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History
Parachilna was formally surveyed in 1890 within the surrounding Hundred of Parachilna which had itself been surveyed in 1863. The settlement had, however, been established in 1881 as a maintenance station on the Great Northern railway line which reached Beltana to the north in that same year. In 1882 a post office was established there.
Situated 174 ‘rail’ km north of Port Augusta it lies at the western end of the Parachilna Gorge on the plains to the west of the Flinders Ranges. In addition to supporting railway maintenance gangs it provided a rail outlet for sheep from the central Flinders Ranges and from the eastern Lake Torrens pastoral districts.
Today the small permanent population of 15 are almost all engaged in servicing and supporting the Flinders Ranges and outback tourist industry.
Special attractions
Parachilna ‘houses’ the Prairie Hotel which has a national and international reputation for accommodation and for the provision of Australian bush cuisine. It has hosted concerts and provided and catered for major outback events and for feature and documentary film crews. For most people it is a ‘must’ pull-in from the adjacent sealed road from Hawker to Lyndhurst.
The township is a convenient gateway to all of the Flinders Ranges.
Tourist services
In addition to the Prairie Hotel there is a backpackers hostel and an associated public Internet centre. Fuel is available but most seven-day services are from Hawker to the south and Leigh Creek to the north.
