Port Augusta - Places to See

Wadlata Outback Centre

Located in Flinders Terrace (turn off Highway One) this is one of the finest and most comprehensive tourist information centres in Australia. Not only does Wadlata allow the traveller to plan for for their trip into the Outback it also offers a wonderful opportunity to experience what lies ahead. It provides information about the animals which roamed the area thousands of years ago, about the Aborigines who moved through the area, about the early European explorers and of the stockmen, pastoralists, miners who opened up the Outback. It looks at the great challenge of transport and communication in the desert and alerts the traveller to the unique set of forces which created modern day Central Australia. For details (08) 8642 4511.

School of the Air
One of the fascinating aspects of Outback Australia is the way education and health are provided to people in isolated communities. Port Augusta, being located on the edge of the Outback, is one of the many bases for both the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the School of the Air. It is possible to visit the School of the Air (located in Power Crescent contact (08) 8642 2077 for details) to see teachers interacting with their outback students via the new high quality broadcasting equipment.

Royal Flying Doctor Service
Located on Vincent Street this is one of the many bases which is open for inspection by the public. It is one of 20 bases currently offering medical services to people in distant parts of Australia. It is open to the public on weekdays between 10.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. Contact (08) 8642 2044.

Homestead Park Pioneer Museum
Take Howard Street north off Victoria Parade and you will reach the large Homestead Park Pioneer Museum, an excellent railway and farming museum in an attractive park. The centrepiece, and a symbol of the hardships of the early settlers, is the 130-year-old Yudnapinna Homestead which was moved to the site from over 100 km away. It is the only genuine log cabin in South Australia and has been furnished to reflect the kind of lifestyle which was common 130 years ago.

McLennan Lookout
Located on Whiting Parade (which is at the far south-eastern extremity of the city) this was the site where Matthew Flinders landed in 1802. It was named after Alan McLennan, a local historian, and offers excellent views across Spencer Gulf towards the Power Stations.

Water Tower Lookout
Located just across the bridge to the west of the town (turn south west into Bond Street) this old iron water tower (the first one was built in 1882) offers good views across Spencer Gulf to the city centre.

Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden
Located 2 km north of Port Augusta on the edge of the desert this 200 hectare site offers excellent views across the Flinders Ranges and provides an insight into the rich diversity of flora on the Australian desert. As the Botanic Gardens' document states: 'The Arid Lands Flora endemic to Australia provides many thousands of species of plant life which are unique to the world. It is essential that such flora be preserved for future generations ... This rich and unique heritage must be conserved for the benefit of our country and its future inhabitants.'

Pichi Richi Railway
The Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society Inc. has, since its formation in 1973, been dedicated to the preservation, restoration and operation of the Pichi Richi Railway, the first leg of the old Central Australian Railway to Alice Springs - the old Ghan route. The society has built up a collection of historic narrow gauge rolling stock of the old South Australian and Commonwealth Railways. These are restored and operated on a voluntary basis. The line has been extended through to Port Augusta, so trains now depart from both the Quorn and Port Augusta Railways Stations on a regular basis.