Dare's Hill Circuit Driving Tour Preview

Ready to Explore Dare's Hill Circuit

Welcome to the Dare's Hill Circuit, one of the Goyder Region's most scenic self-drive adventures. This 91km loop (approximately 165km from Burra return) takes you through spectacular landscapes, historic sites and working sheep stations that have shaped this rural district for generations.

You can begin your journey from Mount Bryan or Hallett, depending on your direction of travel.

Before You Set Off

• Allow at least 5 hours to complete the drive, with extra time for stops and sightseeing.
• Use a car charger while running the app, as GPS navigation can quickly drain your phone battery.
• There are no fuel, food or other services, and limited mobile phone coverage at points along the route. Please plan ahead.
• The drive is suitable for most conventional vehicles in dry conditions. However, due to steep hills, creek crossings and unsealed roads, it is not recommended for caravans, large trailers or low-clearance vehicles.
• Avoid travelling after heavy rain, as creek crossings and roads may become difficult or impassable.

Respect the Land

Much of this drive passes through private pastoral property. Please help protect this special place by:

• Staying on the marked route at all times.
• Not entering ruins, buildings, fenced areas or private property.
• Taking photos from the roadside only.
• Leaving gates as you find them and obeying all signage.
• Taking your rubbish with you and leaving no trace.

Bushwalking Safety

If you choose to explore on foot:

• Carry plenty of drinking water.
• Wear sturdy footwear.
• Stay on marked tracks.
• Allow plenty of time for your walk.
• Be prepared for changing weather conditions.
• Protect yourself from the sun.
• Take all rubbish home with you.

Take your time, enjoy the journey, and don't forget your camera there are unforgettable views around every bend.

Reset your odometer at the rotunda in Market Square, Burra.

In 1845 with the discovery of copper near the Burra Burra Creek, the first company owned mining town in Australia, Kooringa rapidly grew to be Australia’s largest inland town by 1851. The ‘Monster Mine’, as this mine became known, was the largest metal producing mine in Australia up until 1860. It had a large influence on the economy of the struggling colony of South Australia, producing about 50,000 tonnes of copper metal between 1845 and 1877, when the South Australian Mining Association’s operations ceased.

Burra has survived as one of Australia's significant historic towns because of its magnificent collection of historic buildings that give an insight into the life and times of Australia's early settlement.

Whilst Burra's story starts with a mine, and this is part of its history, you will see that it is more than that. Like most country towns it has suffered from adversity as well as enjoying good times. Over time it has evolved into an important rural centre servicing the surrounding agricultural and pastoral holdings and more recently a tourist attraction because of its rich history.

In 1993 the township of Burra was placed on the National Heritage Register as a significant historical site, being one of the best preserved mining towns in the state.

Travel north from the Rotunda out of town along Market Street to the Barrier Highway A32.

Pass Peacock’s Chimney and the Burra Mine entrance on your left.

If you have the Burra Heritage Passport Key - available to purchase at the Visitor Centre in Market Square, why not call into the Burra Mine and unlock the secrets at Morphetts Engine House.

Then, continue to tavel through Burra North township until you stop at the Barrier Highway T-junction.

At the T-junction turn left onto the Barrier Highway A32 and head 16km north to Mount Bryan.

Pass the entry point of the Burra by-pass in the vicinity of the open yards on the left.

The old stone building was the Drew and Crewe’s store dating from the 1870's.

Pass the Burra Golf Course on both sides of the highway.

The ruined farm house on the right was known as Cobb & Co’s Corner, and was made famous on the cover of Midnight Oil’s Album Diesel and Dust. This is typical of many of the rural homesteads seen throughout this tour.

The Bald Hill Range is seen on your right.

On your left, you could not miss the Hallett 2 Wind Farm. This wind-driven power station generates power for the National Electricity Grid that stretches from Ceduna and interstate as far as Victoria and Queensland.

Mount Bryan is situated 16km north of Burra on the Barrier Highway and is surrounded by picturesque hills. It is a small farming community which produces cereal crops, cattle and the famous stud merino sheep. The township, once a thriving railway town established in 1907, was named after a nearby peak, Mount Bryan, which was discovered in 1839 by Governor George Gawler and who named it in honour of assistant surveyor Henry Bryan, a young man who became lost and perished during Gawler’s expedition.

How quickly the times changed in the harsh era of the pastoral pioneers. The district was transformed from a wild and dangerous wasteland to a district which became the colony’s richest sheep run.

Mount Bryan was also a booming railway town, with the station being a stopping point for the East-West Express.

Drive north out of the Mount Bryan township along the Barrier Highway and look for the Dare's Hill Tourist Drive 21 sign on the right hand side of the highway. This is also the turnoff to Mount Bryan East.

Turn right at the Mount Bryan East turnoff, and reset your odometer to zero.Continue on the unsealed road to Mount Bryan East, following the Tourist Drive 21 signs.

Please note that no fuel is available for the next 100kms.

The Mokota Conservation Park turnoff is on the right. Ignore this and continue on to the ruined chapel on the right.

The Mt Bryan Bible Christian Chapel ruins are on the right. This chapel was built in 1871. It was the place of worship of Henry Collins, the pastoral pioneer of the district who established the Lucerndale sheep stud. He arrived here in 1859 and took up 80 acres of land on which he built a single-room pine and daub cottage. From here he engaged in carting wood to the Burra Mine. In 1879 as an experiment, he was the first to plant lucerne on his property, which flourished. This valuable crop enabled him to buy a stud ram and quality ewes, in 1884, on which he based the development of his successful sheep breeding venture. The Lucerndale property is on the right hand side of this road.

Here you will see views of Mt Bryan with the communication aerials on the left.

Mt Bryan is the highest point along the Razorback Range.

At the Dare Road intersection, continue straight on along the Mt Bryan East Road.

At the Glen View Road intersection, follow the Mount Bryan East road to the Wilkins Historic Site, don’t take Glen View Road.

Continue to follow the signs indicating the road to Wilkins Homestead

After travelling 21.5km, at this T-junction, continue straight on for 3.3km to the restored former Wilkins’ Homestead.

This is the Wilkins family homestead that was in ruins until its restoration in 2001.

George Hubert Wilkins was born at Mt Bryan East, the youngest of 13 children. He went to the local school; then continued his studies at the School of Mines in Adelaide, studying electrical engineering. He went to England in 1909, where he became interested in aviation and spent three years with an Arctic expedition as a photographer. In 1916, he joined the ‘Great War’; following the war he took part in the famous England to Australia air race which won fame for Charles Kingsford-Smith. Unfortunately Hubert Wilkins crashed his plane ‘Kangaroo’ at Crete and was unable to complete the race. In 1927 he made several unsuccessful attempts to fly over the Arctic and was stranded on an ice-pack, having to walk for 13 days to reach habitation. Later his mission was successful and he made several flights over the Arctic, receiving a knighthood for his work. From a regional history, Razorback Range Country.

Return the way you came back to the T-junction and turn left to Mount Bryan East, as indicated by the Tourist Drive 21 sign.

You will pass the site of the little town of Mount Bryan East (now in ruins). The abandoned buildings on the right were the school and church. The school operated from 1885-1919.

TheDust holes Creek is a major creek crossing on the route. After heavy rain you could become bogged at any of the creek crossings beyond this point on this tourist drive.

Note the creek to the right of the road with a spectacular erosion chasm. Here the road crosses a creek bed and numerous watercourses flow out of the surrounding hills, explaining the heavy vegetation in this mallee woodland.

At the 33.3km point, you will cross Goyder's Line, where you will notice a significant change in the vegetation with multi-stemmed mallee, with the first appearance of saltbush and a little further on Native Pines. George W. Goyder was Surveyor General of South Australia. In 1865, when many pastoral runs were in the grip of a drought, Goyder was sent north to determine which stations would be eligible of drought relief. On his return, Goyder drew the border line dividing the affected areas across a map of the colony, which became known as Goyder’s Line. At the time, Goyder’s blunt claim that everywhere beyond the Line was suitable only for grazing turned into something of a bomb-shell that dictated Government policy on rural expansion until 1874. The fact is that, considering the sparsely detailed maps which which he worked, it has stood the test of time as a surprisingly accurate delineation of the 10 inch line of rainfall, determined by the very changes in vegetation you see at this point.

Continue on for 3.7km until you reach Dare’s Hill Summit.

The spectacular view from Dare’s Hill Summit takes in the Wonna Range on the left, the Chinaman's Hat Hill ahead, and Ketchowla Hill to the right. The steep and winding descent provides spectacular views over the hills leading into dense woodland below. This is the narrow valley of the Piltimitiappa Creek.

Dare’s Hill is named after William Dare, one of the Mid North’s pastoral pioneers. Born in London in 1824, he migrated to South Australia at age 14. After working at grubbing trees in Adelaide, he was employed as a shepherd in the Barossa Valley. In 1852 he went to the Victorian goldfields and made good. On returning to South Australia, he secured a lease on 50 square miles of country known as Piltimitiappa which, with the help of the aborigines, he fenced and stocked with sheep. He ran this property for 35 years. The ruins of his homestead are found in the valley below. He died in 1892, having survived three wives.

The Piltimitiappa Valley with its tributaries and mallee woodland dominates this scene at the bottom of the descent.

The road enters Collinsville Station as it crosses a stock grid. Indigenous paintings are found in this area.

The Pilitimitiappa Homestead Ruins are seen on the right-hand side of the road. This property was established by William Dare in the 1850s and it was one of the earliest homesteads in the area. See the gravesites, the old windmill and stone tank that are reminders of that early pastoralists venture.

Located here are the Piltimitiappa Grave sites. The next 1.6 kilometres of the road pass through an attractive woodland, and after few kilometres the road emerges onto open country that exhibits quite different vegetation, predominantly saltbush, dotting the hills. This change is the result of moving from the siltstone region associated with Dust holes Creek to the older slate Tapley Hill formations.

At the 45km point, you will cross a stock grid.

Continue on another 2.4km, where the road bears left and commences to climb.

Ignore the right fork that goes to Collinsville Homestead.The Collinsville property, which you have been driving through, is world renowned for its stud rams and excellent wool. At the top of the crest there are long views of the Wonna Range and the following descent takes you to the alluvial plain created by the Wonna Creek, one of the major watercourses in the district.

The Wonna Creek Crossing is subject to flooding after heavy rain.

TheMallett Homestead is on the right and Mallett Reservoir is ahead to your right. Although this site was surveyed for the township of Mallett, it was never developed.

At the T-junction of Mallett, Dare’s Hill Summit and Ketchowla Roads, take the major road to the right and pass the reservoir on your left.

Continue on to the 53.9km point, where you will find a gate. This is the entrance to Ketchowla Station. Please leave all gates as you found them.

1.9km on, theDare's Windmill will be on your right and its large old stone tank is one of the historic landmarks of the district. The road climbs slowly from the Wonna Creek plain and then more steeply as it crosses the Tapley Hill formation up onto the open grasslands of the high plateau country.

Through this stock grid the road climbs to a saddle between hills revealing Mt Pullen, or Ketchowla Hill, on the left. On the high plateau, an abandoned windmill and stone tank on the left with an unusual natural stone outcrop on the right. Saltbush and bluebush are the predominant vegetation here with a few mallee and sandalwood. A view across the vast eastern plains that stretch to the Murray River and beyond now opens up as the road begins to descend.

Old Ketchowla Homestead and out buildings are on your left. The original Ketchowla head-station was established in the 1850’s by Christopher Giles, father of explorers Ernest and Alfred.

Ignore the Pulpara Road turnoff to your right, and continue straight ahead and veering slightly left past the outbuildings on your left. You will notice a ruined windmill with stone tank and out buildings.

At the 65.8km point, the Ketchowla Homestead will be on your right.

Continue on another 2.3km, where you may notice alarge stone water tank on the right hand side of the road, and a creek crossing with a windmill atop an old well feeding water to an old stone water tank. A quarry is on the left. A walk up along the creek takes you to aboriginal rock engravings and paintings.

You will pass through a double gate. Please leave all gates as you found them. The Wonna Range is in the view ahead. The vegetation is now mainly saltbush, bluebush, mallee and sandalwood. Note the remnants of the old telephone line.

Dave's Hutruins are on the left of the road. Built by David Dearlove of Ketchowla in the 1930’s it became a popular stopover for travellers. All that remains now is the well made fireplace and chimney. Bluebush and black bush are in the surrounding open woodland.

Continue on to the 81.8km point, where thePandappa Conservation Parkwill be on the left.

At the 85km point, the Pandappa Conservation Park Entrance will be on the left. The Pandappa Conservation Park takes its name from Pandappa Homestead that was settled in 1859 by Peter Waite, a successful pastoralist who donated his Urrbrae property and other land to the State resulting in the establishment of the Waite Institute and Urrbrae Agricultural High School.

You can explore the Pandappa Conservation Park at your leisure. As you leave the park entrance, you will see the remains of an old rabbit proof fence on the left and the old telegraph line on the right.

Pass through the Holder Road intersection and continue straight on.

Veer left at the Y-junction leaving Franklyn Road to your right. The town of Franklyn was optimistically surveyed in a good season but it was never developed. The homestead and out buildings of Franklyn can be seen on the right.

At the 91.5km point, Statton Gate will be on the left. This leads to an old ruin, on the left. The sturdy steel Statton Gate built at Ned Statton’s Blacksmith shop in Hallett was a stock item in the Mid North and something of a local icon.

At theDeep Creek Road Intersection, bear left here to head for Terowie. Travelling on this stretch of the road, you encounter ‘modern’ steel Oppenheimer and old wooden telegraph poles with a view of Stumpy Hill to the left. The steel poles were more durable than the wooden poles that suffered termite damage. They were used extensively on the Overland Telegraph route. The Hallett Wind Farm can be seen from here.

At the Barrier Highway Intersection, please give way to all traffic. Cross the highway into Terowie. On the right there is a model of the ‘Jupiter’ railway engine.

Turn right at the T-junction into the main street of the town of Terowie. Accommodation, petrol and all tourist facilities are available in the town.

Terowie is derived from a local aboriginal word meaning 'hidden water'. Midway between Adelaide and Broken Hill on the Barrier Highway, Terowie is arguably one of Australia's most famous railway towns.

When the broad gauge railway arrived from Adelaide in 1880, Terowie boomed, and did so for almost 90 years. Terowie was the break of gauge going north and south. All freight and passengers changed trains at Terowie. From 1940 to the 1950s, there was a population of over 2,000 people, with the rail industry being the main employer.

In 1969, the broad gauge was extended to Peterborough. Terowie began to decline, with businesses closing and many people leaving. In 1989, the railways finally left Terowie with the line ripped up. In 1985 the town was declared an 'historic town'.

Reset your odometer in the main street of Terowie. Turn right onto the Barrier Highway at the
T-junction and head 9.9km south towards Whyte Yarcowie and Hallett.

Whyte Yarcowie was surveyed in 1875 and the name Yarcowie is said to be aboriginal for ‘wide water’. ‘Whyte’ was added to the name in 1929, after an early pastoralist John Whyte. Alexander McCulloch was the first to pioneer the area and his name is given to McCulloch Square. The railway station was built in 1880 and Whyte Yarcowie was a good example of a bustling railway town in the early 1900s. The town had a flour mill, schools, hotels and an Anglican Church which, at the time, was reported to be the smallest in Australia.

Continue on 21.1km to the township of Hallett.

Hallett lies on the Barrier Highway, an important transport route through the mid north of the state. The pioneering settlers in the region established pastoral runs in the 1850s, despite it being unexplored and not fully surveyed. Surveyed in 1870, the town is named after brothers John and Alfred Hallett, early pioneers in the district and became a rural service centre. Goyder’s Line passes to the east of the township dividing the region into pastoral and agricultural properties. In the 1860s there were a larger number of people who successfully took up agriculture, producing grain - the economic backbone of the state.

With the arrival of the railway linking the region to the markets in Adelaide, in the 1880s the town grew. Now that the railway line has closed, the link still exists along the highway.

Hallett was the home of the Statton gate manufactured in Ned Statton’s blacksmith shop that operated between 1892 and 1957. These became a stock item on properties across the region. See the display in the main street of the town.

Continue 32km south along the Barrier Highway to Burra.

Your driving tour finishes at Market Square, Burra. Whilst the drive ends here, there are many things to do and see in the town.

Visit the friendly staff at the Visitor Information Centre, and enquire about the many activities provided.