The Nairne railway bill of 1878 was the biggest SA capital expenditure and the engineering obstacles of it were considerable. It included the first iron bridge across the River Murray. The hills line had 8 tunnels, several bridges, 2 wooden viaducts. We experience some of these on the train to Blackwood (cost not included.) Fine stone railway stations were built in 1883 and we see Mitcham, Blackwood, Mt Lofty, Aldgate, Nairne and the remains at Callington. The fiasco of the train opening started at Blackwood and finished at Nairne. Optional visit to Roundhouse Museum in Murray Bridge and time in the railway town of Tailem Bend. Extensive history notes included. Depart WEA Centre 8:30 am sharp. Return about 5:30 pm.

Your Tutor is Dr Denis Binnion AM

Dr Denis Binnion AM has been teaching at WEA since 1974.

Denis became involved in adult education in the 1970s teaching evening classes in history for the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Institute of Technology. He joined the WEA in 1979 as a course programmer in language and liberal studies, and served as its Chief Executive Officer for 20 years.

As CEO, Denis established WEA Travel, a licensed travel agency that has been conducting Australian and overseas study tours since 1984. He has personally led dozens of group tours with up to 40 participants at a time to India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Canada, Peru, Argentina, Chile and New Zealand.

Denis has spent more than 40 years developing study tours and writing history notes for historical and geographical tours within South Australia, other states of Australia and places around the world including parts of Asia, South America and New Zealand. In his retirement he continues to lead WEA overseas study tours and runs regular one day and weekend historical tours of rural areas in South Australia.