Koonamore Centenary

The TGB Osborn Vegetation Reserve, affectionately known as Koonamore Vegetation Reserve, has been host to long term studies of arid land recovery in the State's North East Pastoral district for 100 years. We will celebrate the centenary with speakers, presentations, dinner and tours in Yunta on the weekend of 11-12 October 2025.

Check out the program and select the activities you would like to be involved with - come for the day or come for the weekend. Buses will be provided for guests travelling from Adelaide - limited seats are available and must be booked.

PROGRAM 

Saturday 11 October 2025 (Yunta Race Club)

[ 10:00am Buses depart Adelaide (Waite Campus) for Yunta ]

- 3:00pm Afternoon tea

- 3:30pm Official welcome and introductions

- 4:00pm - 5:00pm Guest speakers including Dr Louise Emmerson, Jose Facelli and Rebecca Greening

- 5:00pm Book launch

- 6:00pm Centenary dinner (ticketed event). A three-course dinner will be catered by the local community and will feature local ingredients and flavours. While every attempt will be made to cater for special dietary requirements, the main course will be an alternate drop, and diners will need to make choices according to their requirements.

Sunday 12 October 2025 (Tours to Koonamore Vegetation Reserve)
Are you keen to get out into the paddock and explore the region?  Join us on guided tours to the Koonamore Vegetation Reserve. Two buses with guided commentary will leave Yunta Race Club at 9am. Spaces are limited so please book your interest at soon as possible. 

Tours will be subject to slight changes depending on interest and numbers - but we can guarantee a wonderful day of learning and sharing stories. 

- 7:30am Breakfast and Networking (Yunta Race Club)

- 9:00am Guided tours leave Yunta Race Club

Concurrent Tours Available - 

    Waukaringa & Wool - the history of pastoralism and mining in the North East

    Rangelands Rehydration - The importance of water cycles and water flows in arid ecology

- 10:15 - 11:30 Tours meet for morning tea in the Koonamore Creek Cutting.

Cultural welcome with Kristian Coulthard – the cultural landscape of the region

Underlying Geology of Osborn – Creek Cutting & history of deposition and erosion over the millennia

Climate of the past – the Climate of the Future.  How has the climatic past influenced today's landscape

- 11:45am - 2:00pm Osborn Reserve, Bindyi Cottage

History of Bindyi Cottage

Guided walks (select up to 2 walks or activities)

› Bird Watching walks (Binoculars and bird books will be supplied, but feel free to BYO)

› Plants of the Rangelands Walk n Talk

› Long term monitoring sites on Osborn - a picture tells a thousand words

› Cultural history of the region - yarning circle at the cottage

› Pearl Bluebush Walk - the amazing long life of a little blue bush

› Tracing tracks and scats - tracking for signs of life in the Rangelands

 - 2:00pm Buses will depart Osborn Reserve

 - 3:15pm Buses depart Yunta for Adelaide

For event information contact: Andrea Tschirner: andrea.tschirner@sa.gov.au