In the historic centre of Quorn this spacious Bank Manager's residence is perfect for a family or group of friends and available for holiday and vacation rentals. Featuring 3 bedrooms, kitchenette, two large sitting rooms and lots of on and off-street parking. Two bedrooms have queen sized beds and the third bedroom has two single beds. Fully air-conditioned with reverse cycle air conditioning also in the bedrooms and lounge rooms.
The Savings Bank of South Australia (SBSA) building dates back to the early 1890's when it was built as a saddlery. Later converted into a shop and private Quorn residence by Mr J Rock, the Savings Bank of South Australia purchased the building in 1909 for £1,100 and opened a branch in the important northern centre. The SBSA later became the State Bank of South Australia and then a Bank SA branch before it closed on 13th September 1997. Fittings and furniture in the banking chamber were panelled with polished cedar and the counter was edged in brass, with an iron foot-rail mounted on the customer side of the counter. Gas was used to light the premises.
The SBSA building was subsequently renovated to become comfortable spacious holiday accommodation, centrally located at the gateway to the central and northern Flinders Ranges.
An electric barbeque is available on request.
The SBSA is located within easy walking distance of the towns pubs, supermarket, bookshop, art galleries, craft shops, laundromat, post office, newsagent, chemists. The Flinders Ranges Visitor Information Centre is located in the Pichi Richi Railway Station and the new Silo art show is displayed nightly on the adjacent Quorn station silos. Both are a short walk from the SBSA.
The Flinders Ranges Visitor Information Centre and the PRR Museum are inside the historically significant Quorn Railway Station. Please refer to the Pichi Richi Railway website for train schedule and tickets.
In 1878 the The Pichi Richi Railway began as the Port Augusta and Government Gums Railway. The Quorn railway station became the cross-roads station when you travelled north to south, or east to west across Australia. Make sure you allow enough time to walk around the town and see the beautiful historic buildings and learn about this small famous town by following the Quorn Heritage Walk. Download the map from the FRC site, or pick up a copy when you visit. Just search for: FRC history building walks.
During the Second World War, a great number of Australian troops passed through Quorn heading north and south. The Quorn Country Women's Association - CWA served over one million meals to troops passing through by rail. For more than 40 years Quorn has been the home of the Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society.
The local produce and craft market is held on the last Sunday each month in the Quorn Town Hall, just one block's walk from the SBSA. Here you will find locally grown food like figs, apricots, nuts, (depending on the seasons' produce) chutneys, jams, sauces and some unique craft gifts.
In Quorn town there is the lovely arid flora "Powell Gardens" at the eastern end of First Street which is well worth a visit. Here you can see hundreds of different flora which exists in this climate of extremes. The ABC Gardening Australia program visited these gardens and you can see more info about them on the Gardening Australia website.
A few years ago the Flinders Ranges Council renovated the "Quorn and District War Memorial Swimming Pool" so if you would like a swim please check the opening hours at the FR VIC, as opening times vary according to season and temperature.
Within the original RW Foster's Great Northern Emporium, (also in First Street) is the original Fosters Emporium where history in retail shopping just stopped.
The SBSA provides the perfect base from which to enjoy the range of activities in the majestic Flinders Ranges.
The Flinders Ranges extends in a north-south direction for about 430km from near Port Pirie to Mount Hopeless in South Australia. The ranges are composed of folded and faulted sediments of the Adelaide Geosyncline. This very thick sequence of sediments were deposited in a large basin on the edge of the ancient continent of Rodinia about 840 million years ago. During the Cambrian period approximately 540 million years ago, the area underwent folding, buckling and faulting into a large mountain range, the eroded stumps of which can today be seen as the Mount Lofty and Flinders Ranges. Before erosion, the ranges are though to have been up to 40,000 feet high.
From the SBSA it's an easy drive to Warren Gorge on the sealed road; or take some day trips to explore the Kanyaka ruins, Brachina Gorge, Wilpena Pound, Blinman, Hawker, Cradock (renowned for sunsets, pub food and art on display). Other interesting towns include Hammond, Bruce, Melrose, Moockra Tower and Laura.
Wilpena Pound is a world class attraction - a large, sickle-shaped, natural amphitheatre covering nearly 80 square kilometres, containing the range's highest peak, St Mary Peak (1,170m (3,840ft)) and adjoining the Flinders Ranges National Park. Wilpena Pound is well worth a scenic flight available from many surrounding points. The northern ranges host the Arkaroola wilderness sanctuary and the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park. The central part of the ranges are notable for the Pichi Richi scenic railway and the southern ranges feature Mount Remarkable National Park and Port Germein gorge.
Fossils are found in the Adelaide Geosyncline - those discovered in the Ediacara Hills of the northern Flinders in 1946 are of worldwide significance for being some of the oldest examples of fossilized animal life ever found. They date from the very end of the Neoproterozoic, and in 2004 the location gave its name to the last geological period of the era, the Ediacaran. In 2018 two new fossils were discovered in the Flinders and named after Barrack Obama and Sir David Attenborough.
The flora of the Flinders Ranges consist of species adapted to a semi-arid environment such as sugar gum, cypress-pine, mallee and black oak. Moister areas near Wilpena Pound support grevilleas, guinea flowers, Liliaceae and ferns. Reeds and sedges grow near permanent water sources such as springs and waterholes.
Since the eradication of dingos and the establishment of permanent waterholes for stock, the numbers of red kangaroos, western grey kangaroos and euros in the Flinders Ranges have increased. The yellow-footed rock-wallaby, which neared extinction after the arrival of Europeans due to hunting and predation by foxes, has now stabilized. Other marsupials include dunnarts and planigales. Insectivorous bats make up a significant proportion of mammals in the area.
There are a large number of bird species including parrots, galahs, emus, the wedge-tailed eagle and small numbers of water birds. Reptiles include goannas, snakes, dragon lizards, skinks and geckos. The streambank froglet is an endemic amphibian.