Just 60km south of Coolgardie is a unique location made up of smooth granite rocks and a man-made dam.
There are a number of granite outcrops dotted throughout the Great Western Woodlands. Burra Rock Conservation Park is a special area, not just because of its strong connection to the Aboriginal people that travelled here for 20,000 years, but also for its role in the mining timber supply.
The water catchment system that can be seen today was put together in the 1920’s and 30’s to collect water for the woodlines. The ever-growing mines around the Goldfields required massive amounts of wood, resulting in the cutting down of large areas of trees. This wood cutting effort had reached Burra Rock in the 1920’s and the steam engines that were used to move the timber north required a steady supply of water.
The trees that surround Burra Rock today are all new growth which sprung up since the area of gutted.
While the dam is the most prominent feature here, for centuries before hand this would be been a common stopping place for Aboriginal people as the rock makes wonderful water channels.
Access is free to anyone.
There is plenty of free parking and camping at the base of rock.
Bianchi, P., Bridge, P. and Tovey, R. (eds) (2006) Early Woodlines of the Goldfields. Carlisle: Hesperian Press.
Thomson-Dans, C., Storrie, A., Brown, A., Chapman, A., Copp, I., Ennis, A., Friend, T., Gleeson, D., Keighery, G., Herford, I., Hunter, J., Hussey, P., Kealley, I., Pearson, D., Pronk, G., Winfield, C. and Wentzel, K. (2012) Guide to the Great Western Woodlands. Bentley: Department of Environment and Conservation.