Voices from the wilderness

An unlikely group of allies, Greens’ Mark Parnell, MLA, former Federal Resources Minister Senator Nick Minchin and South Australian Liberal Iain Evans continue to call for a ban on mining in the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. Mark, Nick and Iain have visited Arkaroola to see first-hand the impacts that come with exploration drilling in such a fragile mountainous landscape. All agree, with or without a past history of mining, this Environmental Class A landscape is a priceless part of Australia’s natural heritage. It must be protected... MORE

The Wonder Wattle

They’re everywhere. In fact they’re so common many visitors don’t even notice them. Until October that is, when clouds of lemon yellow flowers swallow up their sparse branches and conceal their spines. For a few brief weeks we are charmed by the elegance of Acacia victoriae. Seeds of Acacia victoriae, aka Elegant wattle Described as the most abundant plant species in the Flinders Ranges1, and cursed as a woody weed by some on the land, there is more to Acacia victoriae than meets the eye. Long harvested, roasted and milled by Aboriginal... MORE

Conservation Credentials

A threatened species the Bell-fruit tree is found in a number of plant communities on Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary How significant a conservation and research asset is Arkaroola  today? 70 square km set aside for Yellow-footed rock-wallaby conservation in 1981 and listed on Register for the National Estate. Several Geological Monuments including Mt Gee. Several inclusions on the Register for the National Estate including Mt Gee, Mt Painter, the Armchair and Paralana Hot Springs. Home to a number of Threatened species at National,... MORE

Rehabilitation Lottery

Natural regeneration in arid landscapes is driven by rare wet years often separated by decades. Without rain it could be a long wait to get back to this sort of coverage When the Sprigg family purchased the Arkaroola property in 1968, there had been no regeneration of native pine and mulga for eight decades. A bracket of wet years in the 1970’s triggered a massive regeneration event. With stock removed and grazing pressure reduced, seedlings had a much greater chance of survival. Further regeneration events occurred in 1984 and 1989. However... MORE

Water for Wildlife

There is precious little surface water on Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. The few springs, waterholes and seeps sustain local wildlife, while deep-rooted plant species like river red gums rely on subsurface flows for their survival. Marathon Resources estimates that it will require between 2 and 2.5 gigalitres of water annually for on-site processing activities in its proposed uranium mine. Converted, the daily requirement will be about 6 million litres for the life of the mine. Process water would most likely be sourced from local aquifers,... MORE

Arkaroola’s Alladin’s Cave

Arkaroola’ s Mt Gee, the quartz crystal mountain, is unique in Australia. It provides a window to past climates, has produced world-class museum specimens and continues to enthral visitors with its beautiful and rare minerals. Unlike nearby Mt Painter, Mt Gee does not cut a striking silhouette. Its uniqueness lies in its crystal-studded surfaces and caverns. Mt Gee is famous for its great variety of quartz types. Most major museums have striking specimens of ‘nail hole’ quartz from Mt Gee in their collections. The graded purple hues... MORE

Respecting & Protecting Vision

This photo shows mulga plants of various ages, indicating a healthy plant community. Reg Sprigg never forgot what his mentor and friend, Sir Douglas Mawson confided in 1939. Mawson’s great hope was that the Arkaroola region would, at some future time “be recognised as one great natural museum, one protected into posterity from over-development, vermin and vandalism.” Unable to interest the state government in acquiring the property, Reg heeded the advice of the great Indian philosopher. “Be the change you want to see in the... MORE

Arkaroola’s Visitor Centre

An evening fireside talk in the Visitor Centre After an absence of fifteen years I have returned to Arkaroola to work. With my colleague Georgie Green, I am getting the Visitor Centre up and running again. We provide bushwalking, touring and 4WDriving advice, present regular evening talks, and lead guided walks. And we try to answer the many questions that visitors have. During the spring school holidays we will be running a kids activities program. Inspired by Arkaroola’s founder Reg Sprigg, we continue to support research activities... MORE

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