The Big Desert

The Big Desert includes areas of Wilderness; National Parks and State forest. The area is home to many species of flora and fauna.

On the afternoon of the 19th December 2002 lightening strikes caused fires in the Big Desert these raged through 180,000 hectares of bush land and burnt  an area of farm land.

Maps showing the Big Desert , the dark area shows area burnt

Views of the Big Desert before the fire

The Fires

The Desert after fire and fungi that appeared 2-3 days after

Rainfall

No rain fell during January 2003, 54 mm of rain  fell on the 20th Feb and none during March, 5 light falls during April added to 9mm.There were good rains from May to October  then a further 25 mm in December  making a total of  353mm for the year

Shoots that had grown by the 2nd March 2003

Growth as at 27th April 2003

The following photos are only a selection of the many plants that had re-grown. There was very little evidence of seed germination.

Bertyia mitchellii ,  Billardiera cymosa,  Correa reflexa,  Damperia marifolia, Goodenia robusta

There was a good display of flowers along the Nhill track by late September 2003.  Orchids such as the Tall leak orchid Prasphyllum elatum and the Red Beak Orchid Calochilus paludosus were found. These orchids only appear after fire.

 Tall Leak Orchid          Wilflowers Nhill track2003            Birds Beak Orchid

The rainfall during 2004 and 2005  was a little below average and for 2006 Murrayville recorded 196.4 mm the average is  320mm 

Most species flowered during 2006 but there were very few flowers of the different species.  

The exception was the Azure Daisy Olearia rudis they provide a wonderful display along the fire track south of Tutye

 These images and others can be seen on the display boards opposite the Take Away in Murrayville.

For further information on this page contact lindnertutye1@bigpond.com

Big Desert Touring Routes

(Map & routes are taken from 4WD Touring Map put out by Department of Sustainability & Environment www.nre.vic.gov.au)

All Routes start from the Big Billy Campground

Route 1  State Forest West of Nhill Murrayville Tk. 57 kms/ 3hrs Access Via Cactus bore & Firebreak Tracks

This route takes in 3 specific patches of vegetation; the Red Gums, Blue Gums & Yellow Gums. These stand tall in the surrounding heathland vegetation. Camping  is allowed however there are no facilities, all rubbish must be taken with you

Route 2  State Forest East of Murrayville Tk. 100Kms/5hrs

White Springs to Twelve Mile Patch return via Fire Break Tk.

Patch Pines , Casuarinas and open Soaks break  up the Mallee vegaetation providing ideal location for a break.

Route 3 State Forest East of Nhill Murrayville Tk. 45kms/2.5hrs

Brush Cutters Tk via Brushcutters Flat return via Delisio Tk

This track winds its way through steep sand dunes.

Route 4 Ngarkat Conservation Park & SA/Border. 190kms/9hrs Access Via Firebreak Track West returning via Red Bluff Tk.

Camping fees apply in South Australian Parks the Centre Track is a two way  track with a great lookout on the Orchid Walk Nanam Well and the walking trials around Pine Hut Soak  are also worth a look. The Border Tk is North to South access only.

Route 5 Wyperfield NP east of Nhill Murrayville Tk. 175 kms/7hrs. Milmed Rock Tk to park Boundary along Pella  Tk returning via Chainman's Well Tk.

Milmed Rock Track has two camp sites.

Route 6 Wyperfield NP East of Nhill Murrayville Tk extension to Route 5 going on to Rainbow past lake Hindmarsh returning past Herman's Hill Lookout via netting Fence Tk or Chinaman's Well Tk.   Herman's Hill was developed  by the local Community and Nhill Secondary School Students and  provides a great view of Lake Hindmarsh, farmland and the Big Desert.

Murray-Sunset National Park

The Murray-Sunset National Park  covering 633,000 hectares is the State's second largest park, stretching from the Murray River  at Lindsay Island in the north, south to the Pink Lakes near Underbool. Unlike the Big Desert it is  a park of wide open spaces. The park has an interesting history ,abundant wildlife , beautiful spring flowers ,picturesque  pink salt lakes and is a wonderful place to view Mallee Sunsets.

Take a trip from Murrayville to view the rock holes.

                                             Rock hole                                                               

From Cowangie travel along Sunset Road to Underbool track  calling in at the Green Opal mine and onto the Mt Crozier Track to the Mt Crozier camping area. The track leads back to the Pink Lakes then onto Linga. 

Remains of Don Perry's  Cattle Yards         Honeymoon tank                          Salt Lake North of Tutye