Tues, 26th Nov, 2024 Louis’ Lookout Rest Area, north of Borden to Bush camp at Old Cricket Grounds, Broomehill, WA (Horsepower Highway, Gnowerangup & Broomehill - start of Holland Track)

The wind blew all night. It got down to 9.8 degrees and only up to 14 at 7.30am so we put the heater on for breakfast.

Still overcast and the cold wind is still blowing hard.

Back out then onto the Chester Pass Road and continued south towards the Stirling Ranges (which we drove through previously). Still in grain country.

The sun is trying to break through the clouds.

Turned off into The Lily Windmill. I googled up some information. In 1988 the idea came to build a Dutch Windmill. In 1997 Pleun and Hennie completed the authentic 16^th Century design brick ‘ground-sail’ flour mill. The bricks were from the Broomehill Co-op building that burnt down. It is a full size Dutch Windmill with 5 stories. The Cap is 22 ton and the sail length is 24.6m and is one of the largest traditional windmills built in Australia. The mill is fully operational producing wholemeal stone-ground Spelt flour that they sell. They have self contained accommodation in 16^th Century replica Dutch houses. Their latest addition is a Dakota DC-3 or rather the military version C-47. They started work on that in Sept 2012.

I went to the reception but it was closed. It used to be the 1924 Gnowangerup Railway Station which they relocated and reconstructed. They used to have a cafe too but it closed in 2018. Lots of lovely Dutch items on display inside.

Fabulous view of the Stirling Ranges from here too.

Back to the main road and continued down to the turn off onto Salt River Road - one of the many gravel roads connecting the main roads.

Turned back onto bitumen where a tractor has skis, advertising a place at Mt Trio (part of the Stirling Ranges). Not sure if that is the southern start for the 75km Horsepower Highway that goes north to Gnowangerup.

Spotted a couple of old tractors.

The Firetruck Tractor is well done.

Stopped for a cuppa near the ‘Butterfly’ and ‘Cars (the movie)’ Tractor.

Another one with Banksia.

Pulled in at painted two water tanks and ‘Lucinda’ the tractor. Fabulous murals. Forgot to see who the artist was for these.

Across the road the farmer was harvesting so we watched for a while. Bet they are glad to have air conditioned cabs now to stop all that fine dust getting into their lungs.

‘Mad Max’ Tractor is well done.

‘Dyinpni’ is fantastic. Created by the Philippine Community. Nice to see the Nativity Scene too for Christmas. Inside names were carved in the roof etc.

Pulled into a rest area just before Gnowangerup to check out another tractor.

Into Gnowangerup - nice entrance sign. Mallee Fowl country.

Around to the old ram pavilion. Now filled with old machinery etc.

Next to that is the sporting grounds - another tractor.

Into town - The Police Tractor.

Cute one for the Post Office.

A huge Fowler Ploughing Engine built in 1889 by the Shire Office.

There was a free book exchange box too so swapped a few books for Steve. He is loving reading now. A history trail to follow.

Wandered up the street - found some lovely murals. We have seen a few of this muralist, Ketones6000. Very good artist. I googled the artist and found it is Jerome Davenport - Visual Artist. Looking at his Facebook page he had done many amazing murals around the state.

I had a chat with Ned Kelly - a long way from home! My battery died in the camera so had to walk back to the truck for the other one. Forgot to get the plaque as to why Ned was here.

The Gnowarngerup Hotel.

Drove out of town a bit to check out a mineral spring at Aylmore Park. Found the creek then further along was two big covered picnic areas with space in between. On Wikicamps it said it was the old pool but no evidence of that. Walked over to where the spring comes out of the ground then down a shoot and eventually down to the creek. Very orange stuff left behind and the water was salty.

There is another spring outlet that looks like it had a pipe going into it.

We had lunch then headed back to the main road and around to the information bay. Info says the brown stuff in the spring is from the high iron content.

Further over was a rock with plaque commemorating the centenary of Surveyor-General Roe’s expedition through here in 1835.

Opposite is the War Memorial area and another tractor.

Still windy and cold as we continued northward toward Broomehill. Spotted a few more tractors. SES, Dualie and a real old relic.

Stopped to check out a tractor called ‘Paul’, in memory of a local young chap. The artwork done by Ketones6000 like the murals in town.

This is the north end of the Horsepower Hwy.

Into Broomehill - start of the Holland Track.

We parked near a shed full of old machinery, wagons etc and even a gaol.

Followed the path to the starting site for John Holland and his team when they headed north-east to Coolgardie. You can actually drive the whole way following the markers. Might have to do it another time but take the John Holland Way at the end instead of the 4WD track!

Great museum in the old hall which became a church. Interesting reading about Mallet Bark stripping. Love the roller skates - reminds us of Erica’s skate that she rolled around the verandah on the family farm in Mundubbera.

Followed the history trail and wandered around town.

The Henry Jones building is a huge complex for its time. Takes up a few blocks of land.

Continued along reading the plaques. Love the old cottage.

Through Holland Park and around to the main road. War Memorial.

Across the road to beside the railway line. Looking across to the site of the hall where the roller skates were used. It was also from the hall that John Holland and friends headed off towards Coolgardie. There is a walking track over that way and further up the main road is the road track to follow.

Not sure what this building was but it has a huge corrugated iron section out the back.

Next to it is the Imperial Hotel.

More info - interesting to read that the bricks from the burnt down Co-op building were used in The Lily Windmill that we saw this morning.

Finished with the railway.

Across the road and back to the truck. Drove a bit further north to find the road to the cricket ground where there is a free camp marked on Wikicamps. I didn’t read it properly - it was the old cricket ground. First we had to move a tree then follow a two wheel track through the trees along the edge of a grain field. There were tracks going everywhere but we eventually found an old toilet block and decided that will do us. We ended up near the other main road where the cemetery is but it was free and quiet. Got to 26 degrees in the camper today. Steve is always checking the truck out, hence the head in the wheel well!!

Steve rang Terry to check on him. He had a wonderful time at the caravan rally and got his life time membership. David had sent us the article from the newsletter and it was lovely to see they mentioned Erica too. He had just come back from lunch will all the club members - so glad he is out having a good time. He is looking forward to meeting his 3^rd great grandchild, Arthur, at Christmas. The others will be there, just not us and our boys etc. We will hopefully gather next Christmas at Woodgate.

Drinks and cards inside with the windows closing as the coolness arrives again. We are in for another cold night so we put the heater on as it was creeping in as we had dinner.