Flinders Ranges and Hahndorf

I have just returned from a wonderful nine days travelling and sketching through the Flinders Ranges and spending some time in Hahndorf.

Fourteen enthusiastic artists produced some amazing sketching during this time. We normally did one sketch in the morning and another during the afternoon, with a review as closure on the days work.

We were blessed with incredible weather - cooler in the evenings and mornings and daytime temperatures around 20-25 with a few quite hot days. Sitting in the shade of trees there was always a cooling breeze so all in all, it suited everyone.

At Hahndorf, South Australia

We travelled in comfort with Aussie Redback Tours and almost had the comforts of home. Their trailer was equipped with a kitchen and barbeque hotplate, so wherever we were there was tea, coffees and delicious cakes and slices. On occasion we enjoyed delicious gourmet sausages in rolls on the barbeque. Nothing was too much trouble.

Our first major stop was Burra which is 160km north of Adelaide where we spent another two nights. It is an historic copper town the 'the merino capital of the world'.  It was declared a state heritage town in 1994. There are so many historic buildings to sketch and it also has the Redruth Gaol, which later became a womens refortatory. The movie Breaker Morant was filmed at the Goal. 

Sketching within the gaol compound.

The next three nights was spent at Rawnsley Park Station, which has spectacular views of Wilpena Pound and was the perfect place for exploring South Australia's Flinders Ranges.

There were kangaroos outside our rooms as the sun rose behind the bluffs.

Leonie giving a demonstration

Historic Blinman was our next stop. It is the highest town in south Australia and began with the discovery of copper in 1859. Blinman may be small in population but it is huge in interest and history.

Leonie with demonstration sketch

Historic bush house in Blinman

 The last two nights of the art tour were in Hanhdorf, and the highlight was spending the day at 'The Cedars'  which was Hans Heysen's property. It had magnificent gardens and bushland and his studio was the first purpose built studio in Australia. We also did a tour of his house which remains as it always was.

Sketching Hans Heyson's studio

The studio

Leonie giving a review in Hahndorf

Sketching St Pauls Church in Handorf. Hans Heyson rented a cottage in 1908 in the block next door.

Some of the student's sketches.

It was a really great trip.  My next sketching tour with Aussie Redback tours is to Broome, which will be another wonderful trip. It is 6-13 July 2019.