Sun, 8th Jan, 2017 Greenbushes Pool RV camp, Greenbushes, WA (Greenbushes Discovery Centre)

7.30am 16.5 degrees which isn’t too bad as the forecast was for a low of 9 degrees!! Where is summer!!

Into town to the Discovery Centre which is run by volunteers. Lots of information about the current mining of Tantalum and Spodumene by Sons of Gwalia Mining.

The mining operation we looked at yesterday.

Map of all the mines, zoomed in on the ones at Greenbushes.

History photos of 1899 tin fields here.

The Greenbushes Well – we had the wrong green bush – it is one with spiky leaves.

They have made a replica underground mine. Steve put his tag on the board to head down.

It was pretty good – they had little corners in the dark with a TV screen and a miner talking about the different machinery then you travelled on the bogger etc via the video. Pressed another button at a wall showing blasting caps etc and then the countdown started for the blast – made our feet shake too. More videos about the refuge chamber and safety etc. Very well done.

Back up in the centre – another section of historical items.

Another round room was the Land Dome with the native flora and fauna of the area. Complete with the lethal Tiger Snake.

Through a tree into the virtual forest and timber display. For a small area they have done a fabulous job providing lots of information. The Karri – reaches 90 metres in height so is Australia’s tallest tree. The Marri – belongs to a group of eucalypt called bloodwoods because their trunks ooze red gum. The Jarrah – a slow growing eucalypt found only in south-west Western Australia. Each tree had a TV screen inside telling us all about the different trees harvested here.

A truck simulator – Steve loaded some logs and took them to the mill.

Then into the control room of the mill – pressed a button on the dash and the floor vibrated and sounded like there was a big log was being milled, then the screen explained the milling process.

Finally the logs go into the kiln to be dried out – bit warm in here (just lined with timber bits with a heat lamp overhead).

Didn’t realise that Jarrah helped make silicon.

Info about Whittaker’s Timber Mill nearby and Timber Treaters – we have seen a few signs about this company and wondered what they were.

Different wood chips.

Making MDF boards.

Veneer company.

Very interesting centre and they have done a great job of displaying everything in an interesting way. Back outside we drove out onto the highway towards Whittaker’s Mill. Got a shot of the statue at the town’s entrance.

Lots of timber stacked up drying and the kilns.

Now ready to sell.

Went around into the old North Greenbushes settlement to the railway station.

Lovely big hibiscus bush.

Looking over the timber mill.

Back in the other entrance to the town – another statue.

Parked at the old Court House again then followed a part of the Mining Heritage Walk to find a tunnel. Found a mining trench and shallow shaft.

Didn’t take the map so headed back to the truck. Got in the truck then followed the fire trails till we found the tunnel. They were either short or very hunched over.

Back to camp then we followed a forest track past a few dams. No good for swimming!!

Further along we found the drinking water dam – looks much better.

Back to the van for drinks with Ron & Angela with Terry & Glen in the other van to celebrate Terry’s birthday. Had a great time chatting and laughing. Cooling off about 8pm so back to the van, luckily we had leftovers for dinner.