Flinders Ranges of South Australia

Aboriginal Culture

The importance of Aboriginal Culture and people in this region will not be lost to visitors, with numerous landmarks, tourist attractions, walking trails having Aboriginal names and significance to the Adnyamathanha people.

Numerous Aboriginal painting, etching and rock carving (petroglyph) sites, generally accompanied by interpretive signs, are found in the Flinders Ranges.

Rangers working in National Parks play an important role in relating myths to visitors and preserving remaining culture.

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Waterhole or spring (awi)

Arkaroo Rock - Aboriginal Paintings

Turn left at the sign 41 km north of Hawker off the Wilpena Road. Follow the gravel road from the marked turn off to the parking bay and continue by foot on the marked walking trail.

"Akurra" is the name given to the giant serpents which, among other things, created Wilpena Pound. The walls of the Pound are the bodies of the "akurra" and the head of one of the serpents forms St Mary Peak, the highest peak in the Flinders Ranges at 1170m. There are many paintings at Arkaroo Rock created in red, yellow and white ochre and charcoal. An archaeological dig at the main cave dated the site as 5000 years old.

From Arkaroo Rock can be seen Moonarie, one of Australia's premier rock climbing sites.

Death Rock Waterhole

There are two ways to get to the rock:

Follow signs from Kanyaka Ruins, or

Drive about a kilometre further south on the Quorn road to a parking area on your right. The track will take you past the old lime burning pits (the lime was used in the construction of the buildings).

This 6m high rock perched next to the creek bank is the rock from which Kanyaka derived its name. Below the rock is a large waterhole which is seldom dry. The rock is significant in that Aboriginal people would bring those near death to lie in its shadow until they finally passed away.

The caves are located adjacent to Yourambulla Peak l3 km south of Hawker off the Quorn road. A parking area is the starting point for the climb across rocky slopes to the spectacular rock faces and overhangs which contain the paintings. Steps and a platform are in front of the main gallery. This site is well worth the trip and offers splendid views over the countryside.

The name Yourambulla is derived from the Adnyamathanha phrase "yura pila" meaning, "two men" and is related to the two peaks (to the east of the painting sites). In Adnyamathanha legend two men of different kinship, "arraru" and "mathari", camped where the two peaks now stand to eat part of a emu they were carrying. It is thought that the smaller peak is the "mathari" man and the larger the "arraru" man.