Meekatharra

A long drive today to Meekatharra. Driving was a bit scary at times due to the large number of oversized road trains. As they passed they often swing around. It's hard to keep to the outer edge of the road without falling down the embankment.  Decided to camp tonight at Peace Gorge. One of the few free camps we have done. Bit of a pain with no toilet but adequate otherwise. Another van pulled up later in the afternoon which was good as it is a bit scary being alone in the bush.  The gorge has been the preferred picnic spot for locals since 1919 when a gala picnic and sports day was organised for the soldiers who returned to Meekatharra following World War I. Since then it has become a tradition locals have honoured over the past century. Originally named The Granites it became known as Peace Gorge following the gala day.

Where the photo was taken

Photo of the picnic for the soldiers on their return

  Peace Gorge is just five minutes drive from the gold mining town of Meekathara, which is an eight and a half hour drive northeast of Perth.

  Emily and Mickey had a photos shoot which we sent to their new Mum and Dad Naomi and Samuel. We bought the quokkas on Rottnest Island and have been sending photos of them doing various things all over the place. Naomi and Samuel are very excited and always ask to see them when they FaceTime   We visited the local museum which was interesting and did the Heritage walking trail through town. I think they may be clutching at straws a little to think up Tourist focused attractions as most of the signs said something like ' there may possibly have been a ..... here' The town has some old buildings. 

Old and new

Many of the windows are barred and broken. Sad.  History of the town.

Meekatharra is a former gold rush town. It seems the first settlement at Meekatharra occurred in 1894 and that, in May 1896, after the prospectors Meehan, Porter and Soich discovered gold, miners moved to the new settlement from the other East Murchison fields and mining grew rapidly in scale and sophistication. Success on the Meekatharra field was short-lived. It was only because a second gold discovery occurred in 1899 that the town survived. In 1901 the Meekatharra State Battery began operation and by Christmas Day 1903 the township had been officially gazetted.

In 1906  Alfred Canning was appointed to develop a stock route from the East Kimberley to the Murchison. The stock route, comprising 54 wells, was completed in 1908 and, when the railway arrived in Meekatharra in 1910, the town became the railhead at the end of the route. In many ways the railway ensured the town's survival. In 1910 it took the first shipment of wool out of the area and it continued to serve the local pastoral interests until it was closed down in 1978.     (from Wikipedia)

We went up to the look out at sunset. Beautiful views of the arid countryside and the Kennedy Ranges in the distance. The desert has a beauty all of its own. 

 

 

 

 

 

Back at camp the sunset cast a lovely colour over the usual rock formations.