Wed, 8th Nov, 2017 Drummond Reserve, E of Cervantes to Moora RV Rest Stop, Moora, WA (bush walk & Moora murals)

7.30am 30 degrees, clear sky and gusty east wind. 

Headed east still then north to Badgingarra. A small community but the servo has cheap fuel compared to the ones in Moora which is a bigger town. Nice girl served me with a smile and a couple of people were in the café. Outside in the picnic area was a huge chess set and a peacock calling out. He posed for a photo but wouldn’t put his tail up.

Across the main road is a National Park. Charles rang for a chat – all going well. Interesting things happening up the Palmer.

Headed south east towards Moora. Stopped to check out a bush walk just out of town. On with the fly nets!! The flies are so lonely they are dying to hang out with us and if they get in my van they certainly die!!

Info about a meteorite that landed near here just a few years ago!!

Read the info boards. Steve had picked up a brochure which had some more history info. Will have to look out for the ‘bugs’.

Great signs created by the local school children.

Found our first bug.

Crossed over Hill River, discovered and named by George Grey in 1839 – dry as a bone at the moment.

Another bug.

A month back there would have been lots of wildflowers here. Only a few everlastings are lasting!!

Bit of history.

Lots of ants.

Another bug near Winjardie Dam.

Heading up to the hill past the ‘black stump’.

Found some pretty flowers.

Looking down over Hill River and up to the hill.

Cats Paw.

Crossed Hill River again where Winjardie Creek would flow into it during the wet season.

Glad we didn’t see any.

Steve said ‘this doesn’t look like a bottle tree’ then we read the sign. Buried ‘bottles’.

Steve fixed the sculpture of Vern and his animals.

Some more info from the brochure. Facts about the grass tree – we thought the male and female bit was true.

Reading the info about poisonous plants I saw the name Drummond which explains why the last free camp area was called Drummond Reserve.

Continued south east to Moora – its named derived from the Moore River which runs through it. Parked in the RV Rest Stop next to a mulberry tree – unfortunately the fruit is a bit old and dried up though there is new berries growing. Obviously it doesn't get enough water.

Opened up all the windows as there is another storm brewing so it is nice and hot. A big prickly pear is growing nearby. The bees enjoying the flowers.

We are in the car park of the Performing Art Centre. Lovely flowers, roses and pond out the front.

Beside us is St James Anglican Church built in 1911. Before the church was built church services were held in the police station.

Had some lunch then went for a walk around town. The front of the Performing Arts Centre which was originally the Town Hall and Road Board – built in 1913. Moora suffered a huge flood in 1999 and this building was seriously damaged. The western end was demolished and rebuilt. Lee Kernaghan held a ‘Pass the Hat around Concert’ in Moora in 2000 and funds from this concert kick-started the fundraising program. The building reopened in 2004.

Beside that is the library which has a great mural and lovely gardens.

The storm is building up.

Federation Park on the site of the town dam – mural and life size statues of a Draught Horse and Kelpie. Two animals essential in opening up the area in the early years.

Steve thought there was a white ball in the plant but when he touched it the top came off and the flower was exposed. A bee was quick to get the nectar. More cats paw I think.

Uniting Church, built in 1909 of locally quarried stone.

The Drovers Inn was formerly the Commercial Hotel. It was built by F Liebe who was also responsible for the construction of His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth. The hotel reflects the classical character of His Majesty’s Theatre with its polished staircase, domed lounge hall, finely carved oak mantels, polished cedar bars and marble tiles – should have gone in for a look. The hotel also featured the most up-to-date water systems, lighting and drainage.

Zoomed in on the Junction Hotel on the other side of the railway line. It was constructed in 1907 after the old tin ‘pub’ was destroyed in a fire in 1906.

The Post Office has white stone walls and was built in 1912, though a post office had been operating on this site from 1896.

Walked across the bridge over the Moore River – a small puddle where a bird was wading. Amazing to think of how much water was flowing down it in 1999 to completely flood the town. It flows out to the sea near Guilderton.

Information about the Carnaby Cockatoo. Lots of logs have been hung in the trees to make nesting areas for the cockatoos. One flew in to say hello.

Headed back past the van park – huge bougainvillea.

Another mural at the pool.

Down the road to the corner near where we are parked. On the side of the Mitre 10 is a mural showing the March 1999 flood. The town suffered again with two more floods in May and August. The mural is taken from a photo taken during the flood.

3pm and thunder rumbled. Soon after it got darker and the breeze cooled off as the storm came over us. More thunder overhead then some great lightning flashes followed by a sprinkle of rain. Enough though to drop the temperature a bit.

4.30pm storm is still rumbling and flashing around us but the rain didn’t amount to much. Still 30 degrees.

Uploaded my blog and checked Facebook. Bundaberg had a huge storm cell go over it – amazing photos. The storm here is still rumbling in the distance.

Rang Kaylene to see how Rick’s op went. She just got the call from the doctor to say it was a long surgery and successful which is great.

I went for a walk to check out the WW2 info across the railway line. Lovely rainbow as the storm heads east.

Groundwater level indicator – the water is at a good level.

Great mural opposite the war memorial park. Map showing where all the camps were and a scrap metal sculpture of a soldier.

Vibrant colours in the rainbow.

Lovely temperature for a walk now. Nearly back to the van when I saw a couple of corellas high up in the salmon gum tree.

Once night fell I went back down the road to the Rotary Clock. The original clock tower was erected in the late 1950s and was refurbished in 2005 to celebrate the Centenary of Rotary. The stained glass panels came from designs by school children and were adapted by a local artist who also manufactured the structure.

Lovely cool evening after the storm – had to close a couple of windows!