Heritage Living Winter 2011 - National Trust of Australia

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Heritage Livingnational TRust of South Australiatrust newsWilabalangaloo: ‘Place of red, yellow and brown stones’glenn Williams Natural Heritage ManagerAbove: Wilabalangaloo CliffsPhoto: Dean Linesseven-kilometre riverboat journey upstreamA from the Riverland township of Berri is thecaptivating natural setting of Wilabalangaloo. The94 hectare property is shouldered by the RiverMurray to the east and dissected by the Old SturtHighway to the west.Wilabalangaloo offers scenic views and spectacularochre-coloured limestone cliffs along itskilometre-long river frontage. Featuring stunningexamples of the region’s geological and naturalhistory and early aboriginal habitation, the nameWilabalangaloo is thought to be derived from anAboriginal word meaning ‘the place of red, yellowand brown stones’ a link to the colours in the cliffs.At the time of white settlement and pastoralleases, this property was just a postage stamppiece of the enormous Cobdogla Station, land thathad been taken up as a sheep run in 1842 and partof the Chambers brothers’ empire. (CobdoglaStation once stretched from Overland Corner toLake Victoria inside the New South Wales border,covering some 500kms of river frontage).In 1908 Cobdogla Station was resumed by theCrown for irrigation settlement (the Berri andCobdogla Irrigation Areas). The designationof Irrigation Perpetual Leases increasedpace with the influx of returned soldiersand the decision to include Berri aspart of Soldier Settlement.Left: National Trust plaque atWilabalangaloo in 1959Photos: NTSAAbove left: Janet Reiners (shovel in hand)and members of the Renmark Branch erect theNational Trust plaques at Wilabalangaloo in 1959Photos: NTSAAbove right: Janet Reiners Photos: NTSAThe Legacy of Janet Annie Reiners 1Janet Annie Reiners was born at Renmark on 24thFebruary, 1895. From an early age Janet was veryactive, fit, a lover of animals, natural beauty andopen spaces.During the 1930s, travelling regularly onhorseback or driving a sulky to Loxton via Berrior Paringa (to help with her father’s buildingventures) Janet had been able to explore andfall in love with the Wilabalangaloo environs.Later, with her heart set on the notion, she wassuccessful in purchasing the property in 1941.The red and yellow sandstone used for thebuilding of her home on the property in 1942,was quarried from the eastern frontage ofWilabalangaloo.In 1957, owing to the strong relationship shehad with members of the Renmark NationalTrust Branch, Janet resolved to gift the southernportion of her property as a National TrustReserve, formally gazetted in March 1959.Following the early years of the Berri Branch ofthe National Trust (formed in 1963) Janet haddecided to give all her remaining land to the1 Information extracted from The History of Wilabalangaloo,compiled by the late DB Mack on behalf of the Berri Branch ofthe National Trust of South Australia, September 1983page 10
Heritage Livingnational TRust of South Australiatrust newsNational Trust, as an organisat ion which wouldensure that her property would remain in safehands in perpetuity.Dedication of the remaining portions of her landas part of the Reserve were published in theGovernment Gazette of 18th May, 1972. Janet wasmade an Honorary Life Member of the NationalTrust of South Australia in recognition of her gifts.As agreed at the time of her original gift to theTrust in 1957, Janet had life-time occupationrights without charge to her, as well as over-ridingsay in relation to the house and property. Janetretired from the property on 29th August, 1977, toWaterford Private Hospital, Glenelg. She died onthe 18th February 1990.The Nature ReserveThe constant and enduring feature ofWilabalangaloo is its natural landscape and floraand fauna conservation values. The days of amuseum and exhibits depicting early Riverlandlife are now over; as are the wildlife enclosuresand animals that featured as part of past visitorattractions.During the mid-1970s to the early-1990s, theBerri Branch had created and modified a seriesof interpretive walking trails. Building on thatthe most recent redevelopment (courtesy of aphilanthropic grant) was completed in mid-2011.Over the past two years, groups of local, interstateand international volunteers have carved out newtrail sections and installed new signs, markerposts and fencing, for a better visitor experience.Supported by a new self-guided tour brochure,the trail network provides an up-close-andpersonalexperience of scenic riverine landscapes,fascinating geology and a recovering malleehabitat supporting remarkable vegetation andwildlife.The nature trail is now a core element of theWilabalangaloo Nature Reserve.Contributing to the regional story about pre-European heritage and post-settlement influenceson the riverine environment, Wilabalangaloonow also features as part of the NationalTrust’s Riverland Heritage Trail (as identified in apromotional booklet published April 2010).Mary Martin Bookshop & Café, former Norwood BaptistChurch 1870ACTIVATINGOUR BUILT HERITAGEA seminar in conjunction with the Don DunstanFoundation on building re-use in SA andpromoting development with heritage.Wednesday 5 October 2011, 6-00pm,Mary Martin Bookshop & Café134A Norwood Parade, NorwoodThis exciting event will feature the dynamic SteffenLehmann, author and Professor of SustainableDesign at the University of SA, and an expert panelwith audience discussion about adaptive re-useand future directions for built heritage. Venue willbe the airy space of the former Baptist Church1870, now superbly re-configured as bookshopand café.The NTSA will also launch its Cultural HeritageAdvisory Committee’s discussion paper LivingHeritage Vision 175, on creating a richer morediverse and sustainable built environment topromote SA as The Heritage State.6-00pm6-25pm6-30pm7-00pmProgram:Drinks, tea or coffeeWelcome and launch Living HeritageVision 175 by David BeaumontNTSA PresidentKeynote address byProfessor Steffen LehmannPanel and discussionChair: Professor Ben HewittSA Government ArchitectPanelists invited include: Paul Leadbeter,Senior Lecturer Adelaide University Law School;Carolyn Wigg, Research Fellow University of SA;Dr Ianto Ware, Renew Adelaide (urban renewal ofempty spaces).Bookings through the National Trust office8202 9200 or Don Dunstan Foundation,L4 230 North Tce, Adelaide, tel 8303 3364,www.dunstan.org.au$10 entry (indicate NTSA membership),$5 low income.page 11
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Heritage Living Winter 2011 - National Trust of Australia

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