Aroona Valley

The road

The Aroona Valley stage is the most historically grounded in the Flinders Loop. The 7-kilometre Aroona Road runs north from the Brachina Gorge road to the ruined homestead of the original Aroona Station, established in the 1850s for Merino sheep grazing. The dry stone walls and broken chimney are still standing. The road follows the valley past the creek beds that the station was built to access, finishing at the Aroona Ruins camping area. The red quartzite walls of the Elder Range rise on the western side of the valley throughout the drive. Sir Hans Heysen painted this valley repeatedly - it is one of the landscapes most closely associated with Australian landscape art. This is the easiest stage in the Flinders Loop and the shortest. It is worth doing for the ruins alone - the dry stone wall construction is remarkable given the tools available to the 1850s station hands.

The region

The Aroona Valley was one of the earliest pastoral runs in the Flinders Ranges, taken up by James Masters in 1851. The station ran Merino sheep on the valley floor and creek country until overgrazing and drought forced abandonment in the early 1900s. The ruins are maintained as a heritage site within the national park.

Before you go

Fuel in Hawker. Water recommended. The easiest stage in the Flinders Loop - accessible to most vehicles with adequate clearance. The ruins are worth time for the dry stone wall construction. No mobile coverage. Camping available at the ruins.

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