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.
An interesting toilet break, Tintinara
Information Centre and Art Gallery, Tintinara
Tintinara in the upper south east of South Australia is a delightful rural centre. As the sign on the information centre (photo above) indicates, this is the heart of national parks in the region. On my recent visit I spent some time exploring the town. This was deliberate as I had the time to do it. Normally we just drive straight through on our way elsewhere.
If you look carefully at the building shown above (click on the photo to enlarge the image) you can see that the locals have an interesting sense of humour. An artist has painted a couple sitting there waiting for the train. The building now used as the information centre and craft gallery used to serve as the town’s railway station. The trains to Melbourne and Adelaide still pass through here but the passenger service is very limited.
In the park a few metres away are some public toilets. The same artist has been at work here too.
Artwork on toilet wall, Tintinara, SE South Australia
I wonder if you can guess which way to go to the men’s toilets, and where the ladies’ toilets are located. I took some close up photos to help you. If you’re still not sure, click on the photos to enlarge the image and look for the standardised toilet symbol sticker on the wall above the figures.
Artwork on toilet wall, Tintinara, SE South Australia
Artwork on toilet wall, Tintinara, SE South Australia
Tintinara, upper SE of South Australia
Farming display, Tintinara, SE South Australia
On my recent quick visit to Tintinara in the upper south east of South Australia I had morning tea in the picnic grounds next to the Information Centre and Craft gallery. On the lawns in front of the centre there is an interesting display of metal cutouts of a farmer, his ever alert sheep dogs and a small flock of merino sheep (see photos). This is a fitting tribute to the farming heritage of this area where both sheep and wheat are the strengths of the agricultural pursuits of this region.
Farming display, Tintinara, SE South Australia
The water table is not too far below the surface and windmills like that shown in the photo above are a feature on many farms. Most farms in the region rely on this aquifer, part of the Great Artesian Basin that covers a large part of Australia.
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
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