Lyndhurst, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Lyndhurst, sometimes misspelt Lyndthurst, is a town in north-east South Australia
which is at the crossroads of the Strzelecki Track
and the Oodnadatta Track
. It began as a railway siding in 1878.
, whose northern end is at Innamincka
. It was once a station on the original train route north known as the Great Northern Railway that was planned to reach Darwin
, but only ever made it to Alice Springs. This railway line became known as the Ghan, and the last train ran along it in 1980. The route was always subject to the weather and wash outs, and a more permanent route has been constructed some 200 km to the west, and subsequently extended to Darwin. 80 km to the north is Marree
, a small town that is at the junction of the Oodnadatta
and Birdsville
Tracks.
Lyndhurst was Gazetted as a town in 1896, and initially served as a freight centre for the railways that were connected in 1882. Mount Lyndhurst, 30 km east, was named after the British Lord Chancellor by the government surveyor Samuel Perry
. In the 1860s, Thomas Elder
took up vast areas in the northern Flinders region and called the property Mount Lyndhurst.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
which is at the crossroads of the Strzelecki Track
Strzelecki Track
The Strzelecki Track is an outback track in South Australia, mostly unsealed but with a few short sealed sections to facilitate overtaking, linking Innamincka to Lyndhurst...
and the Oodnadatta Track
Oodnadatta Track
The Oodnadatta Track , Australia is an unsealed 620 kilometre track between Marree and Marla via Oodnadatta in South Australia. It passes the southern lake of the Lake Eyre National Park....
. It began as a railway siding in 1878.
History
The original inhabitants were the aboriginal nation of the Yantruwanta. The town is at the southern end of the Strzelecki TrackStrzelecki Track
The Strzelecki Track is an outback track in South Australia, mostly unsealed but with a few short sealed sections to facilitate overtaking, linking Innamincka to Lyndhurst...
, whose northern end is at Innamincka
Innamincka, South Australia
Innamincka is a tiny settlement in north-east South Australia. It is 1065 km northeast of Adelaide and 459 km from Lyndhurst up the Strzelecki Track. It is situated on the banks of Cooper Creek in the state's Channel Country, and surrounded by the Strzelecki, Tirari and Sturt Stony...
. It was once a station on the original train route north known as the Great Northern Railway that was planned to reach Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, but only ever made it to Alice Springs. This railway line became known as the Ghan, and the last train ran along it in 1980. The route was always subject to the weather and wash outs, and a more permanent route has been constructed some 200 km to the west, and subsequently extended to Darwin. 80 km to the north is Marree
Marree, South Australia
Marree is a small town located in the north of South Australia. It lies North of Adelaide at the junction of the Oodnadatta Track and the Birdsville Track, above sea level. The area is the home of the Dieri people. At the 2006 census, Marree had a population of 70.The town was home to Australia's...
, a small town that is at the junction of the Oodnadatta
Oodnadatta Track
The Oodnadatta Track , Australia is an unsealed 620 kilometre track between Marree and Marla via Oodnadatta in South Australia. It passes the southern lake of the Lake Eyre National Park....
and Birdsville
Birdsville Track
The Birdsville Track is a notable outback road in Australia. The 517 km track runs from Marree, a small town in northern South Australia, north across the Tirari Desert and Sturt Stony Desert, ending in Birdsville in south western Queensland....
Tracks.
Lyndhurst was Gazetted as a town in 1896, and initially served as a freight centre for the railways that were connected in 1882. Mount Lyndhurst, 30 km east, was named after the British Lord Chancellor by the government surveyor Samuel Perry
Samuel Perry
Samuel Frederick Perry , was a Labour Co-operative politician in the United Kingdom. He was the father of the British tennis and table tennis champion Fred Perry....
. In the 1860s, Thomas Elder
Thomas Elder
Sir Thomas Elder GCMG was a Scottish-Australian pastoralist, highly successful businessman, philanthropist, politician, race-horse owner and breeder and public figure...
took up vast areas in the northern Flinders region and called the property Mount Lyndhurst.
Visitor attractions
- Ochre Cliffs, approximately 2 km north of the town, is the site of an aboriginal mine that provided colours to be used in dyes and paints.
- Murtee Johnny’s grave – he was the last full blood Yantruwanta/Yandruwandha Aboriginal man. Born on Tinga Tingana Station on the Strzelecki Track, South Australia in 1861. He died on 15 August 1976 at the Wamikata Nursing Home, Port Augusta at the age of 115 years.
- Mount Lyndhurst Important Bird AreaMount Lyndhurst Important Bird AreaMount Lyndhurst Important Bird Area comprises a 93 km2 part of Mount Lyndhurst Station, a pastoral lease lying on the north-west margin of the Flinders Ranges, about 30 km east of the town of Lyndhurst, South Australia...
, lying about 30 km east of the town on Mount Lyndhurst Station, is a well-known birdwatchingBirdwatchingBirdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
site for Chestnut-breasted WhitefaceChestnut-breasted WhitefaceThe Chestnut-breasted Whiteface is a species of bird in the Pardalotidae family.It is endemic to Australia and found primarily in northern South Australia.-Habitat:...
s. - Talc Alf, the Talc Mine, and Alf's art.
External links
- smh
- SA history
- http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/aborigines.htm
- Ochre Cliffs (5 km north of Lyndhurst)
- Talc Alf and his art
- Lyndhurst Talc Alf Carvings
- Lyndhurst Hotel-Motel and Caravan park
Further reading
- Lewis, Craig and Savage, Cathy (2005) Australia's top 4WD getaways Prahran, Vic.Explore Australia Publishing. ISBN 1741170672
- Tolcher, H.M., Drought or Deluge