Interpreting South Australia's Built and Maritime Heritage

• Overview
• On-site Interpretation Panels
  • Birdsville & Strzelecki Tracks
  • Oodnadatta Track
  • Southern Flinders Ranges
  • State Heritage Areas
  • Sites of Archaeological Significance
  • Shipwreck Trails
• On-line Interpretation - Websites
  • State Heritage Areas of South Australia
  • Ships' Graveyards of South Australia
• Brochures and Booklets

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Overview

The conservation, appreciation and celebration of South Australia's natural and cultural heritage are priorities of the Department for Environment and Heritage. The Heritage Branch of this Department actively interprets the State's built and maritime heritage places through on-site interpretive panels, electronic media and other published materials.

On-site Interpretation Panels

Birdsville & Strzelecki Tracks - Outback Heritage Interpretation Project

Tourists eager for information as signs are installed at Cordillo Downs 2005

During September 2005 Heritage Branch staff, and two volunteers representing the Rotary Club of Holdfast Bay, installed seven interpretive panels at heritage sites along the Birdsville and Strzelecki Tracks and at Cordillo Downs Station.

The development and installation of these signs was a collaboration of the Department for Environment and Heritage and SA Tourism Commission, to promote and protect South Australia's outback heritage and to enhance the tourist experience in this remote region.

Interpretation panels were installed at the State's most northerly shipwreck (the MV Tom Brennan), at a stone camel enclosure at Mount Lyndhurst and at four State Heritage Places - Lake Harry Date Plantation Site; Mulka Store and Homestead Ruins; Cordillo Downs Shearing Shed (two signs); and Blanchewater Homestead Ruins.

While these panels present information and stories specific to each site, as a group they offer glimpses of wider outback stories - the isolation, determination and hardships of pioneering settlers; the establishment of transport and supply networks under adverse conditions; and the optimism (and sometimes failure) of economic enterprises.

View images and text panels for:

Oodnadatta Track

Track to The Peake ruins 2006

During the 1990s stabilisation projects were carried out at two significant historical sites along the Oodnadatta Track - at Strangways Springs and The Peake. A component of these conservation works was the development and installation of interpretive signage at both locations. With funding support from SA Tourism Commission, the interpretation at Strangways Springs was upgraded in 2006-07.

Both Strangways Springs and The Peake sites are located near mound springs. They are associated with early pastoralism in the outback and with other activities, such as mining and law and order, but it is their past roles as Overland Telegraph Repeater Stations (from the early 1870s) that is most noteworthy.

View images and text panels for:

Southern Flinders Ranges

Stabilisation of the Kanyaka Homestead ruins, north of Quorn, was undertaken during the 1990s. This project, at one of the best-known historical sites in the southern Flinders Ranges, also included the development and installation of interpretive signage. With funding support from SA Tourism Commission, this signage was upgraded in 2006.

View images and text panels for:

State Heritage Areas

South Australia has a total of 17 State Heritage Areas in diverse locations across the State. On-site interpretation is currently installed at two of these significant places, although future collaborative projects with other agencies and community groups will increase that number. View interpretation panel and photo for: Innamincka/Cooper Creek SHA image text panel (450Kb PDF) View interpretation panels for: Beltana SHA

Dunesk Mission at Beltana 2004

Sites of Archaeological Significance

The Sites of Archaeological Significance series of interpretive panels increases public understanding and appreciation of many of the State's fragile archaeological sites. In 2002 interpretive signs were installed at two significant sites - the former whaling station at Fishery Beach, near Cape Jervis, and another former whaling station at Fishery Bay, near Port Lincoln.

View interpretation panels and photos for:

River Boat Trail sign, Mannum (Photo: R Ashworth 2006)

Shipwreck Trails

A total of nine maritime trails, located underwater, on water and on land, have been established along the South Australian coast and River Murray to promote and interpret many of the State's shipwrecks.

More information about Shipwreck Trails

On-line Interpretation - Websites

State Heritage Areas of South Australia (published 2006)

This site provides an overview of South Australia's 17 State Heritage Areas as a group and presents detailed descriptions, histories and photographs of each.

View website

Ships' Graveyards of South Australia (published 2003)

More than 70 shipwrecks in South Australian waters are classed as 'graveyard' vessels. These deliberately abandoned wrecks can be found at 19 identified sites around the State's coast and waterways. This site provides comprehensive information and images about these sites and the individual vessels within them.

View website

Brochures and Booklets

The Department for Environment and Heritage has produced a number of booklets and brochures interpreting both the built and maritime heritage of South Australia. Some of these are available in hard copy, while others can be downloaded electronically.

View the full list of publications