Adels Grove is 200 km southwest of Burketown and 410 km northwest of Cloncurry. Situated on Lawn Hill Creek Adels Grove is adjacent to Lawn Hill National Park and 50kms from the World Heritage listed Riversleigh Fossil deposits.
Brief History
The property now known as Adels Grove, was originally gazetted in 1904 as a Miners Homestead Lease.
In 1920 Albert de Lestang took up the property as an experimental Botanical Garden (hence the name "Adel" arose from Albert's initials).
By 1939 Albert had planted over 1000 species of exotic and native plants, shrubs and trees, and supplied the Botanical Gardens of the world with the seeds produced by his nursery. The Botanical Gardens in Brisbane still has 536 different samples of seeds sent to them by Albert, held in their collection.
In the early 1950's a fire swept through the grove while Albert was absent (some say deliberately lit) destroying everything including his dwelling and trunk containing all of his research papers.
Albert's last years were spent in a Charters Towers nursing home, where he died in 1959 at the age of 75, most probably broken hearted.
Flora And Fauna
Lawn Hill Gorge is characterised by deep permanent open fresh water, by narrow levees at the base of vertical cliffs/bluffs dominated by Pandanus aquaticus, Livistona sp., Nauclea orientalis, and Melaleuca sp., an aquatic bed in the lower Gorge dominated by Nymphaea violoacea, and emergent and fringing wetlands dominated by sedges, rushes, grasses and ferns. The permanent deep water and fringing habitats in a semi-arid environment provide refuge for a diverse and locally distinct biota.
The 'oasis' species which utilise the permanent moisture associated with the Gorge comprise ferns, mosses, algae, palms and a diverse riverine flora. Notable fauna includes the rock ringtail possum Pseudocheirus dahli, and a range of freshwater fish, crustaceans and molluscs. Freshwater crocodiles Crocodylus johnstoni occur in the creek. Summarised from Blackman (1993)
The majority of the country surrounding Adel’s Grove is semi-arid Savannah during the 'dry' but blooms to form a completely different landscape during the 'wet' season. Forming a magnificent backdrop to the Grove and containing the famous Lawn Hill National Park is the Constance Range, a limestone capped sandstone escarpment which forms the eastern extremity of the Barkly Tablelands.
The ranges contain many ancient Aboriginal sites (not all accessible), an area of internationally significant Fossilisation, a gigantic Impact Structure (comet or asteroid crater), some Flora and Fauna unique to this area and can provide photographers, bush walkers, botanists, ornithologists, entomologists, archaeologists, naturalists and those who merely wish to escape to the tranquillity which a true wilderness provides, all the scope with which they can cope.
Activities
- Swimming: Adel's Grove is located alongside Lawn Hill Creek downstream from Lawn Hill Gorge. This creek is a perennial, clear and spring fed waterway and many thousands of visitors have enjoyed swimming in its waters over the years.
- Canoeing: Canoes are available for hire both here at Adel's Grove and at Lawn Hill Gorge. No fast water and a delightful alternative way of viewing the gorge or creek. Canoes are hired on the basis of first come, first served. A 2-person canoe is $25 per canoe per hour and a 3-person canoe is $30 per hour. A 2-hour deposit is taken and the difference is paid or refunded on your return.
- Fishing: Recreational Fishers will enjoy wetting a line to try their skills against the likes of Barramundi, Bream, Grunters, Perch, Cod, Catfish and more.
- Walks: We have a couple of excellent short walks in the immediate vicinity of Adel's Grove and there are a further 20 kilometres of walks within the National Park. Adel's Grove offers a quite different environment to that of the Park consequent upon the planting of many exotic tree species here by a French Botanist in the 1930's.
- Bird Watching: We have the advantage in this area of several entirely different environments in contact or in close proximity to each other. Our savannah woodlands, open savannah plains, lush riverine remnant rainforest and rocky spinifex escarpments all support a wide variety of bird species. Bird lists available.
- Tours: Our ½ day tours of the World Heritage Riversleigh Fossil Fields operates on a regular basis. departing at 8:00am and returning by 12:30 pm. The tour includes local history, an informative interpretive walk around 'D Site' and morning tea on the magnificent Gregory River. Join our Savannah Guides on this amazing tour. Cost: $70.00 (Min 4 people)
Facilities & Services
- Bar and Restaurant: restaurant is open for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner to all visitors staying or passing by. Dinner bookings are essential during our peak season June July and August.
- Campgrounds: We have 2 camping areas. The Grove is a beautiful area that was once the botanical gardens and is down by the river. The Grove is an open area with some fireplaces and taps. Approx 50-100metres to the new amenities block just completed. Please Note: Dogs and Generators are NOT permitted in the Grove. We also offer 53 Individual camping & van sites in the spacious bush setting of the Main Campground located where possible near native trees for shade. Most sites are provided with water, fireplace and BBQ plate, but no power. Our modern amenities block offers Clean toilets, hot showers and a small laundry with 2 machines. Disabled facilities also available. Once again there is no powered sites. Plate, cutlery and utensil hire is $50 deposit and $10 per day (for 2 persons). Food packs for 2 persons for 2 days are $50 deposit on esky and $89.95. Dogs and generators are permitted in allocated sites in the Main Campground. It is necessary to book all year round.
- Tent & Room Accommodation is available all year we have 7 pre-erected tents and 8 rooms each containing beds and all bed linen. Bookings are essential. There is a water tap, fireplace and BBQ plate positioned near each tent in our tent hire area, each tent set in the bush . No power(Lighting) - you need a lantern. The rooms have power. Outside is table and chairs, BBQ (Wood), sinks. Amenities used are those next to the main building with a walk of approx. 70-120 metres.
- Accommodation with Dinner and Breakfast is available at Adels Grove in the form of pre-erected tents with single beds, some doubles and all linen including towels. All rooms/tents are share amenities close by. 10 River tents at $140/person/night, 12 tents off the river at $110/person/night, and rooms at $130/person/night. Adult is 15+, Child 5-14 is 50% and Child in a bed from 2-4 years 25%.
What's On At Adels Grove?
Click here for information about events and happenings coming up at Adels Grove.
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- Fuel: Diesel, unleaded petrol, and Avgas are available by bowser. Refills of LP gas are available but only to cylinders with a current date.
- Shop: We stock ice, cold drinks, frozen bread and some confectionery, tinned foods, long life milk and a limited number of other basic supplies. We also carry some souvenir items. A public telephone is situated near the shop and phone cards are available for purchase. We accept Visa, MasterCard, EFT, Amex & Diners fees apply.
- Repairs: We offer emergency tyre repairs as well as emergency welding repairs.
- Airstrip: Permission is required to land, please phone for further details. For more information please download our Adels Grove Fly-In Fact Sheet.
- Co-ordinates: 18°42' South, 138°32' East (WAC 3220)
- Location: 10 Nautical Miles South West of the airstrip shown at Lawn Hill Station
- Surface: Compact Gravel
- Length: 1130 Meters
- Heading: 05/23
- Height: 429 ft ASL
- Roads: All roads in this immediate area are either dirt or gravel and conditions can change rapidly week by week depending upon weather and/or traffic density. Between May and October these roads are generally suitable for conventional vehicles towing small vans but care needs to be exercised since there will still be the odd rough patch. Our 'wet season' normally occurs during the months of January, February and March with some storm activity in November, December and April. 4WD is advised at these times. We also advise checking with us on conditions before entering this area during these months.
Accommodation Rates For 2012 Season
For Further Information:
Adel's Grove
PMB 2
Mount Isa, Qld, 4825, Australia
Ph: 07 4748 5502
Fax: 07 4748 5600
Email: reservations@adelsgrove.com.au
