Walter died young died Walter

increasing number of explorers, drovers and travellers. and drovers explorers, of number increasing

obtained a licence in 1858 for a hotel to cater for the the for cater to hotel a for 1858 in licence a obtained

the need for accommodation at . He He Corner. Overland at accommodation for need the

wine is sold. sold. is wine Chambers, who had pastoral interests here, recognised recognised here, interests pastoral had who Chambers,

work here and projects worldwide, wherever Banrock Banrock wherever worldwide, projects and here work ford provided a crossing over the River Murray. John John Murray. River the over crossing a provided ford

from the sale of their wine promote the conservation conservation the promote wine their of sale the from allowed stock and horses to rest and feed and a shallow shallow a and feed and rest to horses and stock allowed

walking trail through the wetlands. Some of the proceeds proceeds the of Some wetlands. the through trail walking South Wales and South . The grassy flats flats grassy The Australia. South and Wales South

The interpretation centre provides information on a a on information provides centre interpretation The Overland Corner lay on a strategic route between New New between route strategic a on lay Corner Overland

The Hotel The 1

macroinvertebtrate, fish, frog and waterfowl habitat. habitat. waterfowl and frog fish, macroinvertebtrate,

beyond the stile to reach the top of the embankment. the of top the reach to stile the beyond

since 1998 the wetlands have been restored to enhance enhance to restored been have wetlands the 1998 since

traffic.

From the trailhead at Checkpoint (A) follow the trail trail the follow (A) Checkpoint at trailhead the From to new uses; it not only produces high quality wine but but wine quality high produces only not it uses; new to

look out for for out look At the top of the quarry, cross the road — — road the cross quarry, the of top the At

Banrock Station. This former sheep station has been put put been has station sheep former This Station. Banrock

HERITAGE WALK HERITAGE

the Reserve, the lagoon and the river to the vineyards of of vineyards the to river the and lagoon the Reserve, the Church at Paringa. Paringa. at Church

From this high spot there is an extended view across across view extended an is there spot high this From

many buildings in the , including the Lutheran Lutheran the including Riverland, the in buildings many

you will enjoy your walk. walk. your enjoy will you

Banrock Viewpoint Banrock 6 after the Second World War, when stone was supplied for for supplied was stone when War, World Second the after

the dispenser or ask for information at the Hotel. We trust trust We Hotel. the at information for ask or dispenser the

hotel, this particular quarry was not fully developed until until developed fully not was quarry particular this hotel,

Read the information at the trailhead, take a leaflet from from leaflet a take trailhead, the at information the Read valuable and traded widely between groups. groups. between widely traded and valuable

fossils. Although stone was cut from nearby cliffs for the the for cliffs nearby from cut was stone Although fossils.

was obtained from burning limestone. Ochre was was Ochre limestone. burning from obtained was

Corner” if you would like to read more about the rocks and and rocks the about more read to like would you if Corner” HERONS BEND WALK BEND HERONS

yellow are found in these small quarries. White powder powder White quarries. small these in found are yellow

obtain a brochure of “The Geological History of Overland Overland of History Geological “The of brochure a obtain FLOODPLAIN WALK FLOODPLAIN

was used to paint the body for ceremonies and red and and red and ceremonies for body the paint to used was

as would be found in coastal areas today. Ask in the hotel to to hotel the in Ask today. areas coastal in found be would as HERITAGE WALK HERITAGE

for Aboriginal gatherings, including corroborees. Ochre Ochre corroborees. including gatherings, Aboriginal for

limpets, the skeletons of lace coral, ‘snails’, corals, etc, much much etc, corals, ‘snails’, coral, lace of skeletons the limpets,

combined walk of 8.2 km. km. 8.2 of walk combined The river flat at Overland Corner was an ideal location location ideal an was Corner Overland at flat river The

seen in the quarry walls. There are fossils of sea urchins, urchins, sea of fossils are There walls. quarry the in seen

allow 1½ hours each or, if you have half a day, take the the take day, a half have you if or, each hours 1½ allow Checkpoint (B) Checkpoint Ochre Mine — — Mine Ochre 5

Remnants of the ancient life that occupied the ocean can be be can ocean the occupied that life ancient the of Remnants

There are three walks, each about 2.8 km long so so long km 2.8 about each walks, three are There

be worth continuing. worth be millions of years. of millions

issues pose to both the local and wider community wider and local the both to pose issues

nodules of ironstone did not contain enough minerals to to minerals enough contain not did ironstone of nodules gave rise to this ‘Mannum Limestone’ over the following following the over Limestone’ ‘Mannum this to rise gave

and explore the challenges that current water management management water current that challenges the explore and

might have been looking for copper and the encouraging encouraging the and copper for looking been have might inland and beyond, and the remains of the life it supported supported it life the of remains the and beyond, and inland

These walks provide geological and historical background background historical and geological provide walks These

There are no green ore fragments to suggest that they they that suggest to fragments ore green no are There About 15 million years ago the ocean extended this far far this extended ocean the ago years million 15 About

parts of Australia, and not least in this particular region. region. particular this in least not and Australia, of parts

dug these tunnels in 1899 soon abandoned their efforts. efforts. their abandoned soon 1899 in tunnels these dug

Quarry 2

Water management is a hugely important issue in many many in issue important hugely a is management Water

gold, silver, lead, copper etc. The Cornish miners who who miners Cornish The etc. copper lead, silver, gold,

by 3 metres of flood sediment. flood of metres 3 by

Mineral traces have always encouraged prospecting for for prospecting encouraged always have traces Mineral urban communities rely so heavily on the River Murray. River the on heavily so rely communities urban

revealed an Aboriginal burial site, which had been covered covered been had which site, burial Aboriginal an revealed

Old mine Old 4 European settlers to the present, when rural industries and and industries rural when present, the to settlers European

of an underground tank beneath the hotel around 1880 1880 around hotel the beneath tank underground an of

Aborigines lived off the land and more recently, from early early from recently, more and land the off lived Aborigines

in unmarked graves. graves. unmarked in external wall shows the level of the 1956 flood. Excavation Excavation flood. 1956 the of level the shows wall external

the landscape, in the times when small communities of of communities small when times the in landscape, the

and they would have been buried, as were some settlers, settlers, some were as buried, been have would they and It was built on the edge of the flood plain and the eastern eastern the and plain flood the of edge the on built was It

years; in the times before vertebrate animals roamed roamed animals vertebrate before times the in years;

Aborigines died from diseases brought in by Europeans Europeans by in brought diseases from died Aborigines

made changes which have taken place over millions of of millions over place taken have which changes made

for the treatment of infections and accidents. Many Many accidents. and infections of treatment the for in the Riverland. the in

Trust of , you can see natural and man- and natural see can you Australia, South of Trust

untimely deaths reflect the remoteness from medical help help medical from remoteness the reflect deaths untimely limestone blocks cut from the nearby cliffs and is the oldest oldest the is and cliffs nearby the from cut blocks limestone

In this 300 ha nature reserve, managed by the National National the by managed reserve, nature ha 300 this In

Children occupy two of the three graves here. Their Their here. graves three the of two occupy Children Harry Brand. The Hotel is solidly constructed from large large from constructed solidly is Hotel The Brand. Harry

Welcome to Overland Corner. Corner. Overland to Welcome Original Cemetery Original 3 It is believed that the Hotel was built by William junior and and junior William by built was Hotel the that believed is It

LOCATION OF

SOUTH Overland Corner Reserve AUSTRALIA Oysters were here 0 20km before there were Overland Corner people to eat them SCALE Adelaide National Trust South Australia

Y 20 Oyster Beds Morgan MURRA The climb to the top is worth the view. Herons Bend is Overland Corner Reserve Y revealed in all its glory, with Wigley Reach extending to Adelaide Lake 150km Bonney Renmark the south-west. From his station with a similar view the MURRA A20 T Waikerie HWY policeman would have had ample opportunity to keep an STUR Adelaide Berri eye on river traffic. 110km Mildura 150km Overland

The ocean responsible for the Mannum Limestone RIVER withdrew about 15 million years ago. Another incursion RIVER Loxton of the sea 2 – 3 million years ago provided habitat for the Corner Reserve oysters (Ostrea sturtiana). They were commented on by Swan Reach Adelaide via explorer Charles Sturt in 1830 “…summits were covered SE Freeway in oyster shells, in such abundance as to entirely preclude Walking Trails Since its formation in 1955 the National Trust of South Australia has the idea of their having been brought to such a position established a network of nearly 30 conservation reserves which contain: by natives.” • a valuable diversity of plant communities • significant wildlife habitat These fossil oyster beds lie in the Norwest Bend • a number of rare and threatened species and Formation. Look at the brochure The Geological History • sites of geological and Aboriginal significance. of Overland Corner. The management of these reserves is overseen by the natural heritage section through a volunteer network and is funded by The patch of young mallee trees to the north are a • membership subscriptions to NTSA rare local species, the Blue-leaved Mallee (Eucalyptus • donations and bequests cyanophylla). These have been propagated from local • State and Federal Government Grants and seed and planted by the volunteers. • sponsorship Please do not remove any material from this conservation reserve. 21 Old Quarry We can only speculate that this rough cliff face is where For more information on the Overland Corner Reserve or on becoming a volunteer contact the National Trust of South Australia the blocks for the police station may have come from. Natural Heritage Manager They seem older and smaller than the large regular blocks Level 2 27 Leigh Street Adelaide 5000 further along the track, which were probably quarried in Telephone: (08) 8212 1133 Overland Corner Hotel Facsimile: (08) 8212 1141 the 1940s. E-mail: [email protected] Continue on to the trailhead Checkpoint (A) and Hotel Website: www.nationaltrustsa.org.au for refreshment. References McHenry B 1986 Geological History of Overland Corner (NTSA leaflet) The walking trails, brochure and panels McHenry B 1986 Report on the Geology and Palaeontology of the National have been developed with the generous Trust Overland Corner Reserve (unpublished) sponsorship of SA Water. Berri-Barmera Glossop High School 1988 – notes for The Overland Corner Walking Trail (lflt) Local Action Planning Committee and the Berri and Barmera Woolmer GR 1976 Riverland Aborigines of the past (self published, Barmera) Council have also assisted. Woolmer GR 1986 A History of Overland Corner and its Hotel (self published, Barmera) This brochure has been produced by the National Trust of South Australia and the Friends of Overland Corner Reserve. Text by the Walking Trails Support Group. ‘Overland... under sea’ Illustrations by John Kimber. Designed by Lofty Designs. Printed on recycled paper 7 Overland Corner Cemetery The dead River Red Gums here are a testimony to the drying HERONS BEND WALK This cemetery has been in use for over 100 years. Three out of the river environment as natural floods have become members of the Brand family are buried here, William, rarer. It is hoped that, in future, water from the pool above Leave the trailhead Checkpoint (A) and walk through the his wife Martha and a daughter Lucy aged 6 years. Walter Lock 3 will be made available for periodic environmental gate, following the track to the river through the Lignum Brand, 4 years old, was buried in the old cemetery. The flows for the lagoon. The health of the River Murray and swamp (see Lignum comment at (10)) to Checkpoint (D). Brand family had a long association with this area. Over how its water is used is now under intense scrutiny by Turn right. concerned communities and governments. time, William managed the hotel and Harry was a driver 16 Boat ramp with Cobb and Co. coaches. Keep the lagoon on your near left. People can launch boats into the river here. Information about fish and size regulations is provided on a sign. 8 Old River Box — Checkpoint (C) 12 Old Footbridge River Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) may grow some Two solid timber posts on either side of the creek are all 17 Police Station (1877) distance from water and this one, well above the flood that remains of a suspension footbridge originally made At the top of the cliff ahead is an old stone house. level, will have its roots deep into the ground seeking with timber boards secured by steel cables. This enabled This was the Police Station and residence but it is now water. It is estimated this tree could be over 200 years stockmen to move their sheep from one side of the creek and privately owned. The need for police at Overland Corner old. lagoon to the other depending on water levels. was recognised in the 1840s with the increase in gold The fibrous roots of River Box were chewed by rush traffic, brawling fishermen, bush rangers, displaced Aboriginal women to make nets for snaring animals 13 Regulating Weir (2003) Aboriginals and cattle duffers. The first police station including fish. Large nets could take a year to make. The five box culverts block the natural channel allowing was built from slab and pug, probably in 1855, with water to be held in the lagoon after it has been filled by stone-built cells alongside, but it was many years before Return to the hotel via the Canoe Tree. If you wish to pumping or flooding. The weir can also be used to help in this Police Station was built. Better cells and stables continue on the FLOODPLAIN WALK, turn around the control of carp and the conservation of native fish. The for the police horses were built first! The Police Station when you have had a look at the tree. Cross the road lagoon water is managed by the volunteers of the Overland closed in 1894. opposite the old River Box and follow the markers. Corner Branch in consultation with the Berri Barmera Local Police station in 1890 Look out for traffic. Action Planning Committee and other River regulatory bodies. FLOODPLAIN WALK 14 Old pump As you leave the car park at Checkpoint (A) cross the By the windmill are the remains of a centrifugal pump similar road —look out for traffic—and walk along the track at to that now used to fill the lagoon. It was probably used to the foot of the cliff. flood at least part of the plain between here and the hotel in order to provide pasture for stock before the Reserve was 9 Canoe Tree established. From the marker, looking in the direction of the hotel, 18 Police Stables (1869) you can see a long scar on the old tree on the left. As suggested above the police horses and stables were Aboriginals would have scaled the tree and carefully considered very important. Perhaps the horses had grazed freely on the flat and needed more security. The peeled off the bark to make a small canoe. This gave Old pump them better access to the water for spearing fish. Many horse stalls were probably on the ground floor with the once used for hay above. The Stables are on the flood plain and have River Red Gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) along the flood irrigation river were used to make canoes but few of these old trees been flooded many times. Like the hotel the solid stone remain. Footholds were often cut into the trees to make construction has ensured its survival. The Stables is it easier peel away the bark, but they also made it easier owned by the National Trust but privately leased. to find bird nests and possums in the hollows for food 19 Herons Bend Fossils and fur. Here the river cuts in close to the cliff – in Aboriginal Have a look at the River Box at Checkpoint (C) and then mythology the giant spirit cod, Ponde, when speared by cross the road. Look out for traffic. Ngurunderi created the bend as he thrashed his tail. The 15 Moorings cliff is part of the same system as the quarry rocks (see 10 Swamp This is a popular recreation area where recreation and house Item (2)) and has most of the same fossils. The slight The trail follows the edge of a Lignum (Muehlenbeckia boats can be moored by visitors who wish to camp, fish variations in fossil fauna reflect fluctuating environments florulenta) swamp which lies on your right. With nearby or visit the hotel for refreshments. during the millions of years that these communities flooding, dry sticks will be replaced by an impenetrable existed. Geologists refer to the consolidated sediments as Return to the hotel by turning right at Checkpoint (D) or go thicket of interlocking almost leafless green canes. the Mannum Limestone. Lignum prefers areas which are intermittently flooded. straight on if continuing to HERONS BEND. Its tangled branches provide shelter for both native and Look for fossils in the stones at the foot of the cliff, but feral animals, including echidnas, kangaroos, foxes, pigs please don’t remove them. and small birds. Before settlement the Banded Hare 7 Overland Corner Wallaby, which inhabited small hollows in the cliffs, may Cemetery GOYDER HIGHW have foraged here. AY POWER TRANSMISSION LINE 11 Lagoon Old 4 GOYDER 5 HIGHWAY This low lying area used to fill with water 3 in every 4 Coach 6 years before the river was regulated by locks and water B was allocated for irrigation in the 1920s – 30s. Now it rarely fills naturally. The Overland Corner wetlands Mallee Road 3 Heritage Walk extend into backwaters upstream of this lagoon as Revegetation 2 9 C far as Lock 3, built in 1925. With the assistance of 21 1 A 8 neighbouring property owners water has been pumped Overland Corner Old Hotel into the lagoon and backwaters when possible. You can Coach detour to visit Lock 3 on your way to Barmera. Herons Bend 10 Road 19 18 20 Walk Bend Herons Floodplain R I V E R 17 Walk 16 ch ea Scar of the canoe R y D le 15 11 ig W

14 M

U Lagoon High river

R 12 inlet

R A

Y Low river 13 inlet

LEGEND Major sealed road Minor sealed road Walk Safely Vehicle track Walking trail • These walks conform to AS2156 Class 3, Creek Reserve boundary • There are natural hazards – loose stones, slippery surfaces, A 1 cliffs, water and perhaps snakes, Checkpoint; Point of interest Parking; Public toilets; Boat ramp • Children should be supervised at all times, • Keep to the marked tracks and take care with the road Floodplain crossings, Ephemeral wetlands B an ro • During periods of high river or wetland flooding avoid the Mallee scrub c k R I V ER Flood Plain and Herons Bend walks, • Carry adequate drinking water and protect yourself from the C M U re R e RA sun in summer, wear closed shoes or boots, OVERLAND CORNER k Y • If you are walking alone, let someone know when you will 0 200 m

return, RESERVE GRID NORTH SCALE • The Emergency Services mobile number is 112. Maps by Flat Earth Mapping Pty Ltd.