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We talk about a timeless grandeur of the Arkaroola landscape. On the ground, in the creek beds, it is not about the geological forces but the adaption of the trees to to the climate. Towards the end of 2019 Arkaroola had experienced the longest, driest conditions in living memory. Red Gums that were hundreds of years old were dying. The desiccated landscape was facing its biggest challenge. Here at Bolla Bollana I was taken by the effect on a number of significant trees in the creek bed. It is just the cycle of life.
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Camped at Curdimurka, just south of Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda) in the heart of Arabana country Here are remnants of a past glory that can easily disappear into the past. It is flat and featureless, but it does have a story. Reflect on the difficulties of building the Ghan dream. Here we have the old water storage, slowly falling apart, we have the old water treatment plant, leaning like the tower of Pizza. But there is more. Why here? The Ghan followed the inland telegraph, that followed the mounds springs, that were crucial to the ancient trading routes across Australia. This is where Stuart commenced his five expeditions into the Red Centre. This is outback Australia.
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The mighty Cooper Creek after all its journey spreads out into the desert plain, attracting abundant birdlife, but it is endless flat water that holds the reflection of the desert sunset. Still, quiet, harmonious, not a soul in sight.
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Oodnadatta Track - The String of Springs
The trainline ran alongside the Oodnadatta Track to Alice Springs. The Inland Telegraph line essentially followed the same route, the early explorers followed the same route, following the mound springs, the String of Springs, that supported the oldest trading route known to mankind. The home and highway for the Arabana Nation.
Once upon a time Curdimurka hosted to the famous Curdimurka Outback Ball. Imagine Paul Kelly booming out across this landscape while the looming sunset reflects on the opposite horizon.
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We talk about a timeless grandeur of the Arkaroola landscape. In this work I have tried to capture the thirst of a landscape in the cycle of life. The day is beginning to warm, there is a feeling of death. And yet there is still some sign of life in the background. There is a hope that the landscape will recover, that the trees will shed their parched exterior. That is the conundrum and the cleverness of nature, that it adapts, it survives but doesn’t quite conquer.
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We talk about a timeless grandeur of the Arkaroola landscape. This scene below the dominant Bararranna Hill holds a particular fascination. It is one of the major iconic scenes along Arkaroola Creek tracing the path of the great dreaming serpent, Arkaroo. This scene projects a primeval emotion typical of the harsh and robust environment. The rock faces are sharp and steep with few trees successfully finding a crevace to set their roots. Interest in the scene is enhanced with the foreground water, and we have the curiosity of what lies around the next bend as we make our way up to the Bararranna Waterhole. There are still many questions that the landscape asks of us.
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We talk about a timeless grandeur of the Arkaroola landscape.For over 600 million years, these Pinnacles have served as sentries to the Mawson Valley. Contemplate the violence of their formation in those primeval years, of the natural evolution. Today the challenge is the climate cycle.The copper tones of the dead leaves display the stress. And yet, the cleverness of nature, that it adapts, it survives but doesn’t quite conquer.
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We talk about a timeless grandeur of the Arkaroola landscape.
For over 600 million years, these Pinnacles have served as sentries to the Mawson Valley. Contemplate the violence of their formation in those primeval years, of the natural evolution. Today the challenge is the climate cycle.
The cleverness of nature, that it adapts, it survives but doesn’t quite conquer.
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The early morning catches an interesting mood. The air is clear, the sun is bright, it is not yet hot, the day is full of promise. The light catches the awning's vivid red and the communication tower at the end of the jetty. There is some fascination with the water lapping the shore, the ripples and the shadows under the jetty.
ABOUT ME
Roscoe is a South Australian artist capturing his impression of special Australian landscapes. He has been fortunate to have spent much of his time on the Australian outback, admiring the landscape, geology, and colours. Roscoe specialises in taking you along for the journey through his paintings.
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