Quorn
The Transcontinental Hotel
Is a township and railhead in the Flinders Ranges in the north of South Australia, 39 km northeast of Port Augusta. At the 2006 census, Quorn had a population of 1068. Quorn is the home of the Flinders Ranges Council local government area. It is in the state Electoral district of Stuart and the federal Division of Grey. Nestled in a valley, Quorn was established as a railway town on the Great Northern Railway in 1878. Part of the line through Pichi Richi Pass has been restored as a tourist railway taking passengers on the scenic 33km round trip. There is the Nairana Craft Centre, First St. Sept: Agricultural show. Oct: Campdraft and Field days.
History
The town was surveyed by Godfrey Walsh in 1878 and named after Quorndon in Leicestershire, United Kingdom, as part of the preparations for building the railway line from Port Augusta northwards. The railway line from Port Augusta to Quorn opened in 1879 and was subsequently extended north to Government Gums (Farina) in 1882, Marree in 1884, Oodnadatta in 1890 and Alice Springs in 1929. This railway line later became known as the “Ghan line” or Central Australia Railway. In 1917, Quorn became the crossroads of any North – South (on the Central Australian Railway to Oodnadatta) or East – West travel in Australia, when the Trans-Australia Railway was completed between Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie. This made Quorn an important town, given that any person travelling east-west or north-south in Australia would need to pass through Quorn. As a result, many fine buildings were built as the town expanded. Quorn’s role as a crossroads was lost when a standard gauge railway connection was opened
Quorn Railway Station
between Port Pirie Junction and Port Augusta in 1937, meaning east-west trains bypassed the route Quorn. However, during World War II, Quorn was a vital service point for trains heading north to Alice Springs and carried over 1,000,000 troops heading to Darwin and on to Papua New Guinea. Trains services through Quorn peaked at over 50 per day during and immediately after the period of World War II. Services during this time also included coal mined at Leigh Creek being moved to the newly opened Playford A Power Station in Port Augusta.
During the 1950s a new standard gauge line was built that passed on the western side of The Dutchmans Stern, Mount Arden and Mount Eyre, from Stirling North to Brachina and then roughly following the original narrow gauge route through Leigh Creek and to Marree, thus bypassing Quorn. This bypass took away the last railway traffic through the Pichi Richi Pass, and the last major freight traffic through Quorn. The only services now operating through Quorn were freight from Peterborough and Hawker, and as a result Quorn’s importance diminished and eventually in 1980s the railway was completely closed as the last freight was moved to road transport. One unusual aspect of the railway working from Peterborough to Quorn and then on to Hawker was the need for the engine to be turned and attached to the opposite end of the train when arriving at Quorn, as it was not a “through” station for the trip from Peterborough to Hawker. In 1973, a group of railway
The Old Mill
enthusiasts assembled with the desire to preserve the unique bridges and stone work built in the previous century that formed the railway through the Pichi Richi Pass between Quorn and Stirling North. Thus the Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society Inc was formed. Although the intention was to just preserve the railway through the Pichi Richi Pass, they later acquired operable railway rollingstock and locomotives and today provide a tourist railway service through the Pichi Richi Pass to from Quorn to Port Augusta.
Tourism
The main attraction of Quorn is the Pichi Richi Railway. There are also a self-guided walking tours in the town, included several based around the towns historic old buildings, the railway yards and other historic locations. The tourist centre on Fifth St provides all relevant literature. There are a number of restaurants in town: at the four hotels on Railway Tce, the Old Mill Restaurant (now a motel), the Austral Inn, and at the Willows Brewery, 10km out of Quorn on the road to Port Augusta. Quorn is home to country music artist Jedd Hughes, and was the birthplace of politician Brian Harradine and champion SANFL footballer Fos Williams. Former Australian of the year and AC, CBE, Lowitja O’Donoghue also spent a huge portion of her childhood at the Aboriginal mission in Quorn, Colebrook Children’s Home. Quorn is a delightful stop over for many travellers coming via Adelaide to explore the Flinders Ranges. The tourist office on the main street, manned by volunteers every week day, provides free information, maps and trails to safely see the best sites in the lower Flinders, including Warrens Gorge, Kanyaka Station, Proby’s Grave and Itali Itali. Quorn has also been used in several major films, including The Shiralee, Sunday Too Far Away, Gallipoli, Wolf Creek, The Sundowners, The Light Horseman and most recently The Last Ride starring Hugo Weaving.
Arden Hills Props
Arden Hills Props
Arden Vale Road
Quorn
South Australia
Australia
Arden Hills offers two distinctively different types of self-drive off road experience for those who want to leave the beaten track and enjoy some of the Flinders Ranges unique scenery. Track One – Arden Hills half day self drive tour. Track Two – Nathaltee one to one and a half hours self drive/walking tour.
What you need to enjoy this unique driving experience:
- A well maintained four wheel drive vehicle, mountain bike.
- Competent off road driving skills.
- A sense of adventure.
- Walkers or riders please carry plenty of water.
All drivers and passengers enter the property at their own risk and no liability will be accepted for damage to vehicles. Conditions apply. No trail bikes, chainsaws or dogs. Owners reserve the right to close the tracks at any time due to weather or any other conditions that in their opinion would render it unsafe.
Devil’s Peak Walking Trail
Devil's Peak Walking Trail
Devil’s Peak Road
Quorn
South Australia
Australia
The bushwalk up to Devil’s Peak is steep in places and is recommended for experienced and fit walkers. It may take one-and-a-half to two hours for the return journey but you will see a large variety of native vegetation, wild flowers, and birds and get fantastic panoramic views at the summit, which is 670 metres above sea level. Devil’s Peak Walking Trail is closed from 1 November to 15 April each year due to fire danger season.
Pichi Richi Railway
Pichi Richi Railway
Quorn
South Australia
Australia
Pichi Richi Railway
All aboard the Afghan Express or the Pichi Richi Explorer for a charming rail journey through the glorious Flinders Ranges! The Pichi Richi Railway operates between Quorn and Port Augusta. Trains use steam locomotives or historic diesels and genuine timber-body carriages up to 115 years old. The Afghan Express is a steam-hauled train using distinctive timber-bodied carriages built in the late 1920s for the narrow gauge old Ghan train service. It offers a 78 kilometre journey between Port Augusta and Quorn takes six hours (return). The Pichi Richi Explorer is a steam locomotive hauled service, using South Australian railways carriages, some dating from the 19th century. The Pichi Richi Explorer travels from Quorn to Woolshed Flat and return – a 32 kilometre journey taking two hours. Please see Pichi Richi Railway website for more information on fares, departure dates and special event trains.
The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park
10 kilometres north west of
Quorn
South Australia
Australia
The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park
The Dutchman’s Stern Conservation Park derives its curious name from the shape of its prominent landmark, the Bluff, which resembles the stern of an early Dutch sailing ship. Located in the Southern Flinders Ranges, the park’s steep ranges, deep gorges and footslopes support a rich diversity of wildlife, many of which are on the edge of their distribution. See how the flora changes with rock type, altitude and aspect on one of two main walking trails that explore the park and reward hikers with breathtaking views of the Willochra Plain, Spencer Gulf and the surrounding ranges. The Heysen Trail, Australia’s longest walking trail also passes through the park for 12 kilometres. If you enjoy overnight hikes, backpack camping is allowed west of The Dutchman Range. Vehicle-based camping is not permitted in the park. Accommodation is available near the park’s entrance at The Dutchman’s Stern Homestead and Shearers’ Quarters (bookings essential).
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