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 Horrocks Highway (formerlyMain 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.

A Feasibility Study has been conducted which found that the project would need to be established in stages. 

This study outlines the steps to be taken and can be viewed at the Southern Flinders Discovery Centre, 14 Gladstone Street, Gladstone.

                                 Southern Flinders

                     Champagne, Steam and Saddle

                                  Trail Horse Ride 

                         Saturday,  September 24 2011 

                                                 to

                          Monday, October 3  2011 

This will be a slow paced ten day trail horse ride where participants can enjoy the beautiful farming scenery, the Southern Flinders Ranges, food, wine and camaraderi around a camp fire.

The focus on a ‘BLUE’ Day ride supported by the National Cancer Research Foundation will raise money for Prostate Cancer. The horses, the riders and the town of Gladstone will be “dressed up” in royal blue.  Day riders welcome.

Following a Community breakfast in the main street,  all riders will be handed a Certificate of Participation by the CEO of the National Cancer Research Foundation.  Once again, during the street parade,  when the horses are gathered in the caravan parking area, they  will be blessed by the Anglican Bishop prior to riding out on their journey to Laura.

Gladstone will be alive with festivities,  food and drink stalls, a  band and activities for all.

Specially stamped commemorative envelopes will be available to be carried in an official mail bag by horse-back to Quorn where the mailbag will then be placed on a carriage on the  Pichi Richi Steam Train. 

The first day’s ride ends at the North Laura Hotel for a gourmet pie luncheon  with a  glass of wine or beer.  A three-course dinner will follow in the evening with guest speakers telling about “their journey”.   A ‘BLUE’ Auction will complete the evening.  All proceeds to go to the National Cancer Research Foundation.

After another day’s ride to Stone Hut and a fun filled  Quiz Night, the riders head out to the Wirrabara Forest for three days riding in the spectacular mixed pine and eucalypt forest covering the hill sides of the area.  A Formal Three-course Dinner in the middle of the Wirrabara Forest at O’Reillys Country Table will round off this delightful section of the Southern Flinders before moving on to Wirrabara and Melrose for over night camps.

On Thursday 29th September, all riders, horses and back up personel will  drive to Quorn, set up camp at the Stock Yard Arena and have a ‘lay-day’ on Friday.  A two day camp out in more rugged country around Dutchman’s Stern is followed by the really exciting day’s activities on Monday 3rd October  of loading the horses on to the cattle trucks behind the  Pichi Richi Steam Train.  After a two hour journey through Pichi Richi Pass the horses are unloaded at Woolshed Flat and ridden back to base camp in Quorn.

Contact details for further information on The Southern Flinders Trail Horse Riding Club are:

                Email:                     sfthrc@y7mail.com

                Phone:                    Shan Daw              0409 026 333      

                                                 Kathy Webb        0412 644 665   

Gladstone Annual Art Exhibition.

The 2011 Art Exhibition came to a close with over 560 visitors viewing the exhibition over the four weeks of its opening.

This year there were 205 individual art works from local as well as State and Interstate artists, and the quality of the work was particularly pleasing.

In addition to the submitted entries, all of the Rocky River Schools provided a display of student art work which added further interest to the Exhibition.

Many visitors took in the Exhibition as part of the ‘Flinders Ranges: a Brush with Art’ programme,  following the art trail through the region.

Sales of work were a bit disappointing, but it can be understood given the current economic circumstances.

The exhibition was supervised daily by dedicated volunteers and their interest and time is greatly appreciated.

The 2012 Exhibition will open on Saturday 8th September next year and extend into the first week of October.   It is planned to retain the present exhibition format with the broad range of artistic endeavour being encouraged, so the Committee calls upon all artists to consider entering their work in 2012.

Persons wishing to receive direct notification and information by email can register their interest by sending their email address to:  sfdiscovery@gladstonesa.com.au

Award Winners 2011 Gladstone Art Exhibition.

Gladstone Community Service Club – Fine Art Prize.            $500

       Judy Elliott-Maddison.             Watercolour.  “Basket of Shells”

Bank SA – Photography Prize.                $150.

       Kate Millard.            “One Autumn Day”.

Gladstone Community – Fibre Art Prize.            $100.

        Nita Beard.     Bark picture.         “Miners Cottage, Andamooka”

Zander Builders  – Applied Art Prize.               $100

         Paul Smith.    Metal sculpture.         “Apocalyptic Steam Powered Arachnid”

Gladstone Community Service Club - Quilting Prize.                 $100.

         Ann Gillett.     Quilt.          “William Morris Friends”

Lions Club of Rocky River – Junior Encouragement Award.              2 Awards at $50 each.

         Julia Fox-Donovan.      Ebony Rodda.

Merit Certificates.           Awarded to works of special merit.

          Fine Art:                 Joan Hancock.       Gail Donovan.        Helen Pammenter.       John Zanker.

          Photography:         Susan Daw.     Paul Watson.

          Applied Art:            Kevin Clarke.     Alicia Piggott.

          Quilting:                       Lyn Duffy.      Ann Gillett.     Rocky River Stitch and Chat Group.

Quilt Challenge – Sponsored by Scratch @ Itch

         First prize:               Liz Collinge

         Second Prize:          Becca Tuckwell

         Third Prize:             Mary Martin

         High Commendation:             Sue Olds.     Gabriella Rowe.

The GCDTA Panorama Committee wishes to thank
the sponsors who supported this year’s Exhibition 
and invite them to be part of the 2012 Gladstone Art Exhibition.