The area on the unused railway land on the eastern side of Gladstone Street in Gladstone, South Australia, is currently being developed into usable public space for the benefit of the local community and the touring public. To date the area contains long vehicle parking and a children’s playground.
The Gladstone Community Development and Tourism Association Incorporated and the Northern Areas Council propose to develop the Southern Flinders Panorama and Discovery Centre on this area to ensure an economically sustainable future for Gladstone, and provide an asset that will bring benefits to the whole of the Southern Flinders Ranges region.
The Southern Flinders Panorama will be a 360° panoramic painting, to scale, of the view as seen from the ‘The Bluff’, in the heart of the Southern Flinders Ranges. It will be 18 metres in diameter and 6 metres high and take in the industrial town of Port Pirie, Spencer Gulf across the sea to Whyalla, the west coast, and the flat mostly treeless plains on the western side of the range. Contrasting will be the wooded ranges of the Wirrabara Forest, the undulating cereal and grazing country of the mid north, with views to the east towards Jamestown and Orroroo, north to Mount Remarkable, into the pastoral country and the Willochra plains.
The artist will be internationally acclaimed panorama artist, Jeff Morgan, who is recognised for his fine art technique.
Jeff Morgan painted the Wilpena Panorama throughout 2003/04 in his gallery at Hawker, South Australia. International acclaim has seen Jeff travel the world viewing and researching panorama paintings, and he has been a keynote speaker at two international panorama conferences. Out of seventy (70) recognised panorama paintings world-wide, there are only three (3) in Australia, with the Wilpena Panorama only one of a few in the world to be painted to scale.
The development of the Southern Flinders Panorama will see two world-class panorama paintings in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia, both very different. The Southern Flinders landscape has not been painted to this scale before and the painting will be three times as large as the painting at Hawker. Jeff’s technique has vastly improved so the finished product will be far superior to his earlier work.
The co-location of the Southern Flinders Discovery Centre with regional tourism information, free internet access, regional produce and local art and craft within the building complex, will create one venue to offer opportunities to those visiting the Southern Flinders Panorama. The panorama will be community owned providing numerous opportunities for administration by local volunteers and school students undertaking tourism and retail subjects.
Geographically, Gladstone is situated on the Main North Road at the southern gateway to the Flinders Ranges. The panorama will be a significant icon for Gladstone, fitting into a world-wide niche market and giving visitors a unique opportunity to add to their Flinders Ranges experience. At the same time the boost to the economy will be most beneficial for whole regional area.
Funding sources are being researched with the community setting a target of contribution towards the project. Fundraising is already producing positive results.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
An OPPORTUNITY exists for those reading this to CONTRIBUTE to the PROJECT through SPONSORSHIP, DONATION or LOAN.
We welcome your support for this significant project for our community, the region, and ultimately, the State of South Australia.
Please contact:
Southern Flinders Panorama and Discovery Centre Project Committee
PO Box 1, Gladstone. South Australia. 5473