Wave Rock

30/03/12

It was time to start heading back towards Perth. Time to leave the goldfields and discover the wheat belt! Another change of landscape. Fields of gold as far as the eye can see!

We stopped off at Hyden to visit the famous Wave Rock. It is one of WA’s most photographed attractions.

Wave rock is located 4km east of Hyden in a 160ha bush reserve. It is a spectacular granite formation reaching over 15m high and thought to be in excess of 2700 million years old.

The ‘wave’ is approximately 110m long on the northen side of a granite outcrop called Hyden Rock. It looks like an enourmous wave ready to break and it is streked with rusty red, ochre and sandy grey. These bands of colour resemble the rolling motions of the ocean.

Formation of the rock

Wave rock’s rounded shape has been caused by weathering and water erosion which has undercut the base and left a rounded overhang. Water from the springs running down the rock during wetter months dissolve minerals adding to the coloring of the wave.

Atfter having had a climb around the rock, we went for a walk around the salt lakes nearby.

History of the area

While the aborigines were the first inhabitants to the area, it is believed that they gave the district a wide berth during the past century and a half. Many stones used by the aborigines have been found on their campsites throughout the area and painted hand marks can still be seen on rocks at the Humps.

The Sandalwooders are believed to be the first white men in the area. The earliest recorded farming was in 1922 and descendants of these settlers still live in Hyden. Wheat production started in 1927 and it was carted to Kondinin until the railway from Lake Grace reached Hyden in 1932.

Le Carnet de Voyage

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