Points of Interest

History: Box Flat Ruins - Nanam Well - Bucks Camp

Scenic Views: Mt Rescue - Pine Hut Soak - Gosse Hill - Mt Shaugh

Birdwatching: Box Flat - Bucks Camp - Comet Bore

Walking Trails:

- Tyms Lookout Hike
- Pine Hut Soak to Scorpion Springs Hike
- Pine Hut Soak to Nanam Well Hike
- Pertendi Hike

Special Parks

- Karte Conservation Park
- Ngarkat Conservation Park

Baan Hill

Baan Hill is just outside Ngarkat Conservation Park and is maintained by the Southern Mallee District Council and the Lameroo Rotary Club. Signposted on Mallee Highway and is accessed by dirt road but 2WD accessible approximately 20km south-south west of Lameroo. It is a gravel road and the entrance into the picnic site is jut before the entrance to the park.

Walk: There are no set walks but you can explore among the sand dunes and large gums around the site.Very pretty in spring time. Explore Mrs Monru's home site.
Facilities: Large shaded area with ample car parking. Large sheltered shed with fireplace. Toilets and rain water available. Covered picnic table.

Pertendi Hut

Part of the Ngarkat Conservation Park and maintained by the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage.

Entry: Approximately 45km south of Mallee Highway on the Pinnaroo to Bordertown bitumen road, it is well signposted.
Walk: Easy walking trail which is very prety in spring-time
Explore: Historic Sheperds Hut
Facilities: Toilet, water, picnic tables, campfire, campsites (permit required by self registration at site)

Pine Hut Soak

Part of the Ngarkat Conservation Park and maintained by South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage.

Entry: 15km down gravel Rosy Pine Road which comes off the Mallee Highway approximately 6km south west of Pinnaroo
Walk: A network of walking trails
Facilities: Toilet, water, picnic tables, campfire, campsites (permit required by self registration at site)

Wilkawatt

The railway yards remained active until the introduction of bulk grain handling in 1959.

A large water softening plant was installed here in 1905 to remove the harsh minerals from bore water that caused scale to build up in the steam trains' boilers.

Wilkawatt began to decline as a community centre after WWII, as did many similar sized townships. Improved transport and roads drew people towards Lameroo for essential services, employment and education.

Parrakie

In 1912 a refreshment room was built at the rail siding, and it became famous for its wonderful pies and pasties.This was the only refreshment stop between Tailem Bend and Pinnaroo, with the premises licensed to serve alcohol only when the train was at the station. (It was a 12 hour journey from Adelaide to Pinnaroo).

The stone and brick Railway Hotel was built in 1908, with 14 rooms plus bar, parlour and dining room. It was also used for church services, some council meetings, and the doctor and travelling dentists also consulted here.

Yappara

The large 'S' bend between Lameroo and Parilla is known as Yappara, which means 'a camp'. A railway siding was built here in 1911, and was originally called 'Toora'. This name was continually confused with Koora and Noora on the Paringa line, so the Nomenclature Committee recommended a name change.

The billiard saloon from Lameroo was shifted here to become the local hall. In 1943 the building was moved back to Lameroo. It now stands in the main street and is used by the CWA.

Karte

The township was proclaimed in 1916 and became a flourishing community.

In its heyday it had a post office, primary school, railway gangers’ barracks, netball, football, tennis and cricket teams.

Football teams and supporters generally travelled by train to matches against neighbouring towns.

Karte Conservation Park

Karte Conservation Park is maintained by South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage.

Entry: Approximately 25km north-west of Pinnaroo. Turn off Mallee Highway at Pinnaroo where signposted for Loxton, cross railway line and go past oval. Instead of turning right for Loxton look for the brown information sign and go north. The road changes to gravel but is well signposted.
Walk: Challenging uphill hike which gives great views over the surrounding district.
Facilities: Picnic tables, campfire, campsites. A toilet and water to be provided soon.

Guarrai

Guarrai means 'refreshment' The railway opened in 1914, but the town was never surveyed as it was intended only to be a railway yard.

Despite this, a small settlement grew around the siding, with tennis courts and a football oval in a paddock. The town hall was built in the 1930s with the help of volunteers using local stone quarried nearby.

The Government refused to supply a school because the town had never been officially proclaimed.

However, after years of argument, a teacher was appointed in the late 1930s, and eventually in 1951 a small weatherboard school room was built; the relic can be seen adjacent to the silos.

Parilla Well

A farming settlement grew up around the well, a remainder from the original Parilla Head Station (allotted in 1873 but deserted 16 years later). The first farmers settled in 1904 with the well providing the only reliable water source until other bores were sunk.

The district boasted a local school, hall, and cricket and football teams. A plaque can be found at the old well which tells the story of the area.