Sat, 6th August, 2022 Turf Club 72hr RV Area, Port Hedland, WA (exploring Port Hedland)

Constant rumble of the iron ore trains through the night but otherwise we slept well. 7am 15 degrees - sunny but very windy. Rang Kaylene and Rick for a chat.

Dropped the roof and packed up then headed off to get fuel and finish the history walk etc around Port Hedland.

First we headed towards South Hedland to get fuel. Back past Dampier Salt and they have started making a new pile.

The fuel app said this Coles Express had diesel for $2.139 but it had jumped up to $2.169 today. Exchanged our gas bottle so got 10c/l off which helped.

Had a cuppa at Don Rhodes open air museum - very interesting.

Between the old trains was a memorial to the Torres Strait Islander men who worked building railway lines throughout WA. They were so efficient they were timed and set a world ‘track laying’ record in 1968.

Back into town to finish the West End Heritage & Art Trail. Parked at the same park which was the site of the Sea Baths.

Around the corner to the Port Authority Walk.

The Pier Hotel is across the road and further along on the corner is Lot One - the first lot to be surveyed for the town.

On the next block is the Esplanade Hotel. It is a huge building, it goes to the other end of the block. No water views now. The Port Authority building is opposite and their car park was the site of the Tide Indicator Tower.

Continued around to Leap Park which has cut-out figures and a sign about the 1946 strike so the local aboriginal people working on pastoral stations could receive more pay and better living conditions. Obviously the name of the park has been changed to Strike Park now.

Found some ‘art’ - Flat back turtle hatchling.

On the other side of the park they have made ‘trunks’ to make the bougainvillea reach to the sky.

Down a treed lane with a few more sculptures. The motorbike sculpture is called ‘Motorbike’s Revenge’.

The wheelbarrow race sculpture is in honour of Bill Walsh who started the race in the early 1970s.

Unfortunately ‘safety’ etc has stopped it and some many other great things that generation were able to do before everything go too hard with WPHS and people suing over silly things. Such a shame as these things bring communities together. Can you imagine trying to organise the World Water Ski Attempt that Cairns did twice in the 1980s - people floating in the inlet, ropes that could strangle people and all kinds of other things but people used their common sense and made decisions for themselves and were responsible for their actions - well most of the time anyway. I often say my generation lived in the best of the times with freedom to roam, no phones, no internet and we had to be responsible for our own decisions and suffer the consequences of them if they were wrong!

Under the trees is a rail carriage which are now a cafe. The Silver Star has an amazing story.

Opposite it is a cute little cottage which was the St Matthew’s Church manse. The original church was weatherboard and built in 1908. It burnt down in 1917 and was rebuilt. It was one of a few buildings that survived the 1939 cyclone. It had a noticeable lean to it after that. The church was sold in 1990s when a new church was built elsewhere and after been an art gallery then a community hall till it was demolished in 2003. Ma and Pa sculpture in the garden beside it.

Walked back to the truck then we drove along the streets on the ocean side. Between the main road in (Wilson St) and the Indian Ocean it is only 3 or 4 streets wide as can be seen on the map.

Near the Yacht Club a huge marina is being built. Next is a long ‘spit’ called Spoil Bank which Steve thinks is what is dredged out of the harbour entrance. View of each side.

We continued along to Cemetery Beach Park which has the pioneer cemetery opposite it. We checked out the cemetery first. Big space but only a few headstones left. A new memorial area has been installed. The cemetery was used between 1912 and 1968 when it was declared full. A lovely tribute to those buried here.

Went back to the park and out to the lookout platform. Looking back to the Spoil Bank. Zoomed in on the port conveyor belts etc and then another ship with tugs. Around to the other side then to the water tower that we went to yesterday. Nice turtle mosaic on the floor.

One of the shelters has butterflies cut into the metal to make pretty displays on the ground.

We made lunch and sat in a shelter enjoying the lovely temperature.

We continued along towards Cooke Point but we were on the inside streets to see Pretty Pool Creek.

At the end of the road is a van park with a boardwalk over a sand dune. Good place to see the Staircase to the Moon as is Cooke Point. The tide is out. The creek entrance is further along.

Nice housing all through here with the ones on top of the hill having great ocean views.

Back to the roundabout then down Cooke Point Road. There is another road going off to another subdivision on the other side of Pretty Pool. Onto Wilson Street and down to South Hedland again to get a few things from Coles as there is only Woolies in Port Hedland.

Map of the whole area.

Drove out through the ‘port’ facilities to Finucane Island. Long lines of ore laden train carriages waiting to be unloaded. Big overpass for BHP Billiton. Looking across to the ships lined up to get their cargo. No access ahead to Utah Mine (BHP) area.

Went back and found another road that went on the other side of the rail line down to a boat ramp. Across West Creek. Amazing conveyor belt system on the other side.

Drove around to another no entry sign where a engine is waiting. Obviously the train goes through the conveyor belt area and unloads then comes around this hill and heads back to the mine for the next load. Another ship is leaving.

Rugged coastline - same as that at Cape Keraudren - waves thunder as they hit the edge and spray over.

Drove around to the boat ramp - the boating maps are a great source of information too.

Lots of people trying to catch dinner. Jon rang for a chat. Walked onto the rock wall for the view to the mouth.

Back to the subdivision of Wedgefield to check out the Big Wheelbarrow. No signs but obviously to do with the wheelbarrow race we read about in the lane-way.

Back to the free camp and into the same spot for drinks again with Mick and Anne.

We walked up to the lookout for sunset which was nice. It is cool and there is no wind.

Back to the camper for dinner and to watch some more of the Commonwealth Games.