The full size Stonehenge at Esperance – Western Australia 27-09-2014

The full size replica of the original Stonehenge !  as it would have looked around 1950 BC.   
137 Stones were cut in Esperance Pink Granite from a nearby quarry. The 10 Trilithon Stones set in a horseshoe pattern weigh between 38-50 tonnes each, standing with the 18 tonne lintels on top at a height of 8m. Inside the Trilithon Horseshoe stands another horseshoe pattern of 19 ‘Blue Stones’
The Trilithon Stones are surrounded by a circle of ‘Sarsen Stones’ weighing 28tonnes each and standing almost 5m high including the 7tonne lintels on top. Positioned between the Sarsen Circle and the Trilithon Stones is a full circle of 40 small rough hewn stones, referred to as the Bluestone Circle.
The Altar Stone weighs 9tonnes and lies in front of the two tallest Trilithon Stones.
This Stonehenge is aligned with the summer solstice (22nd December) at sunrise – Esperance WA. The Station Stones are positioned on this line to allow the suns rays to pass through to the altar. Ditto for the winter solstice (21st June) at sunset.






Some people like very fancy tombstones !

Cape Le Grande National Park – Western Australia 25-09-2014

Lucky Bay at Cape Le Grande National Park.

Agonis marginata

Pink Starflowers (Calytrix decandra)

Almost perfect camouflage.

Astroloma prostratum – The Astroloma berries edible and sweet when ripe and would have been harvested by the Aborigines.

Pimelea ferruginea  - the stems are difficult to break due to its stringy outer layer. The Aborigines used this material for binding.

View during walk from Lucky Bay to Thistle Cove.

Grevillea

Melaleuca                                                                  Pink Enamel Orchid (Elythranthera emarginata)

Borya nitida – A dwarf cushion plant with sharp tipped green foliage turning brown during the dry season.

Sticky Tail Flower (Anthocersis viscosa)

Bristly Cottonhead (Conostylis setigera)

Banksia

Lechenaultia biloba

Yate (Eucalyptus lehmannii) - Trees within our campsite.

Yabbies Farm - Esperance – Western Australia 23-09-2014

Red Kangaroo Paw

Mottlecah (Eucalyptus macrocarpa)


Banksias

Chittick  Aboriginal name Chideok  ( Lambertia inermis)



Dryandra formosa

Hookers Banksia (Banksia hookeriana)

Birds-nest Banksia  (Banksia incana)

 

Spotted Grass Frog - This frog looked as if it were made of polished tin.
 
New laid eggs – from free ranging hens at Yabbies Farm.

Fitzgerald River National Park – Western Australia 20-09-2014

For thousands of years, the Nyoongar people occupied and travelled across their traditional land that spread from the forested regions of the south west to the heathlands of the south coast, east of Esperance. The Nyoongar used the rivers as thoroughfares as they moved between these regions following the seasonal availability of food at its most tasty and nutritional time. South coast Nyoongar people still continue their traditional harvesting of seasonal foods.


Silver grey gum and Royal Hakea in foreground.

The unique Royal Hakea (Hakea victoria)  Aboriginal name Dalyongurd 

Silver Grey Gum

Harsh Hakea  (Hakea prostrata)                              

Open-fruited Mallee (Eucayptus annulata)

Calothamnus validas

The beautiful Banksia celeyi

Cut-leaf Dryandra (Dryandra praemorsa)  The first Dryandra that we have seen so far!

Barrens Regelia  (Regelia velutina)

Purple Enamel Orchid with bud. (Elythranthera brunonis)  Really does look as if it has been coated with clear varnish! The petals are spotted on the underside.

Part of the Barren Ranges in Fitzgerald River National Park . Our first coastal walk for some time!

Banksia

Magnificent Painted Lady  (Gompholobium scabrum)

Interesting combination of open weave hessian and timber.

Fast moving Dotterel on the sands at Hamersley Inlet.

Four Mile Beach