7am
17 degrees, clear sky and a warm wind from the East. Must be coming off the
desert it is so warm.
Posted
Terry’s birthday card from this foreign land too. Said bye to Prince Richard.
They will hear the results of the court case today – hope it all goes well.
Followed
another road out of the Providence across to Ogilvie. Another siding spot on
the railway line. Nothing left now.
Down
the highway to Northampton to the Golf Club and parked up in the 24hr RV Stop.
Right beside the tee, needs mowing – shame we don’t have our clubs anymore!!
Went
for a drive to check out the history of Northampton. First was the original
railway area of Gwalla which was part of the first Government Railway in WA.
They have laid bits of track etc to show where the different lines were and dug
up the foundations of the different buildings.
On
the main road is Chiverton House. It was built in stages over a number of
years. It was bought by the Shire in 1968 and converted into a Museum with lots
of machinery etc in the garden.
Cute
little cottage as we head into town.
The
Railway Hotel built in 1876.
Parked
at Hampton Gardens and followed the history plaques along Main Street.
Great
photo of the town on the side of the IGA Store. Today’s view.
Into
the Family Store with a museum of sewing machines. Original pressed tin ceiling
and floorboards.
More
history.
Stopped
at Our Lady in Ara Coeli Church designed by Monsignor Hawes and built in 1936.
Interesting use of the stone.
Next
door is the Convent of the Sacred Heart also designed by Monsignor Hawes and
built in 1918.
Back
up the other side of the road past the van park with some mining relics on
display.
An
AL3 railway carriage that was the first built in WA. Built by Westralia
Ironworks of North Fremantle in 1905.
Pretty
flowers and big aloe vera in flower.
Along
the edge of Bicentennial Park were more ‘shiny’ history plaques.
Nearly
back to the van we pass the Miners Arms Hotel, established in 1868. A plaque
about the 3 hotels in town.
The
other hotel – Northampton Motor Hotel.
Decided
to get a pie for lunch but they were all sold out in both cafes by 12.30 so we
headed back to the van for our usual meat and salad. Opened up all the windows
and vents as summer has arrived - 35 degrees.
Headed
22km west to the coast and Horrocks Beach. Great view as we head down off the
big limestone escarpment.
It
was a traditional holiday village for the early settlers in the 1850s. Still
has lots of old style fishing shacks mixed in with the modern big homes.
3
Mile Beach smells a bit with the sea grass.
I
found a pretty shell – hasn’t been many shells on the beaches on the west coast
so far.
We
had put our togs in in case we want to have a swim. I checked the temperature
first – still cold!! Steve checked out the jetty instead.
There
is a reef here too running along the coast protecting the beach.
Headed
north following a track called White Cliffs Road – I can guess why it got that
name. The track goes on to the beach and along to Little Bay.
Looking
back on the limestone escarpment and the line of homes below it.
Returned
to the picnic area to think about a swim when the wind changed from easterly to
south-westerly and the temperature of the wind dropped 5 degrees so we canned
the swim idea and made a cuppa instead. Amazing how quickly the temperature
changed.
Back
over the escarpment then we turned onto the Bowes River Road down to the mouth.
There wasn’t any water in the river at Northampton but it looks good here as it
can’t flow out to sea.
Some
black swans.
Continued
along the track where the white sand changed to red from the sandstone
probably.
Great
view looking south then north up the coast.
Heading
back down to the beach – good view over the closed mouth of Bowes River. A
fisherman is onto something good – turned into a big clump of sea grass.
Back
to Northampton – nice entrance sign.
Went
back to Gwalla as we missed the original church and cemetery. They even provide
comfortable chairs while you read the information. Joseph Horrocks did well
being a convict sent to this foreign land. Reminds me of my ancestor John Fogg
who was sent out to Qld for killing a ewe and taken the legs – he and his
family went on to a good life in Australia.
Back
into town to the Mary Street Railway Station.
The
Information Centre was the Police Station, quarters and Courthouse (circa 1885)
for more than 80 years.
Back
to the van where the wind was still hot here. Rang Wendy and had a long chat
then Steve chatted with Dave for a bit.
5pm
36.7 degrees in the van and the windows and vents are all open. Lots of birds
singing around here.
Lovely
sunset with a few clouds coming over. Rain is predicted for tomorrow – that’s
probably why it has been hot today and then it will turn cold again. Oh well we
enjoyed the nice summer day.
No
need for a blanket or even a sheet tonight.
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