London Bridge Sunset

Another hair brained idea!!!

Why don't we go and photograph the Sun Setting 

through London Bridge...

Well it wasn't co-operating.

No where near centre!!!!

So a quick walk around and blurry vision 

and here are the results

It's still a great spot.

Just as we drove back into town, we were waved down by a couple on the side of the road.

NBF's Jenny & Jean Gabriel who had just arrived in the park.

They had seen our van and guessed I was out taking piccies.

So all in all a good Happy Hour was had albeit a bit late....

Sandstone

A quick look in town had us at the Visitor Centre,

with a great display of "old stuff"

Then over the road to the Post Office which also houses a local 

Art & Craft Workshop.

This lovely Macrocarpa in the Centre Nature Strip.

Then out to the Sandstone Historic Tail.

This is a view out to the Breakaways.

The cooling shaft.

??? I hear you ask.

This is the site of The Brewery.. I kid you not.

Built in 1907 by you guessed it an Irishman.....

J.V. Kearney

These were the cellars. Sadly he only lasted until 1910,

when the railway arrived allowing a large range of beers

in cheaply..

London Bridge 

Sandstones famous natural attraction.

The photographer captured by his "assistant"

In the old days they have had Camel Trains across here.

But now in the days OH&S you are asked

 not to walk on this 350 million year old rock formation. 

I checked it out from above for a different perspective.

Oy Oy your not supposed to do that.

Contradiction Well, was the first town water supply.

Later used as a watering stop for Cobb & Co.

Then we saw this......

He is also staying in the Caravan Park,

another use for the Old Postie Bike.

Fist time we've seen one with a metal detector.

Odds and Sods

These are out of sequence, as they are from the little camera.

A roadside sign pointing to a Gnamma Hole, called for a photo stop.

The circles indicate water in the area.

This of course is an alternative approach, 

and in my opinion far better looking!!! 

The mighty Gascoyne again.

This old pulley system was for getting the mail across when she's in flood.

A coffee stop on the "other side" obviously a well used free camp.

Big Bell, Walga Rock, Day Dawn

We had to go out and see Big Bell 31 k's N.E. of Cue

The Town & Mine operated from 1936-1955

The Hotel is the same as the Como Hotel in Perth and was built in the Art Deco style.

At it's peak the town had 1000 residents, 450 mine workers.

There were 160 houses, Churches, Schools, Shops and a Picture Theatre.

Now just the skeleton of the Hotel & a few ruins.

But well worth a walk around.

The old town water tower.

The mine was resurrected in the 1980's but once again closed,

 but the lease has been taken up again.

Some things a bloke just can't resist.....

On to Walga Rock for lunch with the Bush Flies.

We had considered camping here as half of the East-West Trakkies had done, 

it was a great camp site.....next time.

The Rock is about 1/2 the size of Uluru.

So around we came to the Rock Art.

A Natural Gallery and is the largest collection of Aboriginal Art in the Murchison.

The acoustics are also fantastic.

This Square Rigger is the subject of much conjecture

 and appeared to me to be very recent.

You can get an idea of the size of the place.

I think this is the Guardian Spirit of the site.

I love this new lens!!!!

As a bonus there is a Nankeen Kestrel nest just above.

Half an hour of patience paid of, but even 400mm isn't long enough some times.....

Then on to yet another deserted mine site at Day Dawn.

The Great Fingall mine office stands as a testament to the 

quality of the builders as it is right on the edge of the open cut mine.

Now I had to sneak behind a fence and over piles of rocks to get these 2 pics.

And just as we were driving back to town a Police Ute was coming down the dead end road.

I wonder if I had been spotted from the new office..... 

Cue

Part of the Caravan Park at Cue is the Old Lock Up.

Would you believe that at one time this old lock up was converted to the ablutions block.

One of the rooms contains lots of bits and pieces from the era.

We had decided to stay for a couple of days and investigate the area.

Sandra and Richard have gone on their way to do the wild flowers.

We have passed through Cue a few times but had never had time to enjoy.

The Local School provided Herbs for the travelers...

last time we saw this was at Toowomba.

Post Office and Police Station.

Just opposite these building is the Shire Office 

which contains huge numbers of local photos..

which gave us an idea to visit the surrounding area and stay another night.

Main Street.

Bank of NSW..now empty but still has all the furnishings..

strange to think that this bank used to hold large

 amounts of Gold from the surrounding fields.

650 k's from home..

The Old Cemetery...not many there!!

And on the edge of town the Old Masonic Lodge..

now privately owned.

On the Road Again..Mt Gould Lockup Night Camp

On the way from Mt. Augustus we passed one of my favourite things.

You guessed it a Windmill, this one was making a mini wetland.

A lunch stop at the Mt. Gould Lockup had an unexpected consequence.

Richard discovered a split boot on the front drive shaft & we decided

 to change plans & head to Meekatharra to see if he could get it repaired.  

So a free camp 50 kms. west of Meekatharra had us set up

 in time for Sandra to prepare a beautiful 

Lamb Roast & Golden Syrup Dumplings for Dessert.

It wasn't a bad Sunset either.