Project Hindmarsh started on a lounge room floor in Nhill in 1997, when a group of concerned local residents began looking over a newly produced map that showed all the remnant vegetation along roadsides in the West Wimmera and Hindmarsh Shires.

The map had been put together by an enthusiastic environmental consultant, Rob Scalzo, engaged by the West Wimmera Tree Group to document the extent and condition of native vegetation on roadsides in the two shires. Many of the two chain (40 metres) and three chain (60 metres) roads in the shires were originally set aside as stock routes. The native vegetation along some of these roads was the only remaining native vegetation left in the district, and often still in good condition. But there were also many lengths where no native vegetation remained at all.

Rob Scalzo’s map identified 100 kilometres of gaps in roadside connectivity.

“If the gaps were closed, a 2000-kilometre link between national parks, waterways, wetlands and remnants – joining the Big Desert to the Little Desert, could be created,” Rob said.

The Hindmarsh biolink quickly became the signature project of the Hindmarsh Landcare Network.

The first Project Hindmarsh community planting weekend was held in 1998. The trees were ordered but the newly established Hindmarsh Landcare Network had no money. The committee began urgent fundraising, developing partnerships and seeking volunteers.

Former Hindmarsh Landcare Network Chairperson Darryl Argall described it as not-quite organised chaos.

“Around 300 city and country volunteers came along to that first planting weekend, working side by side planting thousands of trees along 18 roadside sites, and all involved had a fantastic time,” Darryl said.

In the first three years, Project Hindmarsh planted over 120,000 trees and shrubs and established 402 kilometres of direct seeding lines covering 250 hectares. There were successes, but also failures. In 2000, volunteers were devastated when 1440 trees were found dead within a fortnight of being planted after they were deliberately sprayed with herbicide.

The final tree in the link between the Big Desert and Little Desert was planted in 2001 by the then Federal Environment Minister, Senator Robert Hill. The planting took place at Leftys Corner, a three-chain road intersection north of Kiata. A plaque was erected after the ceremonial planting to commemorate the occasion.