Mon, 7th Apr, 2025 Tom & Sandy’s place, Thornlie to 48hr RV Stop, Bruce Rock, WA (sightseeing)

Lovely morning again, 20 degrees. Few clouds about.

Packed up and said thanks and bye to Tom & Sandy. Will catch up with them in Meekatharra later on in the year.

Programmed ‘girlie’ to take us up the Scarp on the Brookton Highway as we hadn’t done that section. Automatic going well and Steve happy with the change the chap made too.

Through the state forests then into grain country again. We visited Brookton recently so continued on crossing the Avon River South Branch and onto a road to mark off on my map as we headed to Corrigin.

Further along we crossed the Avon River - just a small stream here.

Turned off to have lunch at historic Lomos township (Wikicamps info) but when we got to the spot there was just an old dam, a few big hay bales in a circle and lovely big trees and lots of old rubbish about (tin & broken glass etc). No info so we had our lunch then headed back out. Spotted a rock with a plaque by a grain paddock so I walked across for a look - site of the Lomos School, 1920-1944.

Back to the main road and continued eastward through more grain country. 7km before Corrigin we passed a sign, No. 2 Rabbit Proof Fence rain north-south here.

Quick photo as we passed the Dog Cemetery before Corrigin - created in 1974 as a tribute to Man’s Best Friends (over 200 loved ones are buried there). I thought we had stopped and looked at it when we visited here at the end of Jan 2018 but looking back if we did I didn’t have any photos but we both remember having a look at the headstones. 

Into Corrigin where we topped up the diesel as it is still cheap here - checked out Kalgoorlie and a lot dearer there. The Dog is still in the ute.

Corrigin was known for having lots of windmills back in the day. Checked out the info board. We stayed at Gorge Rock and checked out the Pioneer Museum.

Went around the block and spotted a fantastic mural on the side of the Ram Sale Yard shed.

We have driven the main road up to Bruce Rock so we took the other one that runs alongside the old railway line which has trees growing along it now. More clouds coming over now.

Turned off and across the railway line to the old township of Bilbarin and parked beside the burnt out remains of the hall. Funnily the fire brigade shed is beside it - maybe it was erected after the building burnt.

We walked along the streets checking out the information boards.

Onto the other street which was dirt and a kangaroo jumped near us then stopped to watch us pass. Along to the old Teachers’ house which had two big chimneys and now lots of junk around it.

The school (1916-1965) was further along and lots of rubbish here too. Steve found a bike to ride! We have noticed that even if nothing is left of a township someone has put up a plaque where the school was.

On the opposite side of the street was a sign about the first two halls. Must have had a shower of rain through here too.

Continued on - tennis courts one side and oval on the other.

Along to the end of the street to the last sign.

Lots of 28s (ring-neck parrots) and galahs having a good time in the trees and lots of flies too as we walk back to the camper.

Back out and across the railway line again. Passed the grain bin at Ainsworth that was moved here from Bilbarin.

Continued on then crossed over the railway line again into the next little township, Babakin. It is still existing with a lovely hall, CWA and a few nice houses about. The old shop needs fixing up!

The road is getting narrower as we turn east to Ardath. 

The hotel was established in 1925. It was closed. There are a few homes and another big grain bin on the other side of the railway line. No one about.

We had a cuppa. Crossed the railway line turned onto the Corrigin-Bruce Rock Road.

Tom rang was we drove into Bruce Rock, checking on how far we got and that the truck was going well. I couldn’t remember what we had explored here so we went around to the 48hr RV Spot and parked up. Only one motorhome here at the moment. There is a van park on the other side of the street but it must be council owned for them to have the free camp here.

I looked back at what we saw on the previous visit (29 Jan 2018). We had visited Bruce’s Rock so won’t got back out there. Put our sandshoes on and walked back into town. New mural on the side of the Emergency Services Building. These info boards weren’t here in 2018 either though I had taken photos of the lovely buildings.

Continued down the street reading the info as we went.

Nice painting though something has been pooping on it.

The Museum building is over 100 years old now. The bins have info and pictures on them too.

Continued on.

Beside the Craft Shop was a tree with fruit that had broken open. I asked the lady in the shop if she knew what it was - Pomegranate, of course!

Some more nice paintings.

More info.

Fabulous mural but of course there is always a car parked in the road!

Continued down to the end of the street.

Crossed the road and found another sign.

Wandered around the Remembrance Park. When we were here there were ‘art’ sculptures everywhere but this is much nicer. I took a photo of just a few of the plaques but there is so much more to see. Very moving.

In the middle of the street is a shelter shed, info and picnic tables.

The mosaic was here on our last visit.

A few more signs near the old railway crane and station.

The mosaics continue. We thought these mosaics were worth a photo.

Good use of the old wagon wheels at the Motor Museum.

Back along the mosaic trail then through a little park and across the railway line to the camper. All quiet, only a few vehicles going down the road.

Drinks and read our books for a while. After dinner watched a movie.