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Inland Western Australia

It’s now been over three weeks since we left Perth and we have ended up making our way closer to Perth than where we were in the first week,a bit ironic considering we are trying to make tracks to South Australia.We will get there eventually just didn’t realise there was so much to explore in this great part of Western Australia.There’s plenty we have missed which we will come back for.

Inside the rolling stock shed where all the work is done on restoring the trains

Just to name a few of the towns we have enjoyed over the last couple weeks.......one being Collie ,it was whilst we were in Collie that we had a little insight to the volunteer work of a group of blokes who are enjoy restoring the derelict trains and carriages in a shed called the rolling stock shed.There’s also a model railway which is housed in the train station in town it’s a great little stop for kids! Our kids had the chance to push a few buttons & watch the trains work throughout the track then after a go at the model railway (which happens to also be a replica of what the town once looked like years back) the lady manager took the younger four aside and then ventured with them out the back to where a Thomas train sat equipped with hand controls bell and all!

On the road from Darkan heading for Wagin is also Arthur River if you like older buildings there’s a couple there!

Arthur River

Arthur River

Wagin another interesting spot! this place was so quiet,we pulled up just on dark and stayed at the showgrounds where we had power & water for $8 a night with payment made at the local council,there’s no available showers though it’s mainly for self contained vehicles but just down the road they have catered for people needing the amenities ,power & water with a cost of $12 a night.While in Wagin we also checked out The Historical Village and spent half the day admiring the many artefacts. Instead of the usual museum where everything is on display in one large area at this historical village they have some original and replica buildings where items are set out in the way they would have been years ago so it’s like taking a step back in time from the old school house or just the General Store it’s a great insight to what it was like years ago.Another tourist attraction you can’t miss seeing while in Wagin is The Big Ram,he is pretty hard to miss on the drive into town also heading back out of town is the original old town well.

Wagin Historical Village

The old school house at Wagin Historical Village

The Big Ram

Wagin's old town well

Narrogin another stop for us but one virtually just to fuel up and stock up the cupboard's with groceries but we did have a good old chat with the two lovely ladies at the visitor centre they suggested a visit along to the wildlife park in particular a night tour to experience seeing a few bilbies in a natural habitat just another to add to the list for next time.In the morning we had a visit by a man whom resembled a ranger but he turned out to be just a local who is also decking out a bus to see the country in.

Kulin a small town but one with allot of character ,the theme of this town are the tin horses scattered throughout the town in front yards aswell as the shops! Just out of town is also the Tin Horse Hwy a stretch of road that has a collection of wacky tin horse sculptures placed by the hwy on display it was here while stopped by some sculptures taking some photos that a bloke called Peter pulled up and spoke to us for a while a few years back he was the local publican of Kulin he saw that we were interested in the sculptures and ask us along to a book launch the next day,the book in question was made about the Tin Horse Hwy.We had to miss the book launch but he has insisted on sending us the book anyway ,the people of this town are extremely friendly and love seeing tourists that take a interest in their town.

Next stop Hyden / Wave Rock, for us it was something we had wished to see back when we started out. It ended up being all that we had expected if not better.We did the entire walk up to the top to the dam wall and then down to Hippos Yawn.
Entry into Wave Rock for a car load is 7 dollars payable at the caravan park on site and there’s also parking right near the caravan park for visitors to Wave Rock.As we had time left we also went for a look across the road at the Toy Solider display,within the same place there is also a very old lace display and wildlife park,you can visit either one or the other or pay for a pass for the whole three we only had time for the toy soldiers which was cool for the kids It’s the biggest collection we have ever seen on display and in the same room as the toy soldier's tucked over in the corner stands a train set, which we were free to have a go at controlling by ourselves.In with the Toy Solder display there is also a part of the Rabbit Proof Fence on display and a doll collection too!We finished our experience off at Wave rock with watching the sunset on the rock ,it was freezing but worth it!

Gnamma Hole

Mulka's Cave

Just a little north of Hyden a must see while you are in the area is Mulka's Cave,The Humps and Gnamma Hole. When you venture into the cave you will see the many hand prints, this cave was used by a Aboriginal man called Mulka who was out casted by his tribe. After a few days of grey weather we had a beautiful day having the sun out just made it!

Another friendly town was Corrigin, known for the biggest queue of dogs in utes , 1525 of them! and just out of town Corrigin dog cemetery a whole 235 so graves devoted to mans best friend.

Further along from the dog cemetery is part of the rabbit proof fence allot people may have heard about this from the movie that has the same name.
Bruce Rock was next up for us this is where we met quite a few locals and spent the majority of the day with them just talking, great times! That day we left near dark & enjoyed a fantastic sunset whilst driving .The night we spent parked up at Merriden and for the first time in a long time we bought dinner.

The old Cummins Theatre where even ACDC has performed years ago

The Golden Pipeline

After leaving Merriden and not all that far down the road we stopped off at the golden pipe line which runs from Mundering Dam out to Kalgoorlie pumping fresh water also on display is part of the rabbit proof fence and a gate and further along up the road a old pump station which seem to be a common thing along this stretch of hwy.
Southern Cross was our next destination and stop over for the night it’s only a small town where the streets are named after stars and constellations.We parked near the showgrounds for the night but this wasn’t until we had another one of those moments with taking a wrong turn again but without the spectator's this time to watch us try and get out of our mess we got into, we ended up being up the top of the towns lookout with a whole lot of reversing to do!

With our stop at Southern cross we were going to drive out to the old Mt Palmer township and then a little further along the track for a quick look at a the Vultee Vengeance plane crash site where still to this day is a missing pilot but due to the weather being yuk we gave it a miss for next time through. While there though we did meet up with a local called Frank who has lived in Southern Cross for 40 so years so he knew allot of the area and filled us in on all those old yarns of the place.Before moving on he invited us over to his place to pick some oranges & mandarins to take.Probably getting sick of us saying this but yet again another friendly little town of Western Australia.

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