The post Busselton Jetty appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>The Busselton Jetty is the longest timber piled jetty in the entire Southern Hemisphere, stretching 1841 kilometres.
The jetty was build in response to the ever increasing population in the Busselton and Vasse regions, with work starting in 1865 to allow for larger ships to dock in the area. Over its lifetime, the jetty has changed lengths several times. It started at just 161m, with another 131m being added ten years later, and further extensions were made till it reached it current length. The port shut in 1973.
The shutting of the port also meant that funds from the government ceased. A cyclone, several fires and borer infestations over the subsequent years led to a state of disrepair. Local people in Busselton decided to band together to try and restore the jetty, however funding only allowed for roughly 50% to be fixed. From the early 2000’s, various committees have raised even more money, successfully restoring the jetty, installing a train service and and opening an underwater observatory.
Underneath the jetty is the home of 300 marine species. A small portion of this can be seen from the observatory, but beyond this is an entire underwater sculpture park teeming with fish, crabs, seals and other critters.
The underwater observatory sits 8m below the surface. The best way to reach is by taking the train.
Access is via ticketed entry at the start of the jetty.
There is plenty of free parking along the shore front.
Busselton Jetty (2025). Available at: https://busseltonjetty.com.au/ (Accessed: 25 April 2025).
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]]>Just 175km west of Kalgoorlie is the former pastoral lease Jaurdi Homestead, nestled within the Great Western Woodland.
Following Ryan’s Find Road from the Great Eastern Highway, the uncapped track winds through eucalyptus trees and stretches of farmland. After passing over the railway, the small statured homestead is all that is truly left of the station.
Running through the station is also the old Stage Coach route, running from Yellowdine to Goongarrie, now named the Gus Luck Track; this follows a series of old wells and soaks.
Like so many areas around the Goldfields, Jaurdi Homestead was another location on the woodlines, with timber being cut here from 1910 to 1920.
Access is free. The road leading to the homestead is entirely uncapped and prone to flooding. The is no phone reception on the station.
There are some buildings left on the site that can be camped in for free.
Jaurdi Station Homestead. (2023). https://exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/site/jaurdi-station-homestead
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]]>Just a short distance north of Kalgoorlie are the well-kept remains of Goongarrie Homestead.
Encompassing roughly 60,000 hectares, the Goongarrie Homestead was once a working sheep station. The three remaining buildings on the site are a testament to its former function, with the shearers cottage still standing. The other two cottages belonged to the main house and the sandlewood camp. All three can be rented.
Starting at the homestead is the 3km Nganamarta Trail, guiding you through some of the beautiful landscape around the homestead. Numerous animals, insects and plants can be seen along the walk.
The station and the surrounding national park was purchased by the state government in 1995 and since then has functioned as a very popular camping and walking spot for locals and travellers. The land has always hosted a diverse number of plants and animals, with over 58 reptiles and amphibians, 95 birds species and 21 native mammals being found during surveys.
Access to the homestead is free, although there is a small charge if you want to use any of the cabins.
Free parking
Department of Environment and Conservation. (2006). $180,000 for Goldfields parks facilities. https://web.archive.org/web/20110321002851/http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/2446/1560/
Department of Environment and Conservation. (2010). Department of Environment and Conservation 2009–2010 Annual Report.
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]]>The post Ghooli Pump Station appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>Dotted along the Great Eastern Highway are the remains of numerous old water pumping houses that make up the Golden Pipeline, Ghooli Pump Station being among them.
A Brief History
Between 1898 and 1902, construction of the Golden Pipeline from Mundaring Weir to Kalgoorlie was completed. Ghooli (or Ghouli) was Pump No 6 along this route, just 8 miles (12.9km) outside of Southern Cross; by March of 1902 nineteen trucks had arrived bearing much of the equipment. With bricks supplied by the Coolgardie Brickworks, work began in earnest and by the end of 1902 water had reached Ghooli.
The pump house itself is made up of two rooms, one for the boiler and other holding an engine and two Worthington Pumps. There are also the remains of a weighbridge outside.
Not Quite a Town
While no true town was built at Ghooli, there were still enough people living here to support a number of ventures and activities. A school was established, with the children planting trees for Arbor Day, tennis courts and a children’s play area; prior to this, the children of Ghooli would ride the train 7 miles (11km) into Southern Cross to attend the Convent School there.
In 1926 the Government approved for a state farm to be built nearby, one of several experimental wheat farms dotted around the state. WA’s dry weather coupled with a downturn in prices during the depression lead to the farm closing in 1940-41.
The pipeline and the pumps were considered by the Australian Government to be so vital that during WWII they were guarded at all times and the workers themselves deemed too important to join in the effort.
Access to the site is free for everyone. The inside of pumping station is fenced off and cannot be visited due to safety issues.
There is ample free parking in front of the house.
At Ghooli. (1938). The Southern Cross. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/202971155?searchTerm=ghooli
Coolgardie Water Scheme. (1901). The Daily News. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/81323512?searchTerm=ghooli
Ghooli. (1937). Bruce Rock Post. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/211362251?searchTerm=ghooli
Ghooli. (2022). https://www.goldenpipeline.com.au/place/ghooli/
Local and General News. (1902, May 24). The Northam Advertiser, 2–2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/211860424?searchTerm=ghooli
National Trust Australia. (n.d.). Signs at Ghooli.
Our Children of the West. (1904, July 23). The WA Record, 20–20. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/211979058?searchTerm=ghooli
The Coolgardie Water Supply. (1903, January 28). Australian Town and Country Journal, 24–25. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71477438/5333038
The Water Scheme. (1902, March 21). The Evening Star, 3–3. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203481894?searchTerm=ghooli
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]]>The post Gnarlbine Soak appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>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
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]]>The post Burra Rock Conservation Park appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>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.
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