Thurs, 6th Feb, 2025 24hr RV Stop, Bridgetown to Bush camp by Blackwood River, near Eulin Crossing, WA (Donnelly River Historic Mill Precinct)

19 degrees min, clear sky and cool wind.

Packed up then said goodbye to Greg and Ann who are heading to Bunbury. Went for an exercise walk up the hill along the street and down to main road then up again.

Back to the camper then headed south, across the Blackwood River - view upstream.

Turned onto the Brockman Highway, climbing up the hill, then we turned onto a narrow bitumen road and headed to Donnelly River which the Info Centre lady suggested we visit. Nice drive through farm land then into State Forests.

Missed the turn into the mill area. Crossed the dry Donnelly River then turned around and headed back to a clear area beside an old hut with a history plaque - Jack’s Shack.

We could see the timber mill so headed towards it.

Walked up the fence line and found a family of emus wandering around - counted 14 here.

Peered through the fence at the mill - sad to see if falling apart. Continued along the fence line.

Very friendly emus - happy to have their photo taken though I think they might have thought my camera was food so didn’t let them get too close.

Found the mill information board and noted that it was started by two brothers, Robert Bunning (1859-1936) & Arthur (1863-1929). The start of what we know as Bunnings Warehouses today though it is now owned by Wesfarmers. I googled up the info:

1886 - The brothers moved to WA from London and purchased their first sawmill.

1907 - Bunnings Bros was incorporated.

1952 - Bunnings Limited became a public company and expanded into the retail market.

1993 - Bunnings purchased McEwans Ltd, which allowed them to expand to east coast of Aust.

1994 - Wesfarmers acquired Bunnings and opened its first warehouse in Sunshine, Melbourne. 

Found the next info board - the Mill Office.

Then some info about the area.

Steve walked back and drove the camper up here. We had seen the turn off but it said accommodation so we figured it was a private road. I walked back and found this sign but it still needs ‘visit the historic mill precinct’.

Next was the old Boarding House.

Nice place to stay too as all the old homes are now available to be booked for a holiday. Very peaceful too as there is no phone reception!

Worked our way through the emus to the General Store to pick up the key for the museum in the old school building. The lady had only started 2 days ago so didn’t know much but the information boards have it all covered.

Walked along the road with houses on the left and a big treed playground area on the right. Then we arrived at the old school building.

Along the verandah was big info boards.

Now that’s a big chainsaw.

Found the museum room - lots to look at in here. Picked a few things - well lots really!

The story of Bill the emu. Now there is a new one, Billy.

This is the original Jack’s Shack - they moved it.

My grandfather (GEB) had one of these to mark the logs for his sawmill in Millaa Millaa. Greg has it now.

A time line of the mill etc.

Great aerial photos.

Great museum - well done to all the volunteers. We locked it back up and were met by a single emu - maybe this is Billy.

Headed across the ‘park’ area - some men were working on the flying fox that went between the beautiful big trees.

More info about the houses and life here.

Down the end of the street to where the first ‘homes’ were for the migrants.

Headed back to the mill passing big piles of sawdust and an old shed. Big piles of firewood too - bet it would get very chilly here in winter.

Saw some old signs on a mill building - when you could still wander around the mill site on a tour. Still have a log ready to be cut by the big blades. Would have been great to see the old saw-dust powered, steam-driven sawmill working - noisy and dusty I imagine but fascinating.

Kangaroos jumped over to check us out - for food probably.

Steve returned the keys while I took photos of the birds hanging around the store and enjoying a drink.

The emus and a roo moved in for a drink too.

Sadly the Milestone tree hasn’t lasted to the next milestone!

Back to the camper and we headed back to Bridgetown. Turned off first to have lunch by the Blackwood River. It begins at the junction of Arthur and Balgarup Rivers near Quelarup at an elevation of 219m. When flowing it reaches the Hardy Inlet near Augusta, a length of 300km. It was named after Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood by Captain James Stirling in 1827 when he arrived at the mouth. It is considered the longest ‘continually flowing’ river in WA. Lovely breeze here and the magpies were trying to get some supper by singing for us.

Headed back across the river - looking downstream this time.

Through town then onto the road towards Boyup Brook. Straight through as we have explored here before and on towards Arthur River. We will stop by the Blackwood River tonight like we did late last year near Eulin Crossing but will come in from the south track to find another camp spot on the bend of the river.

Onto the gravel road for a while then down to a big open area with picnic table and two boat access areas into the river. Bit dusty but we found a nice spot beside the boat ramps with some shade and out of the angle of the wind-blown dust. The water is brackish - probably because of the salinity of the soil around here.

3pm 33 degrees but it’s nice on the shady side of the camper with the breeze blowing.

I worked on my blog and Steve read. A lady arrived with 4 kelpies who were very fast chasing the one ball between them. She asked how we found the spot - I said it was in my old Camps Aust book and on Wikicamps. She has a hobby farm nearby and was hoping it was a secret spot. Lots of locals come here to ski as there is a long area for them to use. Pelicans and swans come here to hatch their young too and sadly some idiot killed a pelican. They had to remove the dead one as the other pelican wouldn’t leave it.

The wind settled and temp dropped with the sun set. I saw a satellite zoom across - very bright, might have been the space station.

Later on the clouds came over and covered the half moon and the stars. No one else came so we have the place to ourselves.