Land that was once overgrown and overused has been transformed into a stunning garden displaying Australia’s myriad arid environments.
Story by George Inglis and Photos by John Kruger
At the gateway to South Australia’s outback between the Flinders and Gawler ranges, a stone’s-throw from the shimmering Stuart Highway out of Port Augusta, Australia’s natural heritage stands as a beacon to an international audience. Sprawling across more than 200 hectares, the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden has become a bastion of Australian flora and a jewel in the crown of Australia’s environmental tourism industry.
The land on which the garden now stands was once overgrown with sandalwood trees and had suffered under motorcycles, horses and encroaching saltpans. It took the commitment of passionate and inspired locals to make the garden what it is today – a veritable mecca for tourists on their outback pilgrimages.
This story excerpt is from Issue #51
Outback Magazine: Feb/Mar 2007
