The beautiful Clare Valley

Home Top Index Our place, as seen from my drone on a Winter's morning. Photo 2020/06/20, Mavic Mini drone

Infra-red aerial photo taken around 1994. The two dams on the western end of the property were in place and the shed near the old dam, lower left centre, had been built. The speck beneath the lone tree upper right centre is an 11kL concrete tank that we had placed there. The small white patch on the extreme east of the property is probably where the well had recently been drilled; but there is no indication of the pipeline that was to run from well to the tank and on to the shed. There is nothing to be seen of any trees that we had planted.

Home Top Index Google Earth image dated December 2006. The woodlot is conspicuous at upper centre. The two olive orchards (the dotted rectangles upper centre and upper right, planted about 1996) and both vineyards (the darker areas near the words 'Armagh' and 'Etrick' on the right, planted 1997 and 1999) are now to be seen. The carob trees are on the top of the hill (on the left, just below the words 'Scobie Lane Retreat'. The shack (upper left) and the garden area is visible. The two conspicuous rows of trees were planted along a buried pipeline and early track. Up to this time most of the trees I had planted (apart from the two rows) were in areas fenced away from the sheep that were run periodically on ajistment.

Google Earth image dated November 2013. Now many of the trees that had been planted right across the property (each protected from the sheep by an individual guard) are visible. The trees in the woodlot and the olive trees are noticeably bigger.

Home Top Index Google Earth image dated October 2021. Apart from the soil of the vineyard being bare the main difference is that almost all the trees are bigger. We had sold the eastern third of the land (to the right of the thin white line beneath the olive orchard at top centre) before this aerial photo was taken.

Sunrise over a ground mist on an Autumn morning. More photos of Elysium are on another page on this site. Photo 2020/04/20, Mavic Mini drone

My son, Ken, and I started off planting an olive orchard, a couple of fenced off areas of Eucalypts and a couple of vineyards. It was only after these that I started planting scattered Eucalypts over the whole property. At the time sheep were being grazed on agistment to keep the fire load down, so all the trees had to be protected by individual guards. Photo 2008/08/13, Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL. 'Our' kangaroos A mob of kangaroos on Elysium. Photo 2020/06/14, Mavic Mini drone. We have had up to 22 kangaroos at a time on our property, Elysium. More often we see around six or eight. I couldn't get close enough to get a photo like this without using the drone. Home Top Index Above the big road cutting west of Armagh The following photos were taken on the early morning of 2021/08/25 using my Mavic Mini drone. Elysium, on a morning with ground-hugging mist. Looking toward the west, Blyth road on the right. I planted the great majority of the trees on the left of the road, those in the foreground are olives.

Looking north from above the cutting. Emu Rock is at the far end of the ridge that rises above the mist on the right.

Looking northeast, Hicks Road is on the far side of the cleared paddock on the right. Armagh would be beneath the mist beyond that.

Looking nor-northwest from above the cutting. Emu Rock is on the far right. More photos of the Armagh area are on another page on this site.

Home Top Index

Jacobs Range Road, southwest of Armagh Jacobs Range Road is a great place to walk, with your dog or without. I've recorded some other photos from Jacobs Range Road on another page on this site. Photo 2021/08/28, iPhone 7

From this section of Jacobs Range Road, near the southern end, you get views over the Blyth Plain. Photo 2021/06/29, Apple iPhone 7, panorama

For the first 26 years that my wife and I have lived in the Clare 'Valley' Jacobs Range Road was just a narrow bush track. Sometime before this photo was taken it was widened and that has made it less picturesque, but it still has its attractive spots. Photo 2021/06/29, Apple iPhone Home Top Index

Adjacent to the bird hide There are a number of sculptures at the Wetlands. This one is beside the bird hide. Over 50 species of birds have been recorded at Gleeson Wetlands. Pigface Carpobrotus glaucescens? flowering near the centre shelter shed in the Wetlands. There are many more photos of the Gleeson Wetlands on a dedicated page.

Autumn leaves and lichen on a granite gravestone. I love the veins in the leaves and the details in the lichen and sand grains (you'll need to look at the high definition image to see them properly). Photo 2021/05/01, Canon Ixus 190 Lichen on a granite gravestone In the high-definition image (click on the low-definition image) note the baby lichen plants getting established preferentially on the dark mineral grains (probably amphiboles or pyroxenes) rather than the light grains (quartz and feldspar). Photo 2021/05/01, Canon Ixus 190 Home Top Index Clare township area, taken from my drone on a morning with a ground-hugging mist, 2021/07/10. Ground hugging mist in the Clare area can be beautiful but very few people see it, partly because it usually lasts only a very short time after sunrise. If you do want to see it the first requirement is to get out of bed early, and while early morning mists might sometimes be forecast when they are they do not always occur and then they might occur when they are not forecast. It can be see before sunrise but it’s most beautiful after sunrise. To see it from the ground you'll have to climb a hill within the half hour after sunrise; not many people do. I happen to be an early riser and also happen to have a hill near my home, again, not many people do. Some of the best of the early photos I've taken of my property involved an early morning ground-hugging mist. Or you can use a drone, but you still have to get up early. Drone photos from above Billygoat Hill All the photos in the next three sections, Billygoat Hill, Pinks Reserve and Jarman Crescent, were taken by my Mavik Mini drone on the early morning of 2021/07/10, and all were taken from a point either directly above where I was standing, or near to it.

Looking toward the northwest, St Barnibus Anglican Church on the bottom right of centre.

Looking west, the northern roundabout right of centre near the bottom. Looking south, Mill Street running across the view in the foreground, the dead-end Scott Street running off from that and the intersection of Union Street and Mill street is in the left foreground. Cheap-as-Chips is in the big building on the lower right, Old North Road on the left of that and Main North Road on the right side. The football oval in the middle distance on the right. Looking southeast toward Pinks Reserve (the towers on the ridge in the middle of the photo). Spring Farm Road would be in the valley beyond the wooded hill of Pinks Reserve. The intersection of Union Street and Mill Street is in the right foreground. Home Top Index Old North Road runs across this image from lower left to right, Main North Road is parallel to that through the centre and gum trees show the position of the Hutt River. The Medical Centre is the large white roof in the centre foreground. The Town Hall is in the lower centre, the big building houses Cheap-as-Chips and used to house Target. Old Main Road and Main North Road to the left and right, respectively, of those. The Catholic Church is the steepled building on the right. The peak on the horizon in the centre is probably Mount Oakden. Looking southwest; the Catholic Church is the steepled building in the centre, Main North Road in the foreground with the gum tree lined Hutt River beyond.

Home Top Index

Looking south along the ridge of Pinks Reserve, Mount Oakden in the distance on the horizon.

The forest of Pinks Reserve in the foreground, Clare township beneath the thin mist in the middle distance. The steeple of the Catholic Church is just visible through the mist; Armagh would be in the mist-shrouded valley in the distance. From above Pinks Reserve, I think this must be looking toward the North, more judging by the direction of the light from the early morning sun than by any recognition of the topography. Home Top Index Looking toward the south, Spring Farm road would be on the left, but I can't pick it out in this photo. Drone photos from above Jarman Crescent on a morning with a ground-hugging mist All photos by my Mavik Mini drone, 2021/07/10 and all were taken from a point directly above where I was standing, or close to it. Looking south; the Heysen Trail is hidden by the row of pine trees (darker green) that runs across the photo from right to left. The Farrell Flat road is just beyond that. The southern end of Jarman Crescent is in the foreground. Pinks Reserve would be to the right of the cleared patch in the distance, upper centre. Looking north from the southern end of Jarman Crescent Home Top Index Looking toward the northeast, toward the low sun, from over Jarman Crescent. The people in the house in the foreground have allowed their fire to burn with a lot of smoke. This can and should be avoided, but I think it adds something to the photo. Looking from above Jarman Crescent toward the south. The Riesling Trail is hidden behind the dark pine trees in the right centre and runs from there across to the lower left. The Farrell Flat road is on the right beyond the Trail. A power sub-station is conspicuous in the middle distance on the left. Home Top Index Neagles Rock Neagles Rock is a viewpoint that has been used for well over a hundred years. It is in a 24ha reserve of the same name. There is a car park with a shelter shed, two trails up to the Rock, and several other trails through the reserve. In the photo my wife, Denece, is holding our dog, Socrates. The Rock is about 1.8km SSW of the Clare Post Office as the crow flies. The main access is from Neagles Rock Road. Alternatively it can be accessed from Bennys Hill Road. Photo 2019/07/13

A panorama looking southeast from the Trail near Seven Hill. Photo 2021/03/11, 07:56

Quarry Road bridge was upgraded, widened and given a smoother surface, at the end of 2020. Photo 2021/02/26, 08:46 Home Top Index My Ebike on the side of the Trail, near Seven Hill early on an Autumn morning. Photo 2021/03/11, 07:55

A nearby section of the Trail from my drone Photo 202 Home Top Index

A brick lined part underground tank near the Riesling Trail between Stonecutting Road and Tatkana Road south of Seven Hill. These were once popular ways of keeping water cool right through the heat of Summer. They are now fairly rare. Click on the image to see the tank in higher definition. Use Return to come back. Photo 2021/03/11, 08:05 Home Top Index One of many picnic tables along the Trail. I made it out of red gum and installed it and two similar ones ten years before this photo was taken. This table was all red gum. For the other two I used 100mm square steel tube for the legs. I suspect either rot or termite attack in the legs will be the most likely cause for deterioration to the tables. It's pleasing that they look much the same as it did ten years ago. My impression is that the decking oil that I have applied every few years has greatly helped protect the wood from the weather. Photo 2021/03/11 The top of the same table. At the time I installed this, if I remember rightly, there were very few other seats and tables on the Trail. Now there are many.

Looking east toward the low Sun from the Riesling Trail near Seven Hill. Contented cattle eating their hay. Home Top Index These cattle are far better off than those that are confined to feed lots. Animals have rights just as humans have rights. Photo 2021/03/11, 08:00

St Aloysius Church on the right and Jesuit retreat buildings centre and left. A little of the winery can be seen in the distance on the far left. There is an informative page on Sevenhill and the Jesuits on the Sevenhill Winery site. Quoting from that page: "Sevenhill, in the Mid North of South Australia, was the birthplace of the Jesuits in Australia after they arrived in Adelaide as chaplains to a group of Austrians that fled Europe to escape political and religious oppression. The immigrants settled near the township of Clare and the Jesuits purchased 100 acres of land in 1851 [15 years after to proclamation of South Australia as a colony], naming it Sevenhill after the Seven Hill district of Rome." The church, while still holding weekly Masses, also hosts occasional musical events. My wife and I once greatly enjoyed a performance of The Messiah here. Photo by Phantom drone, 2016/09/26

While a section of the grounds of Sevenhill Winery and Jesuit retreat is open for visitors, and is an interesting and historical place to walk around, probably most visitors go to the cellar door sales and tasting room. Mary MacKillop, a saint to the Catholics, had a tenuous connection with the Jesuit retreat at Sevenhill. She was recorded as having stayed in what is now a recently stabilised ruin on the grounds. Photo 2021/04/22 Home Top Index Vaulted wine cellar, Seven Hill Winery

This is the only vaulted wine cellar I know of in South Australia that is open to the public. Photo 2021/04/22

Another part of the Sevenhill Winery storage area. As I recall these barrels mostly contain fortified and alter wines. Photo 2021/04/22 Home Top Index Crypt, St Aloysius Church, Sevenhill The crypt under St Aloysius Church where many of the brothers have been buried. I suppose there are similar crypts elsewhere in Australia, perhaps in South Australia, but I don't know of any. Photo 2020/06/20 Slate tank, Sevenhill Winery A slate tank. This one is used for storing water, others in the winery are used for fermenting grape juice for wine. The 'slate', I believe, is actually a well bedded siltstone and is still mined at Mintaro. There are a few other examples of slate tanks around the 'Clare Valley'. Photo, iPhone 7, 2020/06/20 Hughs Park Road and Gillentown Road A few of the beautiful gums on Hughs Park road near Skillogalee Restaurant. On the day I took this photo I rode my ebike from Penwortham westward on Horrocks Road, then northward in Hughs Gap Road and eastward on Bayes Road to Seven Hill. This is a very scenic loop off the Riesling Trail, sealed all the way. There is the bonus of the Little Red Grape coffee shop and bakery being on Bayes Road in Seven Hill. Photo 2021/03/11, 08:39 Home Top Index

A view toward the west from Hughs Park Road Photo 2021/03/11, 08:35

Skillogalee Restaurant is in the distance. Hughs Park Road runs through the valley of the Skillogalee Creek. Photo 2021/03/11, 08:38 Home Top Index

Skillogalee Restaurant is just off Hughs Park Road. In good weather you can eat out under the big olive tree, and you can even tie your dog up near your table. Denece and Socrates enjoying a pleasant sit in the shade. Photo 2018/02/11 Home Top Index

One of my favourite roads for cycling is Gillentown Road. It connects with Neagles Rock Road and Spring Gully Road in the north to Hughs Park Road and Bayes Road in the south. It is a short ride along Bayes Road to Sevenhill. This panorama photo of about 150 degrees was taken on a chilly morning of 2018/05/13

Home Top Index

The view down Spring Creek from The Cascades Lookout. In the distance is The Hummocks (between Port Wakefield and Kulpara) and behind the distant gum tree can just be made out (in the high definition image and possibly with a bit of imagination) the northern end of Saint Vincent's Gulf. Photo 2020/04/22

Yaccas Yaccas (Xanthorrhoea) are not generally common in the Clare area, but there are many right on top of the ridge in Spring Gully Conservation Park. Photo 2021/02/07 Home Top Index Sundews, Spring Gully Conservation Park A ground-hugging sundew, moss and a fallen gum tree flower. The sundew could be Drosera whitakeri; common name scented sundew or Whitaker's sundew. Photo Canon Ixus 190, 2021/07/26

Home Top Index A ground-hugging sundew with a flower, Spring Gully Conservation Park. Photo Canon Ixus 190, 2021/07/26 Sundews are small carnivorous plants. It can be seen in the high definition images that there is a tiny glob of red fluid on the tips of each of the hairs surrounding the leaves. This is sticky. Small insects that touch the hairs will get stuck in the fluid, the leaf will curl over the insect and the plant will digest it.

A climbing sundew, possibly Drosera macrantha subspecies planchonii. Photo Canon Ixus 190, 2021/07/26 Then there's climate change, Spring Gully Conservation Park The Clare Valley, like the rest of the world is suffering from climate change. This photo shows die-back in red stringybark trees in Spring Gully Conservation Park. Climate change is also showing up in the grape picking tending to get earlier each year. Photo May 2008

Home Top Index

Leasingham The area around Leasingham is one of the most intensively planted with vineyards. Several wineries in the Clare Valley have installed large rooftop solar power systems, such as the one on the image. There are about 490 panels. If each is 250 Watts, the installed capacity would be about 122 kilowatts. Home Top Index Solar and wind power are the most important parts of Australia's energy future Photo by DJI Phantom 3 Advanced drone 2016/01/17 Brinkworth, not quite Clare Valley, a Corymbia ficifolia

The story behind this group of photos is rather puzzling. My wife and I had driven past the location of this tree, a Corymbia ficifolia, about 40 metres off the Brinkworth-Koolunga road, literally hundreds of times over the 28 years before we noticed the brilliant display of blossom on 2022/01/06. It is unimaginable that we would have missed noticing this tree if it had anything like as bright a display of blossom as this in all that time.

A closer view of the Corymbia ficifolia.

The entire tree At a guess, based on the size of the tree and its trunk, I'd suppose that it would be ten to twenty years old. I have read that Corymbia ficifolia blossom every two years. Had this one blossomed anything like this 2, 4 and 6 years ago I cannot imagine that we could have missed seeing it. A close-up of some of the blossoms Home Top Index