Eyre Hwy to Koonalda Station on Old Eyre Track - South Australia 04-10-2014

Eyre Highway sign – However we did not see any of these animals.

South Australian Litter Bin along Public Highways.

Great Australian Bight.  Whale watchers visit all along the limestone cliffs that overlook the Marine Reserve, from May until end of October, for the Southern Right Whales are breeding season.

Red Morrell (Eucalyptus longicornis) This attractive little tree, is sheltered here by shrubs of the saltbush family.

 
Cotton tops - Mulla Mulla family.

Old Shell Petrol Station at Koonalda Station

Old Shearers hut now used by campers.
 

Koonalda Cave – provided a permanant water supply to the Koonalda Station (abandoned)

Nankeen Kestrel – This bird was collecting eggs from a Galah’s nesting hole.

Track from Koonalada Caves.

Old Sheep Shearing Shed - in a poor state externally.
 
Sand Monitor ?  A big fella in any case. 

Western Myall  (Acacia sowdenii) in bloom.

A closer view of this stunning tree.

Old Shearers Hut, maintained by the Nullarbor National Park for campers.

The old Koonalda Station – maintained as a heritage building.
Koonalda Station was South Australia's most western pastoral property for 50 years under a lease to the Gurney family. It became part of the Nullarbor National Park in 1989 and is presently managed by National Parks and Wildlife SA. The homestead complex at Koonalda is of high heritage value as a remote dry land pastoral property relying totally on water from Koonalda Cave for stock survival.


Late afternoon outside the old Shearers Hut.

Our cosy fire inside the old shearers hut.

Caiguna Blowhole to Eucla – Eyre Hwy – Western Australia 03-10-2014

Parked at Caiguna Blowhole

A very cheerful man, clambered into the blowhole to take photos in the tunnel below!  He did find it a struggle climbing out.
The cave below has a clearance of 0.5 – 1.5m. It is said that Nullarbor caves breath more vigorously than that of any other area in Australia. The air movement at one cave has been measured to be about 72km/hr!



Veteran cars heading home to other States following the a Rally in Perth.

Everlastings on the Nullarbor


Where there are depressions called ‘Dongas’ the additional run off from  rains, trees such as Milgee an acacia thrive.

A grey day and cold at Eucla!

Sun down in Eucla.

Balladonia to Baxters Rest – Eyre Hwy – Western Australia 02-10-2014

At Balladonia - Contemporary craft work using traditional imagery – Ngaanyatjarrra Art Project.

At Balladonia Roadhouse.

Part of old Homestead off Eyre Highway – Abandoned or under repair?



Typical vegetation at the western edge of the Nullarbor Plain – Silver grey ‘bluebush’,  Dark green ‘copperburr’ and samphires form an understory; with tall gimlet and salmon gums, also blackbutt, wattles and tea trees.

A boronia ?  Peter would say that the fragrance of Brown Boronia in bloom, carried for miles in WA and posted me a cutting in 1959.   Sadly we have not come across this plant.

Brown Boronia

Saltbush (Artriplex vesicaria)

Norseman to Fraser Range Station - Eyre Hwy – Western Australia 01-10-2014

On the roundabout in Norseman. 
Although gold had been found at Dundas some 25km south of Norseman not much prospecting had taken place between there and Coolgardie. The story goes that propector,Laurie Sincliar , stopped to search along the ridge of hills just above the current town site. Whilst tethered, his horse ‘Norseman’ pawed the ground causing a piece of gold bearing quartz to lodge in his hoof. the find was lodged as the ‘Norseman Reward’ and went on to become one of the richest reefs ever mined in Australia. the town of Norseman was established in 1894.

Acacia species

Quandong – Native Pear (Santalum acuminatum)  Still collected in the summer months by local Aborigine People and generally made into a sweet jam.

A pretty member of the native mint family – Prostanthera ekersleyana

Blue Lechenaultia always a pleasure to see such a vivid blue amongst yellows and reds.

Camphor Myrtle (Baeckea camphorosmae)

A type of fungi ?

Typical tall trees at the west edge of the Nullarbor  Plain!

Sturt Pea  (Clianthus formosus)  We have only seen isolated little groups of the plant so far.

A Pepper Tree – an exotic - The pepper corns inside red skins are worth harvesting.


Wood Burner heating the Camp Kitchen!          Still working a  Metters Range No 6
Fraser Range Station built in 1889 - sheep farming for 110 years, but now farming cattle.