Bundaleer Forest: Making History in the Forest with Keith Conlon Bundaleer Forest: Making History in the Forest with Keith Conlon

Yellows and golds and reds in the soft sunlightŠ..Autumn in the hills? Yes, but these are not the old gardens of the Adelaide Hills; they're the slopes of the Bundaleer Forest in the mid-north region of South Australia.

The oaks and elms and other European species that turn on and show each year are magnificent century old specimens. Bundaleer Forest its place in history. These trees were planted in Australia's first commercial forest from 1876, as the pioneers of a big state, timber industry experimented to find a suitable plantation tree.

They eventually settled on a Californian pine, and so Pinus Radiata is one main softwood timber today. Plantings extend over about half the forest reserve at Bundaleer. That leaves open rocky, grassed ridges, and creeks and hillside through a mid-north range that are now well interpreted on walking trials fanning out from a sports ground and shaded picnic ground.

Bundaleer Forest is about 200 kilometres north of Adelaide, or about 2 _ car journey via the Clare Valley. It is near the picturesque agricultural centre, Jamestown, which invites townsfolk and visitors to picnic on the Belalic Creek, ponded under giant redgums planted by its first mayor, Dr. J. Cockburn. His bust is a feature of the extraordinary wide main shopping street, as the district of 2000 or so is justifiably proud of the mayor who went on to become a Premier of South Australia, and a strong advocate of Federation.

The region's Belalie Arts Society was keen to put the spotlight on its attractive and historic forest reserve and boost tourism, and so it has mounted the Bundaleer Forest Concert Weekend - and the forest shares the top billing for April 17th and 18th.

Saturday's guided walks and picnic lunch will highlight its history and pioneers. The Conservator's Hut, for instance, is flanked by huge gums and poplars. The first Conservator of Forests in South Australia was an internationally experienced Scot, John Ednie Brown. More than a forester, he was a nineteenth century Trees for Life type, advocating tree planting everywhere.

A few kilometres away in the reserve, along a valley road dotted with old farm cottage ruins and home orchards, is Curnow's Hut. Again, great gums and exotics stand with gums to frame the old stone cottage that housed history making nursery men William Curnow. The black plastic timber stock that contains our seedlings from the local nursery was 'invented' in effect, at Bundaleer. Currow used cut bamboo to nurture his seedlings.

Currow's Hut is now a hiker's and bike-rider's haven on the Heysen and Mawson Trails. They snake through the forest reserve past the overnight rest-stop.

On Saturday evening, April 17th, two of the picnic ground's towering eucalyptus till provide the proscenium arch for a concert under the stars. The weekend's Artistic Director is Brian Gilbertson, South Australian lyric tenor who is best known for his national anthem renditions at test cricket ceremonies round the nation.

Brian has brought home a cluster of international stars, including;

They are joined by choirs and soloists and the Band of the South Australian Police for a concert among flood lit trees that should attract more than 2000 people.

The Concert weekend takes people further up the walking trials on Sunday, where they'll come across musicians and poets and artists alongside elite sports performers. The surprise combinations are adding another page in Bundaleer's rich history.

The Bundaleer Forest Concert Weekend will surely see the trees and inviting tracks share the billing with the artists. A weekend in what the tourism people call 'Classic Country' will give visitors time to meander through the appealing hills and dales of the mid-north too.

Bundaleer Forest Weekend booking are available through BASS outlets on line at http://www.bass.sa.com.au

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