As we had gained 2 days in the overall project timetable, Saturday saw us on the road just after 8:00am, heading in convoy up the Carnarvon-Mullewa Road to see what was understood to be the restored Ballinyoo Bridge. Unfortunately, this turned out not to be the case, as the old bridge is no more, replaced by a larger concrete one. On the upside, the swallows have rebuilt their nests and whilst the water level was really low, the resultant billabongs were still home to a family of black swans. Very close to the bridge is the turnoff to the track that leads to the Woolgorong Outcamp, the original one-room stone homestead cottage. This had been restored by TWCA Members back in 2012 and is still in good condition. As a deterrent to kangaroo legs digging into the stone and mortar around the base of the building when they are resting in the shade under the verandah, large rocks and pieces of broken concrete were placed up against the walls
Back at the current Homestead, Trevor (from DBCA Geraldton) treated us to a sausage-sizzle lunch as a thank you for the work done. Both the Homestead Caretaker and he were impressed with the work we had achieved. (Subsequent to the project, Trevor did send a “thank you email” which has been posted on the website.) A couple of Members left on Saturday afternoon; all bar one made their way home on Sunday: He was keeping the stove company one more night before departing on Monday.
We left on Sunday, travelling a more scenic route home via Northam and Williams to Bunbury. Just south of Latham, we came across a General Grant tank on display in a silo siding called Maya. Whilst there was some information about the General Grant tanks, there was nothing about how its final resting place came to be right there. Perhaps when we are next passing through, we may see if anyone in Latham or Wubin knows the answer … research for another time.
Dale Winfield