Everything you will need to know about your trip to the Red Centre.
View our Central Australia Holiday & Visitor Guides
No matter how you look at the images of Chambers Pillar you can only try to imagine how our first explorers navigated our vast lands with the use of large land marks. Although it is not until you are at the base looking up at Chambers Pillar, will you appreciated the 50 meter high red and yellow sandstone column, you will gain a sense of direction as it rises out of the vast red plains.
Chambers Pillar is a site of Aboriginal Significance and a dreamtime story can be learnt of the Gecko ancestor 'Itirkawara', of his journey taken from the Finke River across lands north-eastward. On this journey power struck this Gecko for a turn of the worst causing unrest within skin groups, of which he was forced to retreat in the desert turning into prominent rocky formations know today as Chambers Pillar.
Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve covers over 340 hectares and the Pillar of sandstone is located 164 kilometres along the old south road on the turnoff to the west of Maryvale Station. The access road into this Historical Reserve is 4x4 only; this can also be closed after rain, use extreme caution when driving over single lane sand dunes as oncoming traffic is not always visible on the steep jump ups. The names carved on the pillar are from the 19th Century explorers. There is a walking path at the base of Chambers Pillar and nearby Castle Rock.
Chambers Pillar is a formation of Sandstone deposits laid down in the area over 350 million years ago, over time wind and rain have eroded away the softer material with this solitary sandstone column left standing. This formation was first recorded in April 1860 during John MacDouall Stuarts journey north on his first attempt to cross Australia. Chambers Pillar was named after James Chambers, one of JM Stuarts southern sponsors.
Camping is permited in the Chambers Pillar Historical reserve, please ensure that you camp only in the designated camping area between Chambers Pillar and Castle Rock. Camping fees are payable, please use the gas BBQ's that are provided.
There are walking tracks that will assist you to explore the incredible Chambers Pillar and view the surrounding areas. Like many red centre sunsets you will not be able to capture the facinating change of colours, as the pillar glows when the sun rays fall over the giant sandstone pillar.
