By Jack McGuire
The shearing shed at Witchelina Station stands on 421,000 hectares of arid land 30kms north-west of Lyndhurst in Northern South Australia.
It’s more than twice the size of greater Adelaide and for 144 years it served as one of the State’s best known livestock stations.
That was until 2010 when the property was acquired by Nature Foundation South Australia (NFSA), with almost $2 million from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative, as well as generous contributions from private donors.
It’s been renamed Witchelina Nature Reserve and now sits at the forefront of preserving, restoring and protecting South Australia’s unique reserves and wildlife.
Vintage sheep shearing machine wheels peer over Witchelina’s now rusty sheep pens – a silent tribute to the properties 144 years of pastoralism
The challenge for Witchelina – and its many friends and volunteers – is to balance conservation with the need to raise on-going funds which don’t negatively impact on precious reserves and wildlife.
Ecotourism ventures head up the tourist attractions – such as 4WD loops through the Old Mt Nor’West Gorge,’Tag Along’ tours with the manager, guided tours, walking trails and accommodation, such as the restored shearers’ quarters.
Twelve NFSA managers work a rotating roster to maintain the property.
Manager Kevin Fahey says the experience and skills he and his colleagues ‘bring to the table’ are as diverse as the flora and fauna found on the nature reserve.
“Me, I’m a Jack of all trades,” the retired teacher laughs.
“Our managers are carpenters, former and current station owners, an electrical engineer, ex-teachers, miners, plumbers and a scientist who tutored at the Adelaide University.”
A passionate conservationist, Kevin and his wife Shirley typify the dedicated group of people committed to preserving South Australia’s vulnerable species, like the Thick-billed Grasswren, the Gidgee Skink, Striped Faced Dunnart, the brown snake and eradicating feral pests threatening native flora and fauna.
Kevin Fahey and his wife Shirley
Kevin, his colleague’s, scientists and supporters of NFSA work hard to maintain the balance between ecotourism and conservation.
“Ecotourism means we can raise funds,” he says.
“It’s important if we are to continue saving and protecting this stunning part of South Australia’s outback.”
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