Author: Christine Eyres

Back-tracking to a trip we did in 1981 to visit our friends Terri and Martin who worked in the Pilbara town of Tom Price when mining was just starting up.

I wanted to record these photos. I still remember being taken to the stunning location of the Harding River near Cossack and being grief-stricken to find out it was about to be totally flooded and turned into a giant dam to provide water for the mining towns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In our ignorance, we wandered around Whitnoom, including inspecting an old mine. The kids grabbed a lump of blue asbestos for their rock collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Price was a very small town and Dampier was little more than a beach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A picnic at Dampier with Terry and Martin.

 

In April 1985 we take off on a trip around Australia that will take the best part of a year. We start off around Mt Magnet and Cue in what is called the break-away country. We are camped out near Walga rock where there are Aboriginal sites with paintings.

 

One site has a childlike painting of an old sailing ship superimposed on the aboriginal designs. it has been dated about 100 years old by the London Museum. Thought by some to be done by the survivor of a shipwreck or an Afghan. There is also a story said to be told by the Aboriginal people, of a blue-eyed, fair-haired girl who drew the picture and was killed because she had entered a sacred site. (And as I write this I realise that we also were trespassing on a sacred site)

The kids collect rocks- some nice crystalline quartz. They have started correspondence lessons which we pick up and drop off at post offices in various towns.

 

 

 

17 April 1985

We are back camping at Wilgia Mia and  had a look around Big Bell today. Once again, I am amazed at the size. the goldmine was started in the 1930’s but the once-substantial township is a ghost town surrounded by what can only be called a man-made obscenity.

 

 

The earth has been raped and left – nothing but miles and miles of white noxious-looking slag. a collapsed hole, so dangerous that humans and animals have to be protected all around by a high fence. Expensive equipment dumped and left to rot in the elements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The children remember Wilgia Mia and delight in showing David through the ochre mine although it scared them last time they were here.Being with their dad must make them feel safer.

 

We heated some water and set up a bush shower. It was heaven after walking around Walga rock.

 

 

 

 

 

18th April 1985

the day starts early with school work. We just do a few hours and get it out of the way. I figure that what they are learning from the trip is more valuable than all the social studies etc. however they can’t fall behind with the basics.

 

The Cue Masonic Hall

 

We’re off to Poona which we all read about in our book of rocks and minerals. It is supposed to be rich with gems which is true if the fences are anything to go by. Our rock collecting expedition was intimidated by signs like AGA KHAN MINE PTY LTD – KEEP OUT – TRESSPASSERS PROSECUTED. There is also large and expensive infrastructure evident like huge runways. When we stopped for lunch under a shady tree we could hardly stay still long enough to eat. Everywhere were rocks of different varieties and colours – quartz, agates and what may be jasper but could be red iron ore.

 

We became lost on the way back to camp but found some great little caves. This country makes me ponder on the lives of the first people.

 

Back at camp we once again had fun with the shower and must have looked a sight with not a stich on except ugg boots to keep our feet from being covered in ochre.

April1985

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The children haven’t mentioned games tonight. We have been playing Rummy and Scrabble etc since we started camping. Tonight, they are carried away by writing and drawing. Robert has virtually written a book. Makes my teacher/artist heart glow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Wilgia Mia to Mt Augustus, the world’s biggest rock (2 ^1/2 times bigger than Uluru). We had a couple of attempts of climbing it but it is almost 4000ft high, very rugged and no distinct tracks. We didn’t reach the top and were in danger of becoming lost.

 

Camped at Mt Augustus station – we were the only campers and were made very welcome. Cattle Pool on the station is a beautiful waterhole overhung by huge ghost gums, lots of water weed. It is very pretty. We took the canoe. We attempted fishing but only caught tiny fish. A huge bungarra came to take our bate and then stayed to pose for us for over an hour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We dropped the caravan at Barradale and drove over to Ningaloo for the night. David caught 6 crayfish and some cuttlefish. We filled the water containers from the station tank where the emus, kangaroos and wild goats come to drink.

The weather glorious, no other people so once again we all forgot about clothes. The next day was raining so we spent the day in the car waiting for the tide to go down so that we could drive back to Barradale along the beach.

 

Off to Port Hedland to spend a week with my sister Lauraine and her partner Wayne. They have a Goldsworthy Mining Company apartment right on the beach at Finucane Island. we spend much of the week fishing and learning to windsurf and the rest of the time eating and drinking.

 

We went into town to see a musical version of ‘The sentimental Bloke’. We were met with sherries in the lobby, a bar was open during the play with people sitting watching, drinking jugs of beer and smoking all the way through. A chicken supper was served dring the interval. The play was dreadful but needless to say nobody noticed.