Day 24 in Orroroo

16 April 2014

Early morning I was presented with this beautiful sunrise and just after we again heard hundreds of sulfer crested cockies take off from their home trees to go out for the day. At 6pm we were wondering if they were coming home to their trees. At 6.04 we heard them arrive. They went back to the same trees as last night.

We decided to check out the local attractions and after morning tea at our camp site we went out to see the Giant Gum Tree. Estimated at over 500 years old, the River Red Gum is the oldest living tree in the local area. This River Gum is a Eucalyptus Camaldulensis and has a 10.4 metres or 34 feet in circumstance and climbs 6 metres or 20 feet before there is a fork in the trunk. Denise & I are dwarfed by the tree.

Off then to the Tank Lookout and yes, there was a water tank on the hill. The 360 degree views were spectacular. This view is overlooking Orroroo.

Next on our list of things to see was the Pekina Reservoir which was constructed in 1920. This water was used by dairy farmers on irrigation blocks north of Orroroo. The reservoir tended to silt up and the irrigation scheme fell into decline in the 1970’s and was abandoned 30 years ago.

We saw a sign for the Pekina Creek Station ruins.  In the 1840s Pekina was the northernmost outpost of European settlement in South Australia. It was established by the Chambers brothers but after 18 months without a drop of rain they sold it to Price Maurice. In the 1870s the station was broken up and sold to wheat farmers. Nearby the town of Pekina sits. Pekina, about 16 kilometres to the south of Orroroo, has strong Irish Catholic roots. The immediate district has been dubbed, 'Vatican Valley'. You can understand this when you see the only church in this tiny town. It is still used as a church. There is also a small hotel with part time hours.Today it was open from 5pm to 7 pm.

We also went to Magnetic Hill – a well known tourist attraction because of its ability to make vehicles appear to roll uphill. Here are Lance and John with the cars in neutral. When I was looking it looked like they were rolling up here.