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.....