Wheatbelt camping - Jam Patch, Lake Grace, Western Australia

Hi everyone, I hope you and yours are well. Today I am taking you camping in the central Western Australian wheatbelt. 

A couple of years ago we explored some of the Western Australian painted silos trail. You can see more on my blog here: Explore the painted silos trail, Western Australia. You can see two of them below here. Amazing aren't they. 

When you are exploring the central Western Australian wheatbelt, or following the silos art trail as we were, and are looking for an easily accessible free campsite for the night, Jam Patch about nineteen kilometres north of Lake Grace might suit you perfectly.

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Head north from Lake Grace on the Kulin-Lake Grace Road for seventeen kilometres, then east for two kilometres along the Lake Grace-Kalgarin Road. Jam Patch is signposted on the road and then it is only about 300 metres in to the camping area.  

Jam Patch is located in 202 hectares of remnant bushland left when land was cleared in the area after World War 1.  It is now protected and maintained by volunteers from the Lake Grace Land Conservation District committee with the help of the local 'Friends of the Jam Patch'.

With less than 14% of natural bushland remaining in the wheatbelt, this is an important place for conservation of native plants and the birds and animals that live here in six diverse habitats. These include the regent parrot, humming frog and ornate dragon lizard. You need to be quick to snap a photo of these little lizards that run so quickly over the granite rocks. 

Campers need to be fully self-contained as there are no facilities at Jam Patch, and no potable water, but the peaceful location more than makes up for the lack of facilities.

We arrived around 2pm in the afternoon and had plenty of time to set up on the edge of the large cleared area. We then explored some of the three marked, relatively easy, loop walk trails which range from 1.5 - 2.5 kilometres and take you through groves of trees, past granite outcrops and around the lake. Please stay on the marked walk trails. Information boards along the walks describe the environment.

Jam Patch is named for the one to seven metre tall jam trees – Acacia acuminate – Noongar name: Manjart - which are just one of the native species found here ranging from shrubby samphire around the lake to tiny lichen, rock sheoaks, quandong, sandalwood, York gums and towering salmon gums. The gum of the jam wattle is edible and can be used as a resin.  I remember my Mum telling me that as a child in the wheatbelt they used to chew the gum of the jam wattle. We learnt that indigenous people, who called the tree munjart, obtained bardi grubs from the jam wattle, and used the wood for firewood and making tools and weapons. Farmers used the wood for fence posts, some of which are still in place 100 years later.

You can see a jam tree below here. 

The Rare Flora Group and local botanist Anne Rick spent many hours between 2012 and 2017 at Jam Patch identifying close to 200 species of plant life. I am planning to go back in spring when the area should be ablaze with wildflowers Below you can see some of the rock hugging plants, Sandlewood fruit and some interesting tree bark. 

The lake at Jam Patch is part of a chain of lakes of an ancient river system from Lake King to Fremantle. The lakes are naturally saline, ten times saltier than seawater. Resident wildlife from tiny crustaceans to water birds have adapted to this naturally salty ecosystem over thousands of years.

Jam Patch has long been a popular place for bush walks, picnics and a local gathering place.  A tennis court was built here in 1953 from anthills dug from a local farm. Watered down, the anthill material compacted like cement. The North Lake Grace Tennis Club was formed with matches held on Sundays during summer. The court was resurfaced with bitumen in 1977 and the last tennis match was held in 1980. You can see the old tennis court and picnic tables below here. You might have trouble playing tennis here today! 

There was only one other group of campers and we spent a peaceful night enjoying star gazing. In the morning it was a delight to wake to the light filtering through the York and salmon gums, and hearing the birds’ dawn chorus. I rose early to try and capture with my camera the early morning light through the trees.

There is also a heritage trail in Lake Grace as well as museums, galleries, murals and many salt lakes and granite rocks to explore in the area. Visit the Lake Grace Visitor Centre for information.

FACTS BOX

Where is it?  Jam Patch is located about 19 kms north of Lake Grace in the central Western Australian wheatbelt. GPS -32.954405, 118.49639

 Campers must be fully self-contained. Please camp in allocated areas.

There are no facilities, power or potable water. Take your rubbish away with you.

Fire bans from 19 September to 30 April. Please bring your own wood and keep fires small.

Please keep pets on a leash as the area is baited with poison.

You might also like:

Explore the painted silos trail, Western Australia

Kwolyn campsite, central wheatbelt, Western Australia

Wander out yonder in Western Australia

Thank you so much for stopping by. Do you have a favourite bush camping spot? Perhaps you would like to tell us about it in your comments. 

I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
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MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf
Sharon's Sovenirs 
Our World Tuesday
Pictorial Tuesday 
ThroughMy Lens 
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity. 
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Thankful Thursday 
Welcome to Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

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