Walking Through Time - Historical Beltana Tour

Departing from the Prairie Hotel, journey back in time to the beautifully preserved historic township of Beltana - once a vital outpost on the edge of the Australian frontier.

Your host is Jan Ferguson OAM, a lifelong Beltana resident and custodian of its stories. With warmth, humour and deep personal connection, Jan brings the township to life as you wander its quiet streets, stone cottages and historic buildings, each one holding a chapter of outback history.

Over 1.5 hours, you’ll uncover the remarkable role Beltana played in Australia’s inland expansion - from Afghan cameleers and early telegraph lines to pastoral pioneers and the resilience of remote communities. This is not simply a walk through a town, but a walk through time -guided by someone whose own life is woven into its fabric.

Your morning concludes at the beautifully restored Royal Victoria Hotel - historically connected to the Prairie as its “sister pub,” both serving travellers, teamsters and communities across the Flinders and the far north for well over a century. Lovingly revived by Jan and her husband Chris, the Royal Victoria now welcomes guests once again.

Settle in for morning tea within its historic walls a fitting finale that blends heritage with hospitality, and honours the enduring relationship between two iconic outback hotels.

This experience offers a rare opportunity: to explore one of South Australia’s most significant heritage towns with a true local storyteller, and to share in the living connection between two pubs that have long anchored this region’s story.

This tour runs for approximately 3 hours