A sign that greets you as enter the town of Parachilna in the Flinders Ranges, gives you the Adnyamathanha peoples original name for the location as Varratyalinha. The word means Dead Finish Splinter – dead finish is the plant species Acacia Tetragonophylla. Another theory is that the Nukunu people lived in this area and referred to it as ‘patajilnda’ meaning peppermint gum trees, but little is known of the traditional owners who were dispossessed of their country from 1849, and much of their language has been lost. Sadly this is all that is recorded for this particular area as any other connections to traditional or dreaming stories has been lost over time.
Category Archives: Indigenous Australia
Quorn Caravan Park
The Quorn Caravan Park is a very neat and tidy park to stay in on a trip to the Flinders Ranges and especially if you are in town to see the Quorn Silo Light Show. Quorn is seen as the gateway to the Southern Flinders Ranges and rock wallaby statues greet you as you enter town.
A Memorial to the Legendary Tracker Jimmy James
Anyone living in South Australia in the 1950s and onwards will probably be aware of stories of the remarkable aboriginal man, Jimmy James and his incredible work as a tracker. Over a period of more than 30 years, his amazing abilities to read the bush helped in the capture of 40 criminals and the rescue of 10 people lost in the bush. In a fitting tribute you can now visit a memorial known as ‘A special Place for Jimmy James’, on the banks of the Murray River at Berri and learn more about this remarkable man.
Berri Street Art and Water Tower Lookout
Berri is most notable for being a citrus growing region in South Australia with the Murray River that it sits on, playing a major role in the success of the town. There are 3000 hectares of orchards around the town and it was where the Berri fruit juice company originated.
The Bluff and Kings Beach Victor Harbor
The Bluff in Victor Harbor is a well-known landmark at the headland of Encounter Bay and was once the site of a whaling station. These days it’s still a favourite location to spot whales but thankfully now it’s just to enjoy seeing these giant creatures who come to these waters to rear their young during winter. To get the best vantage point, a walking trail to the summit will get your heart pumping but if you take a break here and there to stop and admire the view it’s worth the uphill effort. This point of land is named Rosetta Head or Kungkingguwar by the local Ramindjeri -Ngarrindjeri people.
Public Mosaic Art in South Australia
There are all types of public art you can find in your travels in South Australia from wall murals, to huge, impressive, silo paintings and colourful mosaics. Unknowingly I have been finding mosaic works by a particular artist over a few years and didn’t know they were by the same person until I looked into my latest find at Clayton Bay.
