Day 35: Sun 19 Mar 23 - Edithburgh to Wallaroo

Sun 19 Mar 23 - Edithburgh to Wallaroo (Towed 171km)

18 Deg in Editburgh to 26 Deg in Wallaroo. It was a cloudy and windy morning as we packed and left Edithburgh at 0900. We had light rain for about 30 minutes after leaving, and as we arrived at the first town on todays drive (Warooka - 37km), there didn't appear to be anything worthwhile stopping for, so we continued along the Yorke Highway to Minlaton. Not sure how they call this a highway - it was mostly very narrow and rough (but sealed) road. Thankfully there was very little traffic, and we weren't in a hurry, so we took our time. On the way into the next town, Minlaton, we found the first of many memorials and monuments for the town's favourite WW1 Flying Ace son - Captain Harry Butler. In the town centre we parked and found a cafe' in the main street for our morning brew, then went on to look at the other Red Devil and Harry Butler monuments and memorials. Attached is some interesting information on Butler (if you can read it - otherwise just Google it). We continued on to Maitland, and again didn't see anything of interest, so we continued to our destination Wallaroo for another three-night stay. We arrived at the Wallaroo Holiday Park and checked in by 1300,  then headed straight into town to the information centre, and for a look around town. Armed with a heap of brochures, we returned to the van, then I set off for another reccy ride into town and around the harbour. The caravan park is located adjacent to Wallaroo North Beach. The park is quite large, but the sites are smaller than most we've had this trip (no doubt we've been lucky). The site we were allocated was already occupied, but after a call, we were quickly allocated another, despite the park looking like it was at capacity. Our new site proved to be a bit of a challenge to park the van given the slight jump up from the road, and how far back the other vans behind us on were set up.  We eventually settled on good enough. Since our arrival, the wind has been strong, gusting up to 45km/hr, and because we're on a sandy site, the wind is whipping up lots of fine sand. The wind is forecast to drop off tonight, and I'm hoping it happens sooner than later.


Landscape and ruins near Warooka

Minlaton - Site of Captain Harry Butler Avro Biplane Crash in 1922

Minlaton - War Memorial and Main Street

Minlaton - Main Street and Mural tribute for the town's favourite son Harry Butler.  

Minlaton - Red Devil and CAPT Harry Butler Monument 

Minlaton - Red Devil and CAPT Harry Butler Monument 

Minlaton - Red Devil and CAPT Harry Butler Monument 

Minlaton - Red Devil and CAPT Harry Butler Monument 

Landscape north of Maitland

Wallaroo - Heritage Mural which covers the full length of the old railway platform 

Wallaroo - Heritage Mural old railway platform 


Wallaroo - Town Hall (1902)

Wallaroo - Town Hall (1902)

Wallaroo - Old Building

Wallaroo - Jones Street Jetty and Tall Ship Mural

Wallaroo - Hughes Chimney Stack is all that remains of the Wallaroo Mining and Smelting Company, 130ft high and contains more than 300,000 bricks.

Wallaroo - Vitera Grain Silos 

Wallaroo - Old railway station

Wallaroo - Fishing Cutter "Canberra" sculpture

Wallaroo - Fishing Cutter "Canberra" sculpture

Wallaroo - Fishing Cutter "Canberra" sculpture

Wallaroo - Smelters Copper Store ruins. Copper Ore was brought to Wallaroo from mines at nearby Moonta and Kadina.

Wallaroo - Spencer Gulf Ferry between Wallaroo and Cowell. A short cut across the gulf to the Eyre Peninsula would save us 375km in driving, but at a cost of $600 for the van ($374), Car including driver ($190), and 1 x passenger $32 - no thanks. 

Wallaroo - Heritage and Nautical Museum (with Steam Engine Mural)

Wallaroo - Hughes Chimney Stack with Viterra grain silos

Wallaroo - In contrast to the old town of Wallaroo is this very flash looking canal estate.




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