Sat, 26th Oct, 2024 72hr RV Stop at Bicentennial Park, Kalgoorlie to Victoria Rock Nature Reserve, south of Coolgardie, WA (Gnarlbine & Victoria Rocks)

Got down to 14.4 degrees but by 7.30 it was 21 as the sun is getting up earlier each day. Still windy with a few clouds in the blue sky.

Packed up and loaded up with water and fuel then headed to Coolgardie. The neighbour last night said another chap had just come up through the Holland Track and said there were plenty of bypasses around the boggy bits. Some holes though were a car deep! Otherwise we can take the John Holland Way which is 2WD. He also said to check out the graves in the old cemetery of John Holland and his wife.

Through town to the old cemetery. Pioneers were buried here between 1892 and 94. A new site west of town was found as this ground was too hard. Found John and Agnes Holland’s grave. We are going to check out the track he blazed through from Broomehill to Coolgardie in 1893 to allow the gold prospectors easier access to the goldfields from Albany.

Sad reading some of the other plaques.

Had a cuppa admiring the lovely yellow flowers nearby.

Back to the main road then across and down the Victoria Rock Road which takes us to the John Holland Way or the Holland 4WD Track. Nice wide gravel road.

Turned off first to check out Gnarlbine Rock though there was only a little sign on the roadside that said ‘Hunt’s Track to Yerdanie 36km’. I remember seeing other spots on the highway about Hunt. We drove in and disturbed a heap of parrots.

Found an old well - no water in it now. Hunt camped here in 1864.

Another plaque about the Gnarlbine Soaks. Discovered by Lefroy in 1863 - we went over a train overpass called Lefroy. Hunt improved it in 1864.

Followed the path to Gnarlbine Rock. Sent Steve up first - he found another plaque about the Holland Track Centenary.

Wind is still cold and blowing but it hasn’t deterred the flies! View across and up the rock.

Back to the camper and back on the road again. Into the Goldfields Woodlands Conservation Park.

Turned off into the Victoria Rock Nature Reserve and around to the campground (free).

Had lunch then went for a wander. Lots of information in the shelter shed. John Holland erected a flagpole on the summit in 1893 - now there is a cairn.

Info about the John Holland Track. I have another brochure about the track with a map too.

Found a track to Victoria Rock. View left to right of the rock.

Headed to the left and found some holes with water and some dry. Looking back to the camper.

Realised we hadn’t reached the summit so kept wandering. Lots of little lizards zooming across the rock to their hiding places with their tails up. Steve tried to shift one of the rocks that was in the way! No cairn up here so we kept walking across to another rise.

At last we spotted the cairn. Pretty little plant.

I added another rock to the cairn. Realised I had my fly net on so took another photo. Holland sighted Bayley’s Find Mine (Coolgardie) from here - 49km away. Maybe there wasn’t the trees then with all the timber cutting happening for the stampers etc but we can only see trees now.

Looking back over the rock towards the camper. Instead of going left we should have just walked straight up!

Other views from the cairn.

Not sure if this is a survey marker or the old flag pole site.

Managed to get a photo of a lizard.

Found a deeper pool with a few big tadpoles swimming around. I wonder what frog they will grow into.

Straight back down the rock towards the camper. A bit of yellow brightness in amongst the fallen timber.

Back to the camper and inside away from those pesky flies. Steve read while I uploaded my photos and wrote some blog. Closed up the camper as the wind is getting colder with the sun setting. Only got to 28 degrees today. Played cards while we had our drinks.

Early showers as it is getting cold quickly. Dinner and a movie.