Not far off the Victoria Rocks Road is Gnarlbine Soak.
Gnarlbine Soak started life as a simple watering hole, being used as a vital water source for local Aboriginal people. During Henry Lefroy’s travels to the Kambalda area in 1863s, he ‘discovered’ a number of waterholes, and while Gnarlbine was never mentioned, he most certainly passed through the area.
One year later, Charles Hunt began his own expedition in search of agricultural land and came upon the soak, naming in Gnarlbine. Over the next few days the well was sunk further and the wall stoned up to make it more permanent; this was improved over the course of two more trips to the area.
This watering hole became an important stopping point for many explorers and prospectors to follow, becoming an instrumental lifeline for the Goldfields before the inception of the Golden Pipeline.
Access is free. The road from Coolgardie is uncapped and may not be suitable for all vehicles.
There is parking at the site.
Epton, K. (2019). Gnarlbine Soak. http://www.adventures.net.au/information/gnarlbine
WA Museum. (2017). Getting Water. https://museum.wa.gov.au/explore/wa-goldfields/water-arid-land/getting-water