Explore the Spirit of Endurance trail in Ikara-Flinders Ranges
It's the stunning walking trail that follows the photographic journey of one of Australia's early giants of the medium, Harold Cazneaux. Discover the Spirt of Endurance Trail at Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park.
The 90-minute walk retraces the steps that Cazneaux took in May 1937, when he camped and photographed the landscape with his wife Winifred and their son Harold Cazneaux Jnr.
The interpretive trail also honours the enduring spirit of the Adnyamathanha people who have survived and thrived in this magnificent but sometimes challenging landscape.
No bushwalking experience is needed for this moderate Grade 2 trail, which is easily accessible from Flinders Ranges Way. As you follow the trail, you’ll pass by the Cazneaux Tree - a landmark made famous by the photographer - and the picturesque Ikara Vari (Wilpena Creek).
Who is Harold Cazneaux?
Harold Cazneaux lived from 1878-1953 and is considered by many to be the father of Australian photography. He felt that every image should be a work of art and was moved by the grandeur and beauty of the Australian landscape.
Cazneaux photographed three known views of the now famous tree, which he titled The Spirit of Endurance. He described the tree as standing in “solitary grandeur on a lonely plateau in the arid Flinders Ranges”.
"The passing of the years has left it scarred and marked by the elements – storm, fire, water - unconquered, it speaks to us of a Spirit of Endurance." - Harold Cazneaux, May 1941
A large collection of Cazneaux's photographs now reside at the National Library of Australia. He continues to be seen as a giant of early Australian photography.
Explore the Cazneaux Tree
The Cazneaux Tree is a River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and like many of the gums in this area, is estimated to be around 25 metres tall. The tree is number 239 on the National Trust of Australia’s register of significant trees and was listed for its outstanding aesthetic beauty.
Cazneaux's eldest daughter Rainbow Cazneaux attributed the naming of the famous gum tree to George Hunt, the last pastoral leaseholder of Wilpena Station. The Cazneaux family camped at the Hunt property for nearly a week during their 1937 trip.
Descendants of the Hunt family generously helped develop the Spirit of Endurance trail over many years, with valued contributions from the Cazneaux family.
Andrew Jamieson, grandson of George Hunt, reflected that being involved in the creation of trail taught him many things and that he appreciated learning more about the Adnyamathanha people.
"I was very fortunate to spend a lot of time on Wilpena with my Grandparents - George and Betty Hunt - and my Uncle George before they left in 1985. Before the Spirit of Endurance Trail, history of Wilpena for me was always about my Grandparents and the time they lived there," Andrew said.
"But, now I understand better the thousands of years of footprints left by the Adnyamathanha people. There are many good, interesting and challenging aspects to their journey and I would still like to learn more," he said.
Andrew remarked that he really likes the way Cazneaux's photographs on each interpretation board allows you to examine the changes in the landscape over the last 88 years.
"Whether it’s a bullock bush that has grown ten centimetres in this time or realising how old the native pines must be, the photographs reveal a lot about this country. To borrow Cazneaux’s words, his photographs capture the enduring spirit of the Wilpena landscape," Andrew said.
A cultural landscape cared for by the Adnyamathanha
The ancient landscape of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park forms part of the traditional lands of the Adnyamathanha (meaning hills or rock people). As its traditional custodians, the Adnyamathanha have a strong connection to this land.
The Cazneaux Tree and red gums like it have long provided the Adnyamathanha people with shelter and food in the form of witchetty grubs that live in the trunks and eggs from the birds that nest in their branches.
Smoke from leaves and wood have been used in smoking ceremonies, while timber has been crafted into shields, bowls and digging sticks. The leaves and eucalyptus gum have also been used to treat general sickness, fever and colds.
Water also holds immense significance for the Adnyamathanha people, serving as the lifeblood of their existence. Ikara Vari (Wilpena Creek) flows along the Spirit of Endurance trail and is considered a precious resource.
The Flinders Ranges: World Heritage worthy
It's hard to wrap your mind around, but as you walk in the Flinders Ranges, the land under your feet is over 600 million years old. It's one of Australia’s truly magnificent landscapes. South Australia is edging closer to finalising the nomination of features of the Flinders Ranges for World Heritage listing.
The Flinders Ranges is the only place on Earth where 350 million years of near-continuous geological sequence can be seen, demonstrating the rise of a habitable planet and the dawn of animal life.
You can learn more about what makes this region worthy of nomination, the benefits of a World Heritage listing and more over here: Flinders Ranges World Heritage nomination.
Also discover seven other family-friendly walks to enjoy in Ikara-Flinders Ranges.
