Tintinara in the SE of South Australia
Playground, Tintinara, SE South Australia
I took this photo of the playground in the picnic area in the main street on a recent visit to Tintinara because of the piece of equipment in the foreground. It’s in the shape of a kangaroo, though I can’t recall if you get “red” kangaroos in the Tintinara region. (I just checked my field guide to Australian mammals – Red Kangaroos are found much further north.)
Old steam train water bowser, Tintinara
Next to the playground is this old water bowser (or water tower), a relic of a by-gone era when the steam trains would stop here to replenish their water tankers. In the background you can see the railway line which is the main line between Adelaide and Melbourne. The Overlander passenger train came through as I had my morning cuppa. It rarely stops in Tintinara these days, whereas in a the steam age there would have been several passenger services daily. Now the line is used mainly for heavy interstate freight traffic, mixed with one daily express passenger train daily.
Galah at Tintinara, SE South Australia
While I was in Tintinara I managed to get a few good photos of some of the local bird life. More photos can be seen here and here.
A brief visit to Tintinara, SE South Australia
Grain silos at Tintinara, SE South Australia
Last week I was asked to do a quick trip to Tintinara in the upper south east of South Australia. I had to deliver an urgent parcel for the courier company I do some deliveries for on a casual basis. It was a warm day but the clear skies and gentle breeze made it quite pleasant.
After delivering the parcel (on time what’s more) I had a good look around this lovely small town. Usually we just drive straight through on our way to Melbourne or other places in the south east. I had never taken the time to explore the town.
Information Centre and Art Gallery, Tintinara
The tourist information centre (shown above) calls this town “The Heart of the Parks”. Tintinara is centrally located for visiting a range of national and conservation parks in all directions, including the massive Ngarkat National Park to the east of town. Most of these parks have huge stands of mallee vegetation. The most interesting bird that is endemic to the mallee environment is the Malleefowl. Below I’ve inserted a photo of a simulated Malleefowl nesting mound. This display, complete with two metal cut-out models of the bird, is located in front of the Information Centre in the main street of the town. I’ve written more about the Malleefowl and its unique nesting habits on Trevor’s Birding blog here.
Simulated Malleefowl nest, Tintinara, SE South Australia
Further reading:
Scenes of Pinnaroo, South Australia
Hotel in Pinnaroo, South Australia
When I visited Pinnaroo in eastern South Australia recently I realised I had never actually driven into the the town, nor had a good look around. Normally we have just driven past without stopping; the main road by-passes most of the town. I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised.
Pinnaroo appears to be a vibrant rural town with many fine facilities and a good feel about it. I did stop for a morning tea treat from the local bakery. Outlets like this in country towns in Australia are always worth checking out. I was not disappointed; my chocolate coated donut was delicious.
Just like so many country towns in Australia, Pinnaroo boasts several beautiful buildings, including the two pubs shown on this post. I didn’t have the time nor the inclination to test out what they were like inside. Knowing the kind of hospitality such towns exude in abundance, I’m sure I would have been made most welcome.
Hotel in Pinnaroo, South Australia
Pinnaroo wheat silos, South Australia
Wheat silos, Pinnaroo, South Australia
Pinnaroo is a rural centre in the eastern border districts of South Australia. It is a thriving small town with many fine facilities.
As you approach the town on the way to Ouyen in north western Victoria, or going the other way towards Adelaide, the most prominent feature of the town would have to be the towering wheat silos. This is a very productive wheat and other cereal grain growing district. During the summer months the area around the wheat silos are abuzz with activity as the farmers truck in the grain from their crops, ready for storage in the silos. Later it will be trucked interstate for sale or put on to trains heading to Port Adelaide on route for export to many markets overseas, or to local flour mills.
Wheat silos, Pinnaroo, South Australia
Wheat silos, Pinnaroo, South Australia
Wheat silos, Pinnaroo, South Australia
Pinnaroo in the mallee of South Australia
Mallee scrubland in Pinnaroo, South Australia
I recently had occasion to visit the township of Pinnaroo in the mallee region of eastern South Australia. The main road by-passes most of the town, so visitors just passing through rarely get a chance to see much of this charming and thriving country town. On this occasion I had to deliver a parcel in the main street. It was the first time I could ever recall seeing more than just the outskirts of the town while driving through.
Pinnaroo is situated in the mallee regions of the state. Mallee is the generic name given to a wide range of eucalyptus trees common in the area. They are also found in other parts of SA, as well as large parts of Western Australia, Victoria and western NSW. Typical of the mallee tree are the multiple trunks stemming from a large root called a lignotuber. This is more commonly called a stump, and can range from the size of a football through to a wheelbarrow or even bigger in older trees. These stumps, when dry, are prized as fire wood for their dense wood and long burning qualities. Sadly, large areas of mallee scrub have been cleared and burnt over the last 175 years and only remnant patches still exist.
In the photo above is one such remnant patch of scrub – right in the heart of town which is unusual but commendable. Most of the surrounding district has been cleared for farming. A typical settler farmer’s cottage can be seen in the photo below. Click on the photo to enlarge the image, and to see the old farm equipment left to rust near the farmhouse.
Further reading:
- Mallee tree (from Trevor’s Birding blog)
Old farmhouse near Pinnaroo, South Australia