Miner's pathway

We’ve just come back from a fabulous trip to the Murchison. This trip came about because three very dedicated grandparents wanted to teach their grandkids about their Australian heritage. What better than the rich history of our mining and pastoral past?

In two vehicles, with one set of grandies/kids in each, we headed out towards our first night’s stay at Kirkalocka Station. Along the way we called into Ningan Station and decided to try out the paces of our new vehicle, a fancy Pajero, by driving up (and down!) Mt Singleton.

We also met station owner, Joe, who showed off the gold that he had found in the area.

Kirkalocka Station still has its original woolclassing shed, complete with (nearly) working machinery.

The whole shed still smells of wool and is a relic of a by-gone age, well worth exploring.

From Kirkalocka we headed out up to Cue, pausing for some gold detecting along the way. 

Cue is a very interesting gold area. There are a few current gold mines operating in the immediate vicinity and hundreds of old shafts dotting the area. We spent spent some time exploring the surrounds, including the old hospital. Like so many pioneer gold towns, there was a vicious typhoid epidemic due to the presence of so many people and such little water: they actually built a separate crematorium to burn the bodies, in the hope of stemming the disease.

Only the old chimney of the crematorium is still standing. You can see the rubble of the original hospital in the foreground.

Then it was off to Sandstone, via the dirt roads. There had been a lot of rain the week before and it was amazing to see the wildflowers (everlastings) already starting to bloom. 

Plant life in outback Australia knows that it has a very narrow window of opportunity to flourish!

There was just enough time to head out to a superb natural rock formation called London Bridge; obviously we took sunset drinks and nibbles!

In fact, it was so pretty that we headed out there the next morning at sunrise to catch the colour on the rock.

Heading off to another gold mining pioneer area, Yalgoo, we paused for some lunch and some alluvial gold panning along the way.

Yes, they discovered some tiny flecks!

Then it was off to visit an old mining exploration, called Joker’s Tunnel. This was a mining tunnel bored completely through a hill. 

Obviously we had to go through! 

Inside was the habitat of tiny microbats

Our last night was spent at beautiful Mellenbye Station, a working cattle property that has wonderful visitor facilities, converted from the old homestead and shearing quarters.

We cooked and ate here, in the old shearing shed.

The next morning saw a beautiful sunrise before we had to head back to Perth.

Back to the realities of life again but with a wealth of memories and a little real gold as a souvenir!