Sat, 23rd Nov, 2024 Betty’s Beach camp area, east of Albany to Kathleen & Warren’s place, Newdegate, WA (Jerramungup & Newdegate history)

More cloud than blue sky this morning.

Packed up and headed up the hill. Nice view over Two Peoples Bay. The name came about because two ships, one French and one American, met here in 1802 and they called it Baie des Duex Nations (Bay of Two Nations or People).

Just managed to get a photo of some blooms on a Christmas tree.

Malcolm rang - he will be coming over for the Sprintcar event at end of December so we will pick him up and he can stay at Bob & Margaret’s too.

Back onto the bitumen then onto the South Coast Highway and through the little town of Many Peaks. Named after the mountain nearby (I forgot to take a photo of it - covered it rocks like the ones opposite Betty’s Beach). The mountain was named by Captain Matthew Flinders in Jan 1802 because he saw many peaks on the ridge.

Up and down the hills through scrubby country then grain fields. Across the Pallinup River. The sky has cleared now - just pretty blue.

Stopped at Jerramungup for a cuppa. Some information on the board.

In the 1950s 150 soldiers from WW2 were given blocks of land around here to farm. Only a few of those families are still connected to the original farms. The Kokoda Op Shop was open so I went in for a wander. Great mural outside.

The highway heads east but we turned west to take a shorter route up to Newdegate where we will spend a couple of days with Margaret’s daughter, Kathleen and her husband Warren. More new roads to mark off in my map book.

At Needilup we turned north. Passed the Rabbit Proof Fence Road which would be the No. 1 one that goes down to Preservation Bay. At the last grain bin place the road changed to gravel but still very good.

At T-intersection we turned back onto bitumen and headed eastward to Newdegate. Passed a turn off into a big lake that they ski on. Realised it was lunch time and we still had a way to go so we pulled off onto a farmer’s track and had lunch. Luckily no harvester etc needed to get by us!

On to Newdegate. Passed another big salt lake which had a bit of water on it.

Around to Kathleen & Warren’s place. They have a spare allotment beside them so we parked up there. Bob & Margaret parked out the front. Kathleen has a green thumb like her mother and there are plants everywhere and beautiful roses. Much warmer day - up to 32 in the camper. 

Kathleen was still at bowls so we set up then went for a walk around town. Warren said there were info boards now as the town celebrated 100 years in 2022. He was born here on the family farm and has seen a lot of changes. Unfortunately not all for the best.

Walked down further to check out the silo murals and all the grain piled up in the bins. Will have to find the others - we got the one at Albany (the seahorse).

The Jacarandas are beautiful. Fabulous playground and skate park area.

Continued on our history walk.

The Holland Track passes near here too.

Continued on up to the Museum. Fabulous building. It wasn’t open but we could see everything. Even a wheelbarrow for the Holland Track.

Lovely Bougainvillea and succulent garden outside.

Back to the house and we joined Warren and Bob on the verandah to chat with our cuppas. Warren said there is about 100 residents in town and down to 150 on the neighbouring properties now.

Kathleen came home from playing bowls in Lake Grace (further west) and we chatted over drinks. The ‘Albany Doctor’ arrived - a strong cool wind which cooled us down quickly.

We went back to the camper to have dinner and left the family chatting.