Wed, 18th Jan, 2017 Karri Gully, east of Nannup to Greens Island, west of Manjimup, WA (exploring around Manjimup)

Clear blue sky, 17 degrees. The hiker headed off early.

We headed off towards Bridgetown following the Blackwood River again.

Stopped at a park at Manjimup to upload my blog and facebook photos. I reckon Manjimup means – place of a man named Jim but actually it is a place of Manjin which is a broud-leafed edible reed. 86% of the Manjimup Shire is State Forest or Conservation Reserve. It is the birthplace of the Pink Lady apple and is the largest mainland producer of black truffles. They have the Truffle Kerfuffle in June  and a Cherry Harmony festival in December. The town also hosts the Manjimup 15,000, WA’s largest motocross event.

Headed west through farming and lots of different fruit orchards as well as a free-range chicken farm. Into forestry area then onto a dirt road heading north to camp at Greens Island on the Donnelly River. Not actually in a National Park but we have to pay the National Parks fee to camp here. The river isn’t flowing well here. Nice big camp area with our own new picnic table.

After lunch we headed back to main road and back a bit to the 4 Aces. Lots of information about the Karri Tree.

The 4 Aces are surrounded by lots of other big trees now too.

 

Another big straight one that is a lot thicker.

Down the road to One Tree Bridge. The forest around here was declared a priority area for conservation and recreation in 1974 and contains patches of 400 year old virgin Karri as well as younger forest regrown after logging. In the picnic shelter was information and photos about the founding settler of this area.

Interesting facts about the Karri.

2015 a suspension bridge was put in over the Donnelly River.

We walked under the road bridge (looks like a lot of trees were used to make this) and around to the remains of the One Tree Bridge. In 1904 a single enormous karri tree was felled so that it dropped across the 25m wide Donnelly River, forming the basis of a bridge. Winter floods in 1966 swept most of the bridge away.

There is no info of where the bridge was but this stump is on the same side as the One Tree Bridge remains so I am claiming it as the stump!!

Nearby was a majestic Marri.

Wandered over the suspension bridge (upstream then downstream) to where the Bib Track crosses the road and follows the Donnelly River downstream.

Downstream is Glenoran Pool, popular spot for catching rainbow trout and marron.

The area we will explore over the next week or so.

Headed off past the turn off to Deanmill, a sawmill village established in 1913 to provide timber railway sleepers for the Trans Australian Railway. Stopped at a roadside stall and picked up some delicious apricots, broccoli and cauliflower, much easier to stop without the van on. Back to the highway at Manjimup then across to find the King Jarrah.

First was part of Queejup’s birth tree – a Noongar stockman.

More information about him and the Noongar people in the shelter.

This jarrah was destined to become railway sleepers but was saved at the last moment. A bit like the big Kauri tree my grandad George Brotherton saved near Millaa Millaa (though that one died and is now in bits in Brotherton Lane in Millaa.

Sleeper cutters – amazing how they could get it so neat.

Fun facts about Jarrah.

This King Jarrah is 47 metres high, 2.69m in diameter at chest height, estimated to be 600 years old.

The bark is nice and smooth where everywhere leans against it for a photo.

The broad arrow blazed into the tree in 1910 to mark it as being property of the Crown so it couldn’t be cut down.

My turn for a photo.

Lots of ‘no camping’ signs everywhere. Headed around to St Thomas’ Church in Dingup. It was built in 1895 using soapstone. Simple but lovely and it even has a fireplace.

Memorial plaques to pioneers of the area.

Into Manjimup to the Timber and Heritage Park, WA’s only timber museum. We parked under some tall trees and were bombarded with pine cones being dropped by the black cockatoos.

Axeman statue out the front.

Free to enter so we wandered around.

Lots of great info and photos in the steam museum.

 Amazing to think this came all the way from Chillagoe.

  

Continued along reading all the information.

Even the buildings are made from rough cut timber slabs.

An old wooden whim.

The district’s first Bush School has been relocated here – bit drafty.

Great playground area – if they kids weren’t on it I might have had a go.

18 metre forestry fire tower.

An old caterpillar and a metal whim.

A log carrier.

A circular saw – works sideways or up and down.

Unfortunately the Museum room is closed till further notice. Peered in the window instead.

A huge karri log and stump.

Looking at the state of the signs etc there hasn’t been any funding for the upkeep of displays and to keep the museums manned.

A big whim and log with a logging shoe on the front to stop the log digging into the ground.

  

A man had to stand on the log and turn the wheel to put on the brakes!!

A lost art making this big timber wheels.

Manjimup’s first settler, Thomas Muir, took up land near the present town site in 1856. Early Swan River settlers used jarrah for building and were so impressed with the quality of Manjimup’s wood they called it ‘Swan River mahogany’. It wasn’t until the 1860s that the aboriginal name for the wood came into usage. As well as all the forestry the area produces a wide variety of delicious fruits, nuts and vegetables as well as cattle and sheep.

Jon rang to say we had mail – Jess’ birthday tomorrow. They are going on holidays in February for a week to Bali. Rang Mum and Dad – she saw the heart specialist and all ok or as well as can be expected. They are enjoying the tennis.

Back to our camp, only a couple of other vans here. No phone reception at all down here in the valley. Peaceful though the kookaburras are always going on about something and the ‘squeaky swing’ bird is back.

Cool night.