Day 12

Wednesday 18th March 2015

Fraser Range to Kalgoorlie Boulder

It is a warm clear morning. On our way out of Fraser Range Station we see a large emu. Although it is a sheep station the only other visible livestock is a pen full of chooks and a lonely bleating goat.

The road to Norseman is beautiful as it is lined with bushland of Salmon Gums that have bronze trunks that glow in the morning light. Norseman is clean and spacious with the kind of easy turning wide streets that caravanners love. The town was named after a horse called Norseman who was clever enough to paw up a nugget of gold and thus cause a gold rush. On the main street there is a whimsical corrugated iron artwork honouring the work of the camels of the past.

Leaving the Eyre Highway we turn north passing a huge salt lake, Lake Cowan. It is with great excitement that we enter the twin towns of Kalgoorlie Boulder. We ditch the van and the Ollies at Discovery Park Boulder, they must think we’re mad, and race into town. It is 40 years since we were last here and we vowed to return and see it properly. It is a hot 35 degrees and windy.

Hannan Street has some beautiful buildings and many hotels. There were once eighty of them and there are still dozens. I can’t help but wonder which was the favourite of Woody’s maternal Great Grandfather Michael Flynn who came here as a miner in 1907. I’ll bet you didn’t know Woody was part Irish. Hannan Street has wide verandahs and the footpaths are inlaid with a pretty stone pattern. We eventually find the Ollies and enjoy a coldie in the York hotel before expiring from the heat. Being a grey nomad can really do you in.

Accom: $35.10

Travelling Kms: 286Kms

Note: Our previous trip was in the sweltering summer heat of 1975. Our vehicle of choice back then was a Mini Moke Californian, with a canvas roof of bright yellow daisies and an esky full of cold beer on the back floor.