.

With interstate borders closed local travel was on the agenda. Destination, the Flinders ranges & Tumby Bay (Eastern Eyre Peninsula) June 2020.

                                              Rawnsley Park

Rawnsley Park Station  was a sheep station situated in the Flinders Ranges on the southern edge of Wilpena Pound. The owners first ventured into tourism in 1968 combining cabin accommodation with sheep shearing demonstrations. The tourism venture developed to the point whereby today it is the sole operation offering 3 levels of cabin accommodation, eco lodges and caravan and camping. The old shearing shed is now the restaurant. We first stayed here over 10 years ago and noticed the expansion on this, our second visit.

Rawnsley was our base to explore the Northern Flinders and venturing as far as Maree, a once important stop on the old narrow gauge Ghan line to Alice Springs and the Junction of the start of the Birdsville and Oodnadatta tracks.

Entrance to Rawnsley Park

Rawnsley Park from the surrounding range

Hiking & Views at Rawnsley Park

The Northern Flinders, Farina & Maree

Farina

 Farina was settled by optimistic farmers in 1878 and was the railhead from Pt Augusta for the transportation of produce out and supplies and equipment for the town. The line was eventually extended to Maree and then to Alice Springs with the passenger service known famously as the 'Ghan'.  The town is being resurrected by a dedicated band of volunteers and is located just south of Maree. Worth the visit.

The old water tower for the steam engines, rail yard and station building on the right.

The Old Maree Station & 1950's English NSU Locomotives

Tumby Bay - Eyre Peninsula

Tumby Bay is a picturesque small fishing and tourist town 50km east of Port Lincoln. 

We have visited Tumby Bay on two previous occasions and decided to incorporate it on this trip. 

Silo Art

Street Murals

Au revoir