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You are here: Skytrek Willow Springs / About Us / Station &
Family History |
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Station & Family History
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Grandfather Steve Reynolds
and his younger brother Tom came from their family home of Willow Plain near
Hawker in 1924 to inspect the Upalinna block which was one of the many
subdivisions of the former Wilpena Station. |
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On arriving at Prelinna Hut located at the southern tip
of Upalinna they were confronted by a shepherd working for Wilpena Station.
The shepherd knew that these young Irish lads were going to be a threat to
his job and so was at first a little reluctant to allow them in the Hut and
to spend the night with him. During the evening Tom Reynolds, who at the
time was suffering from a toothache, retrieved a bottle of brandy from one
of his saddle packs. By the next morning the Reynolds brothers had a
detailed account of what this Upalinna block was capable of carrying and
where the watering points were to be found. They then spent the next couple
of days riding around on horseback, confirming what the shepherd had told
them and they then went and approached the Pastoral Board for a lease. |
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The lease was granted to them and the Pastoral Board
passed comment on how thorough their application had been. |
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Willow Springs Station, which neighbours Upalinna, was
one of the early pastoral leases in the Flinders Ranges and was purchased by
the Reynolds family in 1952. Willow Springs which was formerly known as
Appealinna was taken up by Joseph Wills in 1856. Willow Springs remains a
pastoral lease of 70000 acres or 28300 hectares. |
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The carrying capacity of Willow Springs Station is about 1 sheep to
every 16 acres or about 1 sheep to every 40 large
suburban house blocks. Land value in this area is about $200 a sheep area or
$12 an acre. Rainfall varies throughout the property with the homestead
averaging approximately 300mm (12 inches) and Moxan and other areas as low as
175mm.
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Present Family History |
Brendan & Carmel Reynolds & family - one of our
favourite pastimes, enjoying sunset at Stokes Hill Lookout, view towards
Bunkers & Loves Mine RangeIn
1985 we, Carmel & Brendan joined Brendan’s parents in a partnership to
obtain Willow Springs and took the first step in diversifying into the
tourist industry, by developing the Shearer’s Quarters as an alternative
accommodation facility in the Flinders Ranges. |
Willow Springs Station is a
typical sheep station of approx 70,000 acres or 283 Sq km that offers
visitors true bush hospitality and quiet secluded settings. The picturesque
setting neighbours the Flinders Ranges National Park and is central to all
popular features and destinations in the region.
The pastoral lease of
Willow Springs was taken up by grandfather, Steve Reynolds and his 3 sons at
the height of the wool boom in the 1950s and for 30 years successfully
supported a large family business.
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Willow Springs Station |
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With sheep and cattle still
a major part of everyday living on Willow Springs, Willow Springs has
transformed into a popular tourist destination. In 1995 the 60km Skytrek 4WD
tour was constructed. In 2012 the route was changed and now stays
exclusively on Willow Springs Station.
Willow Springs is operated
by ourselves and our son, Christopher, who also manages (with his partner
Bridie) a cattle station 60km west of Willow Springs. They have a daughter,
Pippa Ann born July 2011. Our eldest daughter, Anne-Marie, who lives in
Whyalla is married with 3 children – Caleb (July 2006), Maddison (December
2008) and Annalise (September 2011), our second married daughter Naomi lives
at Cooya Beach in Qld and has a son Khobi (August 2010) our youngest,
Michelle assists us and is also studying through
TAFE and by Correspondence ‘Bachelor of Tourism’. |
