The history of the railways in the Flinders Ranges is an important part of Australia’s rich cultural heritage. Key railway communities include Quorn, Port Augusta and Peterborough, each with a unique culture of their own.
Peterborough Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre The community of Peterborough was among the hardest hit when the new standard gauge line linking Broken Hill and Port Pirie opened in early 1970. For the first time trains by-passed Peterborough and the population dwindled.
Since its reopening in November 2009, the revamped Peterborough Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area.
Steamtown Peterborough have opened a sound and light show in its old locomotive workshops showcasing its historic collection and telling the story of Peterborough’s role in the railways networks linking the east and west and north and south of Australia.
The route through Peterborough from the east also includes a string of high-quality heritage sites including the town of Burra; while to the north, the Orroroo Carrieton district has recently produced ‘Stones and Rail’, an audio guide providing an entertaining and in-depth history of the area.
Further north, the town of Blinman is developing a sound and light experience in its old copper mine. From there visitors can take in the ruins of the once significant towns of Beltana and Farina, which has recently been restored by work by groups of volunteers and travellers.