WHERE
Winnemia is situated about 150 km East of Carnarvon and 36km West of Gascoyne Junction on Mardethuna Road which is the Southern Entry to the Kennedy Range National Park.
HISTORY
The Winnemia site was formerly a “Depot Shearing Shed” for surrounding stations to shear their sheep flocks and being adjacent to the road to Carnarvon had convenient road links to transport the clip to port for export. It fell out of use and became derelict, suffering a final demolition with record flooding in 2010. In October 2022 a small group of Track Care enthusiasts and workers from Jimba Jimba Station refurbished a former shearers’ kitchen/dining room as a camp kitchen. This being the initial campground facility on the southern entry to the Kennedy Range National Park Loop Trail, April 2023 another much larger continent of Track Care enthusiasts constructed toilets providing disabled access and a small shower room to add to the camp kitchen. The shower room utilising some remaining infra structure of a two-bedroom cottage that had been swept away in the 2010 flood. These works were timed to finish just before the solar eclipse in April 2023.
CAMPING
Self Contained. There are toilet and cold shower facilities at Winnemia, and two of the campgrounds on the Eastern side of the Range. Dump points are in Carnarvon, Gascoyne Junction and Mullewa. Potable water can be accessed in Gascoyne Junction, but there may not be any other supplies, the hotel/shop complex having closed recently. So bring all food and consumables that you need for 2 weeks. Please bring a supply of cash in small denominations for camp fees in DBCA campsite (Eastern Range) and in case the internet connection are down as cards will not work.
Please carry enough fuel for a minimum 600 km range, more if convenient. Fuel stops will be had at Muchea if needed, Geraldton, Billabong Roadhouses and Carnarvon. Carnarvon roadhouses are available for unleaded and diesel. and diesel fuel can be obtained by a card system at fuel depots near the road train assembly area (turn left off North West Coast Highway onto Harbour Road, right into Hudson Street and there is the choice of Ampol or Puma). Fuel is available by card in Gascoyne Junction. On the way back to Perth down the Mullewa Carnarvon Road, fuel stops are at Gascoyne Junction, Murchison Settlement and Mullewa. Thereafter fuel is available at a number of towns.
Once we leave Winnemia, the Kennedy Range Loop Trail (KRLT) has no facilities until we reach the DBCA campgrounds on the Eastern side of the Range. Caravans can access the Winnemia camp ground, however the KRLT is very rugged with rough rocky climbs, sandy creek crossings, sharp deep gutters. Off road campers can negotiate the KRLT. If a caravan is to be left, we can arrange to leave it at Jimba Jimba, however be aware that cattle can be around the caravans.
WHAT TO BRING
Strong footwear
UHF Vehicle mounted radio
Hand held UHF radio/s preferably 5 watt
High vis apparel for each person (high visand hand held to accompany each person or group walking away from the campsite. Why, well if the walkers become lost we may be able to find you before the wild dogs do!
Torch for moving out of accommodation at night, there are many nocturnal things that bite or sting.
First aid kit and snake bite kit. The TCWA first responders kit and defibrillator will be taken along.
Medications including EpiPen if you likely to need one.
Sun protection, hat and sun screen.
Backpack for water/ snacks etc when walking especially on the trails on the Eastern side of the Range.
PROPOSED PROGRAM
Days 1-2.
Participants may make their way independently to Winnemia or may travel in a convoy departing Perth on April 8, camping overnight at a roadside location (to be confirmed) and on to Winnemia, arriving on April 9.
Days 3-5
At Winnemia:
1) a soak well is to be installed for disposal of water from the toilet hand basin;
2) Modifications to the toilet door latches and door stops because not all travelling public seem able to ensure the doors are closed to keep native wildlife and livestock out of the toilets. A “bull in a china shop” conjures up a relevant mental image. Animals are attracted to the water and shade these buildings have within.
3) Minor maintenance/cleaning tidying up of site.
Jimba Jimba Shearing Precinct
On the Southern side of the Mullewa Caernarvon Road there is a very large, now disused, shearing shed with shearers quarters (about 12 bedrooms, 2 dining rooms, kitchen, and an ablution/toilet/laundry block that may form the basis for another Track Care project. Some rooms require minor repairs to secure them and we need to survey the works required should the project go ahead. While at the shearing precinct we will also look over the musterers’ camp which is situated nearby, look through the shearing shed and see where and how up to 35,000 sheep were yarded and shorn in a season.
Days 6-11
KLRT
We take a leisurely trip up the Western side of the Kennedy Range, across the top and down the Eastern side. The plan is to start at a reasonably civilised hour and reach a camp site by about 1600 hrs. Firstly we cross the Gascoyne River (Subject to the water level, if any allowing) and climb the Cyber Pass. The Kennedy range is a remnant upland, the surrounding plain having eroded to a lower level over millennia. The range slopes down from East to West, with a number of springs and water courses lying on this Western side.
Hear some of the history of European settlement and indigenous usage, visit the various springs. Camp near the ubiquitous Eucalyptus Cameldelansis trees at some of the springs and waters. See where Mookerite is mined, visit Mooka spring . See station owners clever mustering ideas and enjoy the rugged landscape.
Climb the track up the rugged west side of the range, then travel over the upland winding through stabilised spinefex covered sand dunes reminiscent of those on the Canning Stock Route. (we do not cross any sand dunes) to camp again on the Eastern side of the upland and view how nature has sculpted this side with break away cliffs underlaid with Kaolin. See the various features like the “White Stacks”.
We then descend the Eastern side of the upland, a much gentler gradient, and if still accessible slowly traverse the rocky climb to the former homestead site of Merlinleigh Station, view the layout of this very remote homestead and a VERY tentative Track Care project to put a proposal to DBCA.
Rejoin the loop trail and stop off at former shearing shed of Mount Sandman Station where we can compare and contrast these ruins with those of Winnemia and The still extant Jimba Jimba shearing shed. Travelling South along the Eastern side of the National park we will visit Sunrise, Honeycomb Gorge, Temple Gorge, and Drapers Gorge, and the cobbled road.
Back into Gascoyne Junction and to Winnemia.
Days 12-13
Convoy to travel back to Perth via the Mullewa Carnarvon Road, stopping at Bilung Pool, and the Wooramel River Gorge, and other points of interest. On reaching Mullewa participants can travel back to a perth independently, or continue, travelling via Tardun, calling in at the Caron dam and coaling bin, Latham Hall (another potential Track Care project), view the General Grant tank converted to a tree clearer. We will stop for an overnight camp somewhere near where we find ourselves at about 1600 to 1700 hrs. There are many overnight sites along this route.
MEETING FOR THE CONVOY DEPARTING PERTH. Note participants may travel to Winnemia independently if they wish)
BP Roadhouse carpark, Gt Northern Highway Muchea (opposite the Road Train Assembly Area)
31.89156 South, 116.13968 East (note Decimal lat long)
What Three Words: suburb.allegiance.easygoing.
I need to have 3 volunteers to do certain tasks for this trip.
1. Videographer – to take drone video and still images of the project and side trips. Equipment and training provided.
2. Report writer – to write up a trip report
3. Tail End Charlie – To keep the convoy moving, and liaise with the Trip Leader
Please indicate in the comment section below what you would like to do.
Any questions please call Kevin Hogg 0457420000 or email tcwa4@trackcare.com
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.