2 Geckos Travelling Australia: Tues, 11th Feb, 2025 (pm) Bush camp at Yornaning Dam Reserve, north of Cuballing to Bush camp at Gwambygine Park, south of York, WA (Brookton & Beverley history)

Into Brookton, haven’t been here before. The road went ahead passing houses and a hotel but we turned east across the railway to the town centre. A lot of towns are split in half by the railway line - shows the importance of the railway in the early days.

We parked up and headed off to explore. There is a historical society and the bins are lined with old photos etc which is wonderful. The street looks a bit different now.

Along to the Bedford Hotel - hasn’t changed much.

The builders got the alignment wrong on these two buildings.

Some old photos on the wall of the IGA too.

This lovely lemon scented gum was planted by the CWA which is opposite here.

That’s a lot of rabbits.

The old railway station is getting a facelift.

Crossed over the railway line to check out the hotel on the west side of town.

Back to the camper then around to check out the big horse and wagons.

Crossed over the Avon River South Branch which hasn’t much water. There is an overnight RV Stop here but with the wind it is very dusty at the moment. We went to the end where there was heaps of palms blocking the wind so we could have lunch.

Walked down to the river - a narrow pool at the moment. Along to the bridge - looking back up the stream.

Continued along the Great Southern Highway towards Beverley. The wind is very strong and the sky is getting darker. Passed lots of big sheds full of hay then saw a sign - Hay Australia. Through a light shower of rain as we head into Beverley - Gliding Centre of Avon. Nice entrance sign.

Pulled over to check out a plane and nearly got blown over but the plane and shed were secure.

Very interesting reading.

Went across the road to the Information Board - history and map.

Nearby was an old printing press.

I went through the bush and found the back end of the Dead Finish Museum - not open at the moment. Started out at the Wheatsheaf Inn in 1872.

Around the back the plants have name plaques but this one doesn’t - interesting looking fruit.

Drove back to the main street - Vincent Street and found a park. Saw history plaques so off we went exploring.

Blue water in the pool near the old school house.

More history above the Post Office boxes.

Now the bank is just an ATM.

Continued on to the old pharmacy then around into the railway station precinct. Great mural on the wall. The old station is an art gallery and there is a theatre that people perform at too.

Wandered in for a look around. Love the Leaning Loo.

Lovely memorial mural to the lady who had a lot to do with starting the Beverley Platform Theatre here.

Out onto the rail platform area. The station verandah is getting replaced.

Across the railway line to the War Memorial Park and continued down the street. A few murals along the way.

Another big hotel - always plenty of hotels and churches in every town.

Interesting reading about the WW11 use of this place.

Continued to the bridge over the Avon River but only a ‘pool’ at the moment - dry on the other side. Need to do these towns after the winter rains to compare the river levels. There is a park and near that is a RV rest area.

Back down the other side of Vincent Street. A few government buildings in a row. Behind the Court House is the Police Cottages.

Another fancy bank building.

Continued along.

Nice park for the kids and good use for the old truck.

Back across the railway line to Hotel Beverley. Up for sale at the moment.

Reached the Information Centre which was the old picture theatre garden then became a museum where the ‘Silver Centenary’ biplane was housed from 1967 to 2006. Now there is a small replica inside. There were videos and lots of information about the town etc. Watched an ABC video interview of Rodney Edwards, Selby Ford’s grandson, about the restoration of the plane and the initial flight. Huge moment for him and he said his children are keen to learn to fly so it might fly into another generation too. Very exciting time for the townspeople went he flew it to Beverley in 2009. Amazing to think of Selby drawing the plane on the floor of his mill and building the plane which flew - smart man, no Googling it up back then!

Back outside to finish the history walk.

Back to the camper then across the bridge to the RV Stop opposite the park by the river. With the strong wind today it is very dusty here so we just checked out the information provided. Should be another board end of this year for the last 25 years.

Too windy for a glide today!

Drove across the road to the park - not as dusty here and had a cuppa. Found some info about the pool. Not too nice for swimming in now.

Back up Vincent Street - interesting building for the service station.

Turned onto the Great Southern Highway again and continued northward. Across the Dale River which is dry here.

Turned off before our camp for the night to cross the Gwambygine Bridge over the Avon River. A good pool downstream then we turned around and I got a photo of the thin channel of water upstream.

Back out and along a bit to Gwambygine Park which we stayed at in 2018 and met a lovely couple, Mick & Marion - the M&Ms. The wind is still strong so Steve chose a spot away from trees and hopefully not where we will get dusted out.

Set up, 4pm 28 degrees. Googled up Gwambygine - One of the first known settlers was Reverend John Burdett Wittenoom (saw a street with that name near here). He was granted land in 1831 which he named Gwambygine. It was later purchased by the State Goverment in 1901 and sub-divided into blocks and called Gwambygine Estate. There is a homestead which has the reputation of being the oldest continually occupied house in WA until the death of the latest occupant in 1998.

I walked down to the river. Just a narrow stream here below the bigger permanent pool. The Avon River travels 240km from source to mouth. Starting as surface runoff east of Pingelly and then ‘flowing’ into the Swan River below Mt Mambup.