Australia So Much to See

The town entry statement consists of corrugated iron camel statues, as a tribute to the camel trains that carried the freight and mail to the town in the early days of settlement. From a sign by these statues:

Camels, the prospector's friend

In 1895, John Aspinall, a young New Zealand prospector, bought two camels for 134 pounds in Coolgardie, and also engaged Amzula, a cameleer, at 30 shillings per week plus tucker. Writing in his diary, Aspinall noted that:

Our second night back in Western Australia was at Newman Rocks near Balladonia, which is always worth visiting. The area is large enough to be well spread out for quiet and privacy. We had a delightful display of wildflowers around us, with the above, Dodonaea lobulata, being the colourful seed pod stage, at which Dodonaea species are at their most showy.

Below, a clump of Solanum petrophilum was also alongside our caravan, with bright gold covered bushes of Acacia tetragonophylla being a little further away.

Our next stop on this familiar Eyre Highway route was for the night, beyond a rest area in the Yalata woodland area. With plenty of tracks and space to spread out, we went out of sight and sound of another caravan which was tucked in beyond the clump of trees at the right of this photo.

The blue of the Southern Ocean and the Bunda Cliffs of the Great Australia Bight, with the sand dunes at Eucla beyond the cliffs.

While many viewing areas along the cliff tops have been closed for safety reasons, and some have safety fences added to prevent people walking on overhangs on this slowly crumbling cliff top, there are plenty of other places to view this magnificent coastline.

Here we stopped at a parking area quite close to the highway, which is one of a few places where it would be possible to walk down to the base, due to former erosion. Looking east, the steep cliffs continue. See more photos from previous visits to different Bunda Cliffs viewing points on our Nullarbor page.

Norseman

Gold was first discovered near Dundas, south of the present Norseman townsite in 1892, and a township developed there. Following further discoveries, Norseman was gazetted in 1895. In 1935, Western Mining Corporation came to Norseman and invested significantly in its infrastructure. It is claimed that since 1892, over 100 tonnes of gold have been extracted from the area. The Norseman Gold Mine is Australia's longest continuously running gold mining operation. This mine was closed in 2014, but some gold is still mined in the area.

Norseman is the town for the large Shire of Dundas which covers an area of 93,179 square kilometres. This stretches all the way to the South Australian border approximately 670 kilometres to the east, and approximately 150 kilometres to the west of the town.

Norseman was named after a prospector’s horse. The horse is said to have kicked a rock and revealed gold, so the claim was named Norseman. When the town developed, the name stayed. There is a statue representing this horse in the main street.

It is certainly surprising what you can pack on a camel...it is only necessary to see a camel loaded with billies, buckets, picks, shovels and other gear to recognise his general utility. There are corners and recesses all over for tying on small things, and waterbags are hung on his neck, giving him the appearance of a walking caravan.

A camel is made to lie down by pulling the nose line and saying "Hoostah-sh-sh-sh-sh-h-h-!" At this point especially of a few oriental imprecations are added, he suddenly plumps down on his knees, mand majestically lowers the hind portion of his body. Making him get up does not require the knowledge of any barbarous language, a rousing kick in the ribs being the simplest method ..."

Eyre Highway towns and roadhouses have basic amenities, and may have limited and/or expensive water. Be self sufficient if you can.

Eucla Motel Caravan Park

Rest areas. Some rest areas are large and you can get well back from the highway. Some have a pit toilet.

Mundrabilla Roadhouse Caravan Park

Jillah Rockhole Rest Area, 10 kilometres west of Mundrabilla is one of the larger and better rest areas for getting well back from the highway and for privacy amongst trees. Pit toilet near highway.

Madura Pass Oasis Motel Caravan Park

Cocklebiddy Roadhouse Caravan Park

Caiguna Roadhouse Caravan Park

Baxter Rest Area Dump Point, 67 kilometres west of Caiguna. Next to pit toilet in this Main Roads 24 hour rest area. Tracks out behind for quiet camping.

Balladonia Roadhouse Caravan Park

Newman Rocks, lovely spot, no facilities – see details here

Fraser Range Station run a popular caravan park. Away from the highway.

Norseman Caravan Park

Norseman RV Park, corner of Mildura and Ramsay Streets (east from the Camels roundabout), short stay, free, no amenities, all grey water to be removed from site.

Norseman Dump Point, near Visitor Information Centre (VIC), obtain key from VIC, easy access. Also potable water available from VIC, donation requested.

Camping and dump points

Resources

Signage on site

Wikipedia – Norseman

Aussie Towns – Norseman

Shire of Dundas (Norseman)

Wikipedia – Shire of Dundas

Next we follow the Hyden-Norseman Road

The Eyre Highway, Western Australia

This site is on the north side of the Highway, opposite a small rest area. The site is of interest as ruins remain (below left).

It is set well back from the highway with several tracks and cleared areas (below right) with either shade or sun, so ideal for stopping overnight. The ruins and a tiny model (at right) representing the school are beyond a fence.

Cohen Old School Site

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