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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Meznies and Lake Ballard

28/03/12

Meznies is 130km north of Kalgoorlie.

Gold was discovered in 1894 by L.R. Menwies. The railway line to Kalgoorlie was opened in 1898. At this time the town boasted 13 hotels, 3 banks, 3 breweries; cordial factories; a school; a library and 4 churches. By 1910 the population had dwindled from approximately 5000 to below 1000. Today, Menzies is home to around 70 people…

We only stopped to get petrol in the town. The petrol station (also abandoned) was really cool! Number plates all over it!

We then drove down 50km of gravel roads (in a really good condition thank god!) to get to Lake Ballard.

It is on this enormous salt lake that you find 51 bronze statues made by the british artist Antony Gormley.

When we arrived around midday, it was really too hot to go for a walk around the lake. We decided to wait for the sun to cool down a bit!

While waiting we met a big lizard!

It was also here that we met the Australian flies. The ones that just won’t leave you alone. I wa doing the aussie wave all afternoon!

Walking on that lake was hell! It looks solid but it isn’t! It’s mushy sticky red clay! It is realy slippery! Even in my walking boots I nearly slipped onto my ackside a couple of times and kept skidding everywhere! Orianne had to take her flip flops off and walk barefoot!

We took loads of photos of the statues. 

I was feeling energetic and decided to climb to the top of the little mountain!

At sunset we decided to have a fire. Going into the bush to find wood was not a good idea! We got attacked my mosquitos!

That evening we went back to the lake to play around with fire!

I spent most of the evening stargazing. The stars are amazing. So many of them and so bright. You can see the southern cross over here in Australia. Another weird thing is that all the constellations are upside down! Orion is doing a handstand over here!

The next morning I watched the sunrise over the lake. Beautiful.

Le Carnet de Voyage

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