Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 9 – Great Eastern Highway

The Great Eastern Highway links the Eyre Highway through the Goldfields and Wheat Belt to Perth.

Crossing Lake Cowan salt lake just north of Norseman

“He’s not the messiah………..”

The Big Golden Eagle Nugget at Widgiemooltha, a 4.7:1 replica of the nugget found nearby in 1931. This was the largest gold nugget ever found in Western Australia. The nugget was 62 cms long and 35.3 kg in weight. It was found by 17 year old Jim Larcombe 45 cms below the surface, sparking a local gold rush. If you dropped this nugget on your foot, you would say “Au”.

Nullarbor Links Hole 15 Golden Eagle at Widgiemooltha. Par 3 – 112m. I’ve recently restarted my efforts to improve my golf. It’s not going too well though, I still have a fairway to go.

Grey Nomad Wisdom: What does life and golf have in common? The less strokes you have, the better.

Our first Western Australian emus – progeny of the victors of the Great Emu War of 1932. The background to the war was due to the difficulties facing farmers with the arrival of as many as 20,000 migrating emus from inland areas. The emus found the cultivated lands were good habitat, and they began to foray into farm territory—in particular the marginal farming land in the eastern Wheatbelt. The emus consumed and spoiled the crops and left large gaps in fences where rabbits could enter and cause further problems. Politicians decided a military solution to deal with the feathered peril. The Royal Australian Artillery soldiers headed the nuisance wildlife management military operation armed with Lewis guns killing a number of the birds. The emu population persisted and continued to cause crop destruction. (Credit: information from Wikipedia)

Port Lincoln ringneck parrots

Coolgardie is now a tourist town and a mining ghost town. It was once the third largest town in Western Australia when the mining of alluvial gold was a major industry. The main street was built to be wide enough for camel trains to turn around.

Coolgardie Cemetery. Many miners suffered under the harsh conditions, but for a few, their find made the hard work worthwhile. Most men left poorer than they had started off, with their hopes dashed.

Many perished like our family ancestor John Matthews who suffered severe injuries in a cave-in. With crushed pelvis and severe internal injuries, his chance of recovery was hopeless.

Coolgardie Cemetery eucalyptus

After 30 months in this building at Coolgardie Hospital, John Matthews eventally died of his injuries.

The road out to Cheapside Prospecting Area where John Matthews had a claim.

Mine shafts with deep holes are still exposed at Cheapside.

Marvel Bar Hotel

We looked for the giant banner outside.

Coolgardie Visitor Centre (formerly the Wardens Court)

Goldfields wattle

Goldfields Woodlands National Park – the Great Eastern Highway passes through the park

More emus in Goldfields Woodlands National Park

Boondi Rock is in the Goldfields Woodlands National Park with rock catchments and dam built in the 1890s to service steam trains travelling between Perth and the Goldfields.