Southern Flinders Discovery Centre

Gladstone is the southern gateway to the Flinders Ranges.  The Southern Flinders Discovery Centre is a community administered Information Centre since the private enterprise ceased trading in 2003.

With the support of local volunteers, the doors are open 7 days a week from 10.00am to 4.00pm.

Comprehensive tourism information is available through a wide selection of brochures from the Flinders Ranges and guides from other regional areas of South Australia.

Products produced in the Southern Flinders Ranges are available with tastings of selected olive oil products and soft drinks from Trend Drinks on request.

Guided walking tours have been developed to give the ‘Rail & Heritage’ history, including the unique triple-gauge railway lines, and the fact that Gladstone was once two towns (Gladstone & Booyoolee).  Do you know why?  Some of the highlights of the ‘Discovery’ tour are the beautiful sandstone buildings and dwellings, the largest inland grain storage facility in Australia, and the only remaining soft drink manufacturer in rural South Australia.

Self-guided walking, cycling or driving tours offer locals and visitors alike the chance to ‘discover for themselves’, the Gladstone High School agriculture & viticulture in action, Gladstone Gaol Complex, the picturesque views from the south of the pines or north towards ‘the Bluff’ and Mt Remarkable.  Other self-drive guides can take the traveller to Beetaloo Valley, Appila Springs, Magnetic Hill or Bundaleer Forest.

FREE Internet Access provided by the Northern Areas Council allow the traveller to keep in touch with family and friends, wherever they are.

When you wander through the centre, you will  be able to also see some of our heritage stories through articles,  photos  and memorabilia.  The Gladstone History Group have set up a comprehensive display that includes the ‘Booyoolee Panels’.  These were commissioned for the ‘Farmcog Festival’ in 2002.  Take a look at the photos that tell their story.  Did you know that the famous ‘Bully Beef’ was produced by Booyoolee Station?

The Booyoolee Pastoral Lease was taken up in 1846 where Herbert Bristow Hughes occupied 770 sq. kms. of untamed land that he turned into a prosperous sheep and cattle station.  The station although now smaller in size is still owned by the Hughes Family descendants.