Life Images by Jill: midwest

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Sunday, 19 January 2025

Midwest, Goldfields, Wildflower trundle - (final) Part 7 - Elachbutting & Beringbooding Rocks - Western Australia

Hi everyone. I hope 2025 has started well for you.

Last year I brought to you my Midwest, Goldfields, Wildflower Trundle which started in September - and I promised to bring you the last part. Finally here it is.

To recap here is the map - for part 7 we are on our homeward run, leaving Karalee Rock and heading to Elachbutting Rock and nearby Beringbooding Rock, before heading south through Bruce Rock where we stayed overnight at my nephew's farm, then back home to Bunbury.

We only had 194km to drive from Karalee Rock to Elachbutting Rock, so we didn't rush in the morning, but were on the road by 9am, arriving at Elachbutting Rock around 1pm. Located off Elachbutting Road in the Walyahmoning Nature Reserve, the rock is accessed via well maintained gravel roads. We stopped for morning tea at Southern Cross, on the Great Eastern Highway, and were able to empty our waste water put clean water into our caravan. We then travelled north through Bullfinch, then west along the Koorda Bullfinch Road, before turning north onto the Rabbit Proof Fence Road.

Here are a few wildflowers we stopped to photograph on the way. Clockwise from top left - the first two are the tall Flame Grevillea (Grevillea excelsior), Bottlebrush Grevillea (Grevillea paradonxa) Tinsel Flower (Cyanostegia microphylla), I think one of the Melaleuca Honey Myrtles, and the yellow Popflower (Glischrocaryon aureum).

It is easy to see why Elachbutting Rock got its name which is thought to mean “big thing standing” in the local indigenous language. This prominent landmark is one of a number of granite outcrops that rise abruptly from the plains of the wheatbelt landscape. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of it taken from a distance - but you might be able to get an idea from this image.

We easily found a spot to set up with some light shade in the free camping area located amongst natural bushland at the base of the eastern side of the rock, 1.8 kilometres from the park entrance. Visitors are requested to stay on the designated tracks. Watch for overhanging branches on the way in.

A map at the entrance to the park shows the five kilometre one way track which winds around the rock and the location of the walking trail and physical features.

We hadn't camped here for a number of years, so it was good to visit again. There is plenty of space to set up, and more open areas further away from the rock, especially if you are setting up with a group.

There are walking trails to explore. Not far from the park entrance is a 200 metre easy walk trail which leads to two rainbow coloured rock waves, similar to but smaller than Hyden’s famous Wave Rock, the 40 metre Monty’s Pass tunnel beneath a rock slide, and Kings Cave, a large acoustic cavern where you can create echoes by stamping your feet at either end. You might decided as we did, that wearing a fly net is a good idea when you are walking about exploring.

A 4WD-only track takes you to the top of the rock where you will see spectacular 360 degree views of farmland to the west and mostly inaccessible virgin bushland to the east beyond the Vermin Proof Fence marking the edge of the north eastern wheatbelt.

There is a rock cairn located on the rock’s highest point. Along the way you will see numerous gnamma holes (rock depressions which collect water during rain) and huge rock slips and cracks which show the effects of the incredible forces of nature on the rock. You may also see Ornate Dragon Lizards (Ctenophurus Ornatus), scampering over and under rock crevices. Gnamma holes and water soaks were important sources of water for animals, Aboriginal people, explorers and early settlers.

Below are a couple of photos taken by my husband - the Ornate Dragon Lizard and possibly the Brown Flycatcher.

Located only 200 metres from the camping area is an old well which has five to six rows of dry wall stones above a clay or stone shaft. This well is typical of other wells in the area which were built to provide a water supply for settlers.

And some more wildflowers from our wanders. I will attempt to identify some of them - starting clockwise from top left - possible on the the Teatrees, possibly one of the yellow Immortells or Waitzias, Tall Mulla Mulla just opening (Ptilotus exaltatus), Long tails Mulla Mulla (Ptilotus polystachyus), possibly Burrobunga (Olearia pimeleoides), possibly a yellow Immortelle variety, one of the pink everlastings varieties, I think the greeny one is one of the saltbush varieties, and in the middle a show of yellow immortells or waitzias.

And in the rock gardens on the rock - clockwise from top left - spikey rock garden plants, lemon scented sun orchid, clown orchid, the red is either the one-sided bottlebrush or a clawflower, granite sun orchid, and the little laughing leek orchid.

And at days end - there's plenty of time and space for a game of bocce, then after dinner sit by the fire and toast marshmallows and enjoy the peace and quiet under the night sky.

It is only 20km from Elachbutting Rock to Beringbooding Rock, so we drove over for the morning. I wrote a blog post about Beringbooding Rock and water tank back in June. You can click on the link above to read more about it.

Beringbooding Rock is dominated by a ten and a quarter million litre water tank built during 1937-38 for the farming community. It is the largest rock water catchment tank in Australia. The concrete tank and catchment was built by sustenance labour, a scheme which provided employment during the Great Depression. Over the years the corrugated iron roof covering the concrete tank started to come adrift through age and strong winds, creating a safety hazard, and has now been removed. The shire is committed to funding a new roof. Please - no swimming - the water is not drinkable.

The tank is fed by a seven hectare catchment area. Rock walls hewn from the rock itself encircle the rock and channel the rain water via a concrete aqueduct into the tank. These slabs were sledged away, stood on their sides and cemented together to form rock walls up to a metre high.

The picnic and small free camping area suitable for caravans and camper trailers is conveniently located at the base of the rock. They have built a new smaller water tank to service this.

A 2.3 kilometre walk trail starts at the gate at the base of the tank and takes you over the rock to a variety of natural features. There are said to be cave paintings, but we have never found them - perhaps looking in the wrong place.

I suggest you take a photo of the information map and allow a minimum of one and a half hours for your walk. The rock cairn at the highest point was erected in 1889 by surveyor and early explorer HS King. You can enjoy 360 degree views over grain-growing farmland to the south and west, and virgin bushland to the north and east.

One wonders how the rock you see above balances there, seemingly defying gravity. Below is the Kangaroo Pool and the Granite Kunzea (Kunzea pulchella) that grows there.

And some more wildflowers - of course! Clockwise from top left - Long tails Mulla Mulla (Ptilotus polystachyus), Quandongs (Santalum acuminatum) (an edible fruit), Native Cornflower (Brunonia australis), Hop Bush (Dodonaea inaequifolia), possibly the Nodding Chocolate Lily (Dichopogan preissii), and lastly one of the small Fringe Lilies.

If you are visiting Elachbutting and Beringbooding Rocks I would suggest you camp at Elachbutting.

An eco wheelchair friendly toilet and a couple of picnic tables and fire rings are provided. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own firewood, take note of fire-ban months, and take their rubbish away. Pets and motorbikes are discouraged. If you are camping you need to be self-sufficient with food, water and anything else you may want. The camping area is suitable for caravans, camper trailers and tents, although caravaners need to be aware of overhanging branches along the track.

For more information:

Wheatbelt Tourism

Westonia Shire

To catch up on the rest of the tour - here are Links to our Midwest-Goldfields-Wheatbelt Trundle 2024. By the way - the campsites I have shown you on this tour are easy to get to on well made gravel roads. No hard off roading for us these days.

Intro

Part 1 - Perenjori and Camel Soak

Part 2- Mullewa, Canna & Pindar

Part 3- Return to Wooleen Station, Southern Rangelands

Part 4 - Yalgoo & Sandstone

Part 5 - Leonora and Gwalia

Part 6 - Niagra Dam & Karalee Rock

Sunday, 13 October 2024

Midwest wildflower trundle - Part 2 - Mullewa, Canna Dam & Pindar, Western Australia

Hi everyone, welcome back to my Midwest wildflower trundle. This is Part 2. If you missed Part 1 last week you can see it here - Wildflower Trundle, Part 1

From Perenjori we drove 138 km north to Mullewa via Morawa, with a stop at Canna Dam, 83km north of Perenjori. Dug by horse drawn ploughs and scoops, the dam was used as a railway dam between 1914 and 1956. There is a 200 metre walk around the dam where you can see orchids in season, as well as carpets of everlastings in spring.

There are information boards with history and orchid identification. I am not a botanist - so I will do my best with identification.

Here are the few we saw - top two on the left are Pink Candy Orchids, then on the right one of the Snail orchids. Bottom row two on the left are varieties of white Spider orchids, and the purple on the right is the Fringe Lilly. Others from around the dam which we didn't see are the Blue Fairy Orchid, the Ant Orchid, Shell orchid, Greenhoods and Donkey orchids.

the enlarged images are one of the white spider orchids and the Fringe Lilly.

There is small free overnight camping at the old Canna townsite with an ablution block with hot showers, flushing toilets, and drinking water available. There is a BBQ (bring your own gas). And a walk trail nearby.

From here we drove to where there is a bush campsite about 3km away. Here there is plenty of room to set up (although the track in could be boggy when wet), the everlastings were in full bloom, and the flys were very friendly when we sat down to have lunch under the shade of a tree. Bring a fly net - it can also double as a food fly cover!

These are Pink & Grey Galahs

On the way out we stopped on the side of the road so I could photograph some more flowers! Below clockwise from top left you can see - one of the Triggerplant varieties, Cone flowers, Pink Poker (Grevillea petrophiloides), Donkey Orchid, Honey Myrtle and Firebush.

And then onto Mullewa where we set up in the neat, partly shaded and grassed caravan park.

Wajarri aboriginal people have lived in and travelled through this country for thousands of years. Part of the broader Southern Yamatji group, their traditional lands extended east to Mt Magnet and Meekatharra and north to the Gascoyne River. They came to know this area as Mullawah (after the swans found on local pools) or Mooloowa, for the fog that often spills through the valleys and low country here.

In June 1861 John Davis, an early pastoralist from Champion Bay (Geraldton), wrote to the Government about taking up land around “Mullewa Spring” - the first Europeans to settle here. Mullewa became a significant depot for explorations and the eastward movement of pioneers into the Murchison. Gold was discovered in the Murchison area in the 1890s. For more information: Visit Mullewa

Today the population of Mullewa is around 450, 60% of whom live in town. They hold a wildflower festival each year. Check the website for dates.

A good place to start your exploration is at the Visitor Centre, where we picked up a Mullewa town and district map, showing local walk trails, and drive loop trails further afield. Here is part of the view of Mullewa from the Mullewa Scenic Lookout which you can drive to, or walk to via the Rail Heritage Loop from in town.

Monsignor Hawes lived in Mullewa for 22 years. In the 1920s he designed and built The Church of Our Lady of Mt Carmel. Built in Romanesque style typical of Italian or Spanish village churches, the church was built with help from local farmers carting stone from a nearby quarry The church is considered to be one of his finest designs and is classified by the National Trust. Adjacent is Monsignor Hawes Priest House, now a museum. Refer to the Visitor Centre for opening times. You can find out more here - Monsignor Hawes-Mullewa

I suggest a whole day for either loop trail. The 115km Northern Loop includes the old Tenindewa settlement and school with its historic stone causeway across the lake, and The Waterfalls, a natural waterfall 7km from Mullewa once a popular watering hole in the winter months and, today it's a favourite picnic spot. You can free camp at both Tenindewa and The Waterfalls. No facilities. Please take your rubbish away.

Tenindewa - history and wildflowers

The Waterfalls - not much of a waterfall - but a waterfall none-the-less

One the way back to town, visit the Mullewa Pioneer Cemetery - a fascinating snap-shot into the past. The first burial was in 1895.

The 145km Southern loop takes in Coalseam Conservation Park - a mix of spring wildflowers, early mining history and stunning cliff-top views. We didn't visit Coalseam this time around, but here are photos from a previous visit. The botanically diverse Park covers 754 hectares. In 1846 Augustus, Frank and Henry Gregory where looking for grazing land and discovered exposed coal seams. A number of shafts were dug but the coal was found to be of poor quality. There are campsites at Coalseam. More information here - Explore Parks.dbca.wa.gov.au/park/coalseam-conservation-park

East of Mullewa tourists are drawn to the Pindar-Beringarra Road where you can see Wreath Leschenaultia's spread along the roadside on Tallering Station - a spectacular sight for tourists and locals. This is the start of the Wool Wagon Pathway which runs 1160km north to Exmouth. Unfortunately the hotel at Pindar is now closed.

And a little surprise when we were looking at the Wreath Leschenaultias - a Thorny devil! (Moloch horridus) - a species native to Australia. So called because of the thorny spikes on his body. So cute, but he wasn't too impressed with having his photo taken. The spikes all over their bodies help them get a drink of water in the dry sand country. In the mornings they rub up against dew drops on the spinifex and the moisture runs between the spikes along grooves that run directly into their mouths. Growing up to 15cm in length, they live on a diet of black ants.

And a wildflower I hadn't seen before which I have just had identified - Cheyniana microphylla (common name - bush pomegranate)

While we were in Mullewa I was thrilled to be able to visit Helen Ansell's art studio shop at 3 Jose Street. As well as enjoying her artwork you can have coffee and cake from her shop. I have long admired her art. Her Western Australian wildflower paintings are absolutely gorgeous. I now have one of her prints on my wall at home. She also has greeting cards, rugs, tote bags and other items decorated with her art. More here: Helen Ansell.com

For more visitor information about Mullewa, road conditions, where to see wildflowers and for information about the caravan park - Visit Mullewa.com.au

The Visitor Information Centre is located in the Community Resource Centre - corner of Maitland and Jose Street. Telephone: 08 9961 1500

Monday, 23 September 2024

Midwest-Goldfields-Wheatbelt trundle-September 2024

Hi everyone, I hope you and yours have been doing well during the time I have been away on my little blogging break. We got back home late last week, and I seem to have a mountain of things to catch up on. You know - life keeps going on whether you are home or not.

We had a fabulous few weeks away exploring some places new to us, and others we haven't been to in a while. Our trip took us up through the midwest enjoying the Western Australian wildflower season, then north to a station stay at Wooleen Station in what they call the Rangelands, then across to the goldfields area, and through the far north eastern wheatbelt. In fact 3,588 kilometres during the three weeks of our trip.

I will come back with more to share over the coming weeks, but for now a little look - there was history, walking tracks, bush camping, birds, exotic wildflowers, gorgeous sunsets, outback toilets (or as my blogging friend says - loos with views), rocky outcrops and breakaways, and carpets of wildflowers.

Budgerigars - commonly known as Budgies. So wonderful to be able to sit under a tree and observe them in the wild. This was the first time I have ever been this close to them in the wild. So special.

From all reports across Western Australia it has been an amazing wildflower season. These are white pom-poms with yellow everlastings in the background.