Terry Lavender maps South Australia's famed Heysen Trail, Cape Jervis to Parachilna, over 15 years from 1978

Terry Lavender (index), working for South Australian government’s tourism, recreation and sport department, took on the 15-years task from 1978 of delineating and marking the route the entire Heysen Trail (see map), Lavender solved his lack of staff by forming a volunteer group: the Friends of the Heysen Trail and Other Walking Trails.
Images couresy Friends of the Heysen Trail and Other Walking Trails

Terry Lavender was the architect of South Australia’s Heysen trail, recognised as one of wotld’s great long distance walks over 1,500 kilometres from Cape Jervis on the southern tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula to rugged Parachilna Gorge, in the central Flinders Ranges.

From 1947, the idea of walking trails through Adelaide’s Mount Lofty Ranges had been discussed. At a 1969 meeting, Warren Bonython, member of a long distance walking trails committee, proposed the Heysen Trail connecting Mount Lofty and Finders Ranges.

The South Australian government’s tourism, recreation and sport department  took on responsibility for walking trails and the first Heysen section, nine kilometres within the Cleland conservation park, was opened in 1976. In 1978, the department gave Terry Lavender the task of delineating and marking the route the entire trail. Another 50 kilometres, between Mount Lofty and Mount Magnificent, was opened in what became a 15-years project for Lavender.

With a background of working outdoors in the United Kingdom, Lavender arrived in Australia in 1969 and worked for the National Fitness Council in Adelaide before joining the government department. With a small staff to take on the Heysen Trail work, Lavender overcame big obstacles associated with access, district councils and 500 individual landowners by patient, sensitive and successful negotiation.

Lavender solved his lack of staff to mark the trail by forming a volunteer group. At a meeting in June 1986, the Friends of the Heysen Trail and Other Walking Trails were formed. With the enthusiastic support of the volunteers, guided by Lavender and his staff, marking of the Heysen Trail was completed in 1992.

Later forming his own Trailmaster company, Lavender continued to guide thousands of interstate and overseas tourists, school groups and local bushwalkers along and beyond the trails he was commissioned to develop. He marked and mapped the Mount Lofty walking trails in the Barossa district and part of the Onkaparinga area. He also came up with the idea of the Federation Trail to run for 500 kilometres  from Murray Bridge to Clare in the state’s mid north. The first 58 kilometres of the trail was from Murray Bridge to Mt Beevor has already been opened.

Lavender produced several guides and maps to the Heysen Trail, including The Last Post (or how to build the Heysen Trail in 400 years or less), Strolling South Australia (written with walking mate Derek Whitelock) and two volumes of The Heysen Trail: A Walker’s Guide. A Churchill fellowship to study walking trails in England, United States of America and Europe added to his knowledge. He contributed significantly in retaining  road reserves for recreational ese and supported the activities of the Walking Federation of South Australia. Lavender was awarded the medal of the Order of Australia in 1994 for his achievement.