Day 23-24 May 14th-15th
We set off to explore all the treasures in this region. Firstly the beautiful forest area of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. The tall pale-barked Karri tree which grow up to 50mtr dominate this area.
Next stop is Hemelin Bay, Bob Cairney a work colleague told me about this place and mentioned Stingrays the size of dinner tables, well he wasn’t kidding. It is named after French explorer Jacques Félix Emmanuel Hamelin who sailed through the area in about 1801. It is south of Cape Freycinet.
It is hard to believe the sight of rays, many many of them swimming up and down the beach meters off the shoreline. They grow to 4 mtr long, 2.5 mtr wide and weigh 350kg. The sign says do not feed them or wade too close, as they are not aggressive, but will defend themselves. Well I was not going to test that theory.
Another of the 10,000 beaches Jim, how many more to go?
Continued down the coast through Kudardup & Augusta to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. Matthew Flinders named this cape after the Dutch Vessel the Leeuwin who chartered some of this coast in 1622. The history and working of a lighthouse I find fascinating. It is the most south-westerly point on the mainland of the Australian Continent.
Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse was constructed of local stone. It was opened with great ceremony in 1895. The working life of a lighthouse keeper was not straightforward or easy. At least not until 1982 when electricity was connected. There are three cottages, who were accompanied by their families, and they operated on three rotating 4 hour shifts, and had one Sunday off every three weeks. Until June 1982 the lens was rotated by a counter weight driving clockwork mechanism, (cuckoo clock mechanism) and the beacon was a pressure kerosene mantle type. The kerosine was stored in the base and then carried 176 steps to the top every two hours. He would also have to manually wind up the counterweight 160 rotations which would take 10 mins.
Well that is only the start. Every six weeks supplies would be brought in by ship and picked up from a jetty 4 klm away. They would have two sets of bullocks to collect the supplies as the track was too arduous for them to complete the journey with one set only. The also had to maintain the road in/out, collect all the firewood over 5klm away, they had cattle, chickens, grow there own vegetables, etc. milk the cows, make the butter and cream.
The crystal lenses are the original from UK, and in today’s value are estimated at half Mill $ each (4) The LED light now used is the equivalent of 900,000 candle power and can be seen for a distance of 45klm. Since the installation only one ship has been lost, and this was human error. Prior to this 22 vessels have met their fate. Paul the tour guide today lives in one of the cottages with his family for the last 20 years.
These three young ladies have just completed the Cape to Cape walk, 140klm. 4 x 30klm days, with 18klm for the final day. Carrying 16kg back packs (no wine), they said that will be for tonight. Fantastic effort.
Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin
Back to Prevelly Beach, plenty more surfing in action late in the day. This is also where the Margaret River meets the sea, well not quite, doesn’t quite get there. It does on occasions, but a sign strongly says do not attempt to make a channel as this outflow would have significant environmental consequences for the species reliant on this unique River.
Nearly made it 
Stopped at Busselton, a sheltered beach and seasonal humpback whales, that is famous for it’s Jetty which is nearly 2 klm long, many locals fishing off the pier, they have come for the winter squids that populate this area among the sea grass. A signposts at the end indicate all the distances around the world. Interestingly Singapore is 3900klm & Brisbane 3600 klm.
Now for our destination for the night, on a property near Myalup, (230acres) owned by Blair Howe & Family. He has many years experience in the mining industry, but set-up his Ag-Lime quarry business in the 90’s.
What an amazing set-up. There is free camping on the property, with a donation if you wish. Where do we park Blair? Anywhere you want as long as it is not the runway. Yep! he has his own runway, Ag-Lime crushed rock topping, surrounded by large gardens, grass expanses, large pond, hundreds of water fowl, chickens, turkeys, peacocks, all free range of course, as Blair passes by on his sand buggy delivering four eggs for tea. He provides all the wood, well that is another enterprise on the property that he leases, a timber mill, wow! Can we buy some or make a donation? No take what you want!
What else, Oh another party leases part of the property, yes they produce bricks, but wait there’s more he owns the Bunbury Flying School, and they use his runway for simulated landing and takeoffs etc.
Yes this is also on the property. For the enthusiast this is a C47A built in June 1944 for US Army Air Force. Entered service with Ansett-ANA ( Australian commercial planes ) 1960. Purchased by Blair in 2003 and installed at its current home.
Blair owns many vehicles, he also has another plane in a shed, here are a few, a 1930’s Jaguar Convertible, a Bentley and a Rolls Royce, drastically changed by Red (photo) into a Wooded Safari to take guests around the property. If you have the resources you can do what you like.
Red has known & worked with Blair for 40 years and is from Albany, completes all the maintenance etc for the business.
Wind Sock and runway
