Gladstone, SA

Southern Flinders Panorama and Discovery Centre

margarbon — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:24:56 +0000

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

Trail Horse Ride 2010

margarbon — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 07:18:32 +0000

World renowned artist, Jeff Morgan, who has painted to scale, the Wilpena Panorama at his gallery in Hawker, has agreed to paint the proposed Southern Flinders Panorama in Gladstone, South Australia.

Following the success of the Trail Horse Ride from Gladstone to Hawker in 2009 to support this proposed project, a further trail ride is being organised for 2010.

Southern Flinders Champagne Trail Horse Ride

Another special ATHRA event

17th - 21st September 2010

The ’Southern Flinders Champagne Trail Horse Ride’ is a slow paced horse ride where you can enjoy the beautiful farming scenery, the Southern Flinders Ranges and warm spring weather.

The emphasis is on locally grown food and wine, from gourmet steaks and saltbush lamb, to Spencer Gulf prawns and Golden North ice-cream ‘to taste’ before buying your double cone. The region has a growing reputation for fine wines, and our local wineries will have wines on display.

Each night there will be entertainment in the form of an Auction at Laura, a Quiz Night at Stone Hut, a Formal Three-course Dinner in Wirrabara Forest and a Red Faces Night for all participants on the final night. On the last day we will indulge in fresh Spencer Gulf Prawns and Champagne outside the Wirrabara Hotel before departure.

This is an opportunity for horse riders to be feted and indulged in South Australia.

If succesful, this ride will become an annual event.

The experience begins at Gladstone on Thursday 16th September with a gourmet BBQ.

A community breakfast will be held in the main street on Friday morning at 8.30am followed by a grand parade through the street to farewell the participants.

The ride moves from Gladstone onto Laura, Stone Hut, Wirrabara Forest (2 Days) and Wirrabara township with activities over the next five days and most meals being provided.

The ride concludes with a ‘Stirrup Cup’ Luncheon at Wirrabara on Tuesday 21st September.

COST:                  Riders/Drivers (cart friendly)                                   $250.00
                             Partners &/or backup                                                    $180.00
                                               – many places of interest and 4×4 driving
                             One day riders  (includes evening meal)                   $50.00

For further details, a copy of the Itinerary or Registration form.

Contact:

Shan Daw 0409 026 333 Email: shandaw2010@hotmail.com
or John Arbon 08) 8662 2049

Horse Events in the Southern Flinders Region

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010

For a copy of the Itinerary and Registration form contact the following people:

September 11^th & 12^th Team Penning Competition at Quorn
Contact: Vanessa Clancey or Melissa Bowley mob 0419 031 111 email info@rangesfs.com.au

September 17^th to 21^st                 Southern Flinders Champagne Trail Horse Ride
Contact:         Shan Daw            mob 0409 026 333           email    shandaw2010@hotmail.com
                           or                John Arbon             ph 08 8662 2049

September 25^th & 26^th Northern Trail Riders Broughton River Ride, Spalding
Contact: Tracey Wostikow mob 0412 058 092 email wostikow@rbe.net.au

October 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th                    Stockyard Arena Three Day Trail Ride
Contact:          Vanessa Clancey or Melissa Bowley        mob 0419 031 111     email: info@rangesfs.com.au
                             Postal            Box 2081, Pt Augusta, 5700

“Real Outback Rides” by Appointment
Contact: Jane Farger ph 8648 4895 email prairiehotel@bigpond.com
Postal CBM 109, Hawker, 5434

Railways

margarbon — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:23:28 +0000

Gladstone’s heritage is closely linked to the railways.

Gladstone developed rapidly with the arrival of the railway in 1877. When Port Pirie became the main Spencer Gulf Port, the railway was built to transport grain from the fast expanding agricultural areas to the east. Subsequently the narrow gauge (3′6″) was extended through Jamestown to Peterborough, and north from Gladstone to Wilmington. This also allowed out of town students to attend Gladstone High School, albeit for only a few hours, as the railway timetables were not compatible with school hours. The last narrow gauge to be closed was the line to Wilmington in 1982.

Broad gauge (5′3″) was laid from Hamley Bridge to Gladstone in 1927 to allow goods to be transported from Adelaide. Transhipping then became necessary to shift goods from the broad gauge to the narrow gauge wagons. Passenger trains to and from Adelaide were also introduced.

1969 saw the standard gauge (4′81/2″) completed. Gladstone, Port Pirie & Peterborough all had the three (3) gauges, but Gladstone was unique in that no other railway satation yard had the three (3) gauges interlaid together within the one area (siding).

Progressively facilities were withdrawn, buildings dismantled and rail lines and point systems were removed, with the railway station being officially closed in 1991.

Today various trains still use the standard gauge line, but the largest use is for the transportation of lead and zinc from Broken Hill to Port Pirie.

Over 80 train movements are witnessed through Gladstone SA in any week, with between 10 and 15 freight trains daily depending on the day of the week. This can make for interesting train spotting. Freight consists of ore, grain. steel, intermodals, trailer rail freight and mineral sands, with the privately owned company SCT also using the line for intermodal transport. A number of other trains travel through Gladstone on an ad hoc basis such as ballast trains, heavy track maintenance equipment, the Track Diagnostic Train and the occasional movement of single locomotives.

The world famous ‘Indian Pacific’ train currently passes through 2 times per week (Friday and Sunday). Passengers are able to step on or off the ‘Indian Pacific’ at Gladstone providing arrangements have been made when booking their trip.

Grain Storage Facility

margarbon — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:22:23 +0000

Bulk Handling of grain commenced in 1954 when a group of forward thinking farmers approached government seeking assistance to move the state’s handling of wheat and barley from the labour intensive, back-breaking use of bags into the modern era.

Gladstone complex has grown from its original concrete silo storage built in 1957 to become the largest inland grain storage facility in Australia with a storage capacity of in excess of 600,000 tonnes.

In the last ten years more than $10 million has been invested in capital infrastructure at the Gladstone site. This includes construction of fast loading out-loading system that can load rail at more than 1,000 tonnes per hour.

Viterra (formerly ABB Grain, AusBulk and SACBH), is now the largest employer in Gladstone and where practicable, use local businesses to provide services required by the company. During the peak of 2001/2002 harvest, this site employed 6 permanent staff, 11 permanent part-time staff and over 100 casual staff.

During season 2001/2002, the Gladstone site received 553,163 tonnes of grain, which was made up of 16 segragations of grain grades from Wheat, Barley, Duram Wheat, Peas, Faba Beans and Fiesta Beans.

This grain was taken through 2 sampling offices, weighed on 2 inward weighbridges & 2 outward weighbridges. At any one time there were 6 silo grids & 6 drive-over hoppers operating to place this grain into concrete vertical silos, bulk sheds and bunkers.

Grain storage space is made up of:

Concrete vertical:	Block 1	2500 tonnes barley/cell 2900 tonnes wheat/cell
	Block 2	1300 tonnes barley/cell 1500 tonnes wheat/cell
Sheds	Block 3	50,000 tonnes
	Block 4	5,000 tonnes peas
	Block 5	45,000 tonnes
	Block 6	45,000 tonnes
Bunkers	in excess of	325,000 tonnes
Future Bunkers	in excess of	100,000 tonnes.

Approximately 90% of the grain is out-loaded through 2 x 1,000 tonne bins which are located over a railway line. A majority of this grain is then taken to Port Adelaide terminal to be loaded onto ships for many national and international ports.

Gladstone Art Exhibition 2010

margarbon — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:26:55 +0000

The Second Annual Gladstone Art Exhibition will be held in the Gladstone Town Hall opening on Saturday 11th September and closing on Friday 8th October this year.

The exhibition is organised by a small sub-committee associated with the Southern Flinders Panorama Committee and sponsored by the Gladstone Community Development & Tourism Association.

As with the 2009 exhibition, it is planned that this year’s event will be part of the Flinders Ranges ‘a brush with art’ programme and will be given extensive publicity Australia wide.

All artists, whether Painters, Photographers or Applied Artists, are invited to enter work in this year’s exhibition.

Cash prizes will be awarded in each of these divisions.

Details and entry forms may be downloaded from this website.

Gladstone Art Exhibition Entry Form 2010

Expressions of interest and requests to be placed on the direct mailing list can be made to the Southern Flinders Discovery Centre, PO Box 1 Gladstone 5473, or phone 08 8662 2226 between 10am – 4pm daily.