The Friends of the Heysen Trail voluntary organisation will celebrate its 40th anniversary in April.
The Friends of the Heysen Trail is a volunteer organisation established in 1986. Its members contribute to both the development and maintenance of walking trails, as well as to the recreational and social aspects of bushwalking across South Australia.
The organisation works closely with other volunteer groups and government departments, with one of its primary roles being to help maintain the Heysen Trail. It is also a member of WalkingSA, South Australia’s peak body representing bushwalkers.
A 40th birthday celebration will be held at 6.30 pm on Wednesday, 22 April 2026 at BDO Place, Level 19, 30 Pirie Street, Adelaide.
The Friends Forming
The Friends of the Heysen Trail was formed in 1986 at a meeting attended by around 200 people. Dedicated members of local bushwalking clubs agreed to volunteer their time and energy to help build the trail, working under the guidance of the Department of Recreation and Sport’s project officer, Terry Lavender.
As the organisation took shape, it developed a name, aims and objectives, a constitution, and successfully applied for incorporation. Several subcommittees were established, focusing on Organisation and Management, Promotions and Publicity, Building and Maintenance, and Conservation.
Alongside these organisational developments, active trail work began in 1986. A group of 34 volunteers, including 11 women, received training in maintenance, trail marking, and the construction of bridges and stiles. In his book The Last Post, Terry Lavender acknowledged the volunteers’ enthusiasm and dedication, noting that the trail was completed four years ahead of schedule largely due to the efforts of The Friends. He contrasted this with the earlier work of the Long Distance Trails Committee, which had completed only seven kilometres over nine years.
The newsletter The Trailwalker reported the final stage of the process in Summer 1992: “…a significant event, completion of marking of the whole Trail… when Hugh Greenhill and Joylene McCann of the Burra Branch completed the marking of a three-kilometre stretch south-east of Spalding.”
The Heysen Trail
The Heysen Trail is a long-distance walking trail in South Australia. It stretches from Parachilna Gorge in the Flinders Ranges, through the Adelaide Hills, to Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula, covering approximately 1,200 kilometres.
The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) is the authorised manager of the trail on behalf of the South Australian Government. Volunteers from The Friends undertake operational maintenance, development and promotion of the trail in partnership with DEW.
Members contribute in many ways: assisting with trail maintenance and development, leading walks in the organisation’s regular walking programme for both beginners and experienced hikers, providing valuable information for walkers, and promoting both the volunteer organisation and the benefits of walking.