"An ongoing program will see further drainage and gravel sheeting works carried out over the next few years.". Officers on the Lake King-Norseman Road. .everyone, other than Joe and Dusty, camped anyway in unpowered sites. RD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway near the junction with Corrigin-Kulin Road, 23km east of Corrigin. . Stewart Ford. ID sign facing northbound traffic at the junction of Brookton Highway & Wickepin-Corrigin Road. I travelled it many years ago in the dry and it was a real experience something like the Gun Barrel or Canning Stock route with less vehicles, a very lonely slow arduous trip. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Only a few hundred metres further on there was more water and now it was time for some fun. His knowledge of the geology and history of the area is encyclopaedic. EARLY DEPARTURE WAS NOW STANDARDand we drove out of Norseman before 7.00 a.m. Access to the road across Lake Cowan was not initially clear but after a short time casting around we picked up a track that led to the road and started our journey west. Brookton Highway looking south at the junction with Biddy Camm Road, 27km south of Varley. Dodgy RD sign westbound on Brookton Highway at Karlgarin - note the absence of any reference to SR40 or any subsequent focal points. Brookton Highway (Nicholl Street) looking west at the junction with Graham Street, Kondinin. THE CHALLENGE THE NEXT MORNINGwas to find the track south of the rocks. SR40 trailblazer looking west, 39km east of Brookton. I called the entire crew in for a meeting and appointed Joe as the Trackmaster. The Minister said the alignment through the national park was changed and shortened to 1.8 kilometres to minimise the impact on the natural environment. Spectacular, colourful countryside, especially in wildflower season. A member of the public found the rolled ute on a straight stretch of the unsealed Lake King-Norseman Road on Saturday morning, calling police at around 7.15am. The tiny townsite is located to the left of the grain bins, behind the trees. Once we hit the Widgie-Burra Hill Road it was an easy drive to Widgiemooltha with Scotty giving commentary the whole way. There is no AD sign on this approach and no other indication that SR40 turns left, other than if you spot the reassurance trailblazer to your left while sitting at the junction. A member of the public found the rolled ute on Lake King-Norseman Road on Saturday morning and called police. Count # 2. The State Barrier Fence delineates farmland, to the west, from the Great Western Woodland, to the east. I was sure Kim got himself hung up on these boulders just to pass on some of his wise extraction techniques! but when he put his own back into it I wasnt so sure! Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo. Brookton Highway looking east at Keays Road, Kelmscott. AD sign northbound on Brookton Highway at the junction with Bulyee-Quaraiding Road, Bulyee. Brookton Highway looking north, 50km south of Lake King. Reviews Q&A. Filters. AD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Aldersyde North Road. Woodlines continued to the south and east of Kalgoorlie until 1965 when they ceased operation. Brookton Highway (Graham Street) looking south towards the junction with Nicholl Street. After arrival in Norseman to refuel we met at the Caltex service station to decide what to do in the face of impending storms. The rendezvous point was 28 kilometres to the north-north-east. AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Westdale Road, Westdale. A southerly view of the junction of South Coast Highway & Brookton Highway near Ravensthorpe. 1. Kilometre plate showing 105km to Brookton, looking east at Holden Road, Roleystone. The next day we planned to follow the route of the telegraph line to Lake Cowan and continue south just past Norseman to pick up the route of the telegraph line to Balladonia. These airstrips are signposted and have runway "piano keys" painted on the road, and turnaround bays for small aircraft. Brookton Highway looking south from the same spot, showing a realigned section of the highway. Note the coverplate covering the fuel symbol and someone's clever addition to the kilometre plate. When this sign was replaced, Main Roads did a very poor job - the route marker should have been included within the main sign and Hyden added to the sign, as it shown on previous signs. Kim Holden Rodeo ute stuck on rocks. Photo credit, This part of the highway is also used by the Royal Flying Doctor Service as an emergency runway. Commitments by successive governments to construct the road were never fulfilled and in August 1987, several land owners in the Cascades district built a track 25 metres wide from Lake King to Cascades, including six kilometres through the Frank Hann National Park. Because of its remoteness, some sections of the Highway serve as emergency airstrips for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Note the lack if ID signs pointing down the side road - this is typical of signposting in rural WA. Kim, Scotty, and Greg made it across and parked on firm ground. AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Aldersyde North Road. To break the long drive home we stopped at King Rocks. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Dodgy AD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Bruce Rock-Corrigin Road on the eastern outskirts of Corrigin. AD sign southbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road, Lake King. Eyre Highway can be best described as a long and lonely road. The road, also known as the Granite and Woodlands Discovery Trail, is 289 km (179 miles) long, running west-east from the town of Hyden (in the Shire of Kondinin) to Norseman. From Lake King to the Cascade Road turnoff it's a bit loose, but would be still 2WD suitable. Note the edge reseal - this pavement is narrower than many other sections of the highway. Ms Withers expressed her sorrow on Facebook. This track was fairly easy. Time for a coffee and a look at the Skylab Museum. TW356 follows SR120 between Cranbrook and Beverley, however is poorly signed. So much for planning!! Rain was threatening but held off. "The original track was inferior and the new formed gravel road has improved drainage and water discharge to ensure a level of serviceability during winter," Mr Charlton said. Aside from the two highways, the Hyden-Norseman Road between Marvel Loch-Forrestania Road at Norseman is also closed. RD sign northbound on Brookton Highway as you leave Lake King. Brookton Highway looking east near Mills Road, 27km east of Brookton. Note the white distance plate which should be green. The road to the left is the original alignment of Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road which was bypassed in the 1960s. Brookton Highway looking east along the long, straight road, 13km east of Kondinin. For iPhone/iPad, Android & Windows - CLICK HERE. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our. Way: Lake King - Norseman Road (211256176) Version #6 Drive Survey Mapillary. We arrived in the now-abandoned town of Widgiemooltha at the rear of the Widgiemooltha Roadhouse. Given the time of year it was interesting that there was still some water around. Planning on coming back for a long weekend from Perth with the caravan next time! SR40 trailblazer facing westbound traffic at the junction of Brookton Highway & Hyden-Norseman Road, 3km east of Hyden. Brookton Highway looking east at a recently realigned section, 12km west of Brookton. As long as it all ends with no damage, its all good clean fun.. RD sign westbound on Brookton Highway at the junction with Wickepin-Corrigin Road, 12km west of Corrigin. Brookton Highway looking south towards Aldersyde North Road, 30km east of Brookton. Brookton Highway makes a left turn here - the road straight ahead becomes the Narrogin-Kondinin Road. The countryside ranges from rolling farmland, particularly in the west, to low-lying, mostly-dry salt pans. ID sign facing southbound traffic at the junction of Brookton Highway & Northam-Cranbrook Road. Westbound RD sign on Brookton Highway at the western edge of Brookton townsite. Great for visit, not so good for camping.! RD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway, east of Brookton. A northbound view along Brookton Highway showing the layout of the junction with Kondinin-Narembeen Road. Dodgy AD sign facing southbound traffic on Bulyee-Quaraiding Road at the junction with Brookton Highway. Amusing Planet, 2023. Terra nullius? Police said today the victims were two 24-year-old men and a 25-year-old man, all from New Zealand. Brookton Highway looking west as you cross Stinton Creek at Karragullen, 12km east of Kelmscott. It was a great night for stargazing! There are no AD signs or trailblazers for northbound traffic on approach to this intersection. Cascade Road The Cascade Road is a remote road with a gravel section approximately 120kms in length. As I reached the bottom of the hill the causeway across the salt came into sight and I radioed for the others to come on down. The descent from the top of the hill appeared to lead straight onto Lake Dundas. This a rare example where both an AD sign and an 'END' trailblazer are provided at the end of a route. Jeff Toyota Prado Wagon no issues. Read more about the telegraph line and how vitally important it was to Western Australia. AD sign and trailblazer assembly eastbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Canning Road (SR41) at Karragullen. Brookton Highway looking southeast at Fulwood Road, 14km east of Brookton. Count # 5. Suits cans or water bottles. Our covers are of a premium quality printed using 3 year UV rated inks and vinyls for excellent durability and long life. ExplorOz Tracker is an online tracking service exclusive to ExplorOz Members (see Membership Subscription). Mapping and navigation software available for Android, Apple and Windows. Brookton Highway looking south near the boundary of the Shires of Lake Grace and Ravensthorpe at Fitzgerald Road, 34km south of Lake King. Brookton Highway looking east through the junction with Williams Street at Brookton. Police said they believed the crash happened some time during the night. Again note the absence of any other focal points - particularly the lack of reference to Esperance which is a major tourist destination reached via this route. From Lake King to the Esperance Shire border, the road is great. This intersection was reconstructed and realigned as part of the sealing of this section of the road. The Brookton Highway is one of these. Brookton Highway looking west towards the junction with Lovering Road, 2km east of Hyden, showing signage for the Wave Rock turnoff. AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Albany Highway (SR30). The track is routed through Fraser Range Station. My love for their familys and friends. This westernmost 12km of the route is of less importance as many heavy vehicles leave the highway at Canning Road, bound for the Welshpool/Kewdale areas and for light vehicles it can also be a significantly quicker journey into Perth via Welshpool Road East. More than likely the infrastructure was used for telephone lines for many years until abandoned in favour of subterranean cables. State Route 40 commences at a signalised junction with Albany Highway in suburban Kelmscott. I should also point out that the hospital symbol doesn't refer to a hospital but to a nursing post. RD sign northbound on Brookton Highway at the junction with Aldersyde North Road. Brookton Highway looking west at Moeser Road, 21km east of Brookton. We were away before 7.00 a.m. First stop was The Breakaways. SR40 trailblazer southbound on Brookton Highway, 26km south of Lake King. Note that Perth is signposted via Kelmscott, despite the route via Lesmurdie being shorter. Salt lakes are good places to search for australites as the small, dark coloured, flight-ablated, impact ejecta stand out well against the white of the salt. Note that at the previous junction, there was no mention of TW356! There is some latitude in the bush. Emus came in to drink at the gnamma aware of our presence but showing no trepidation. We arrived at the planned overnight stop, Dordie Rocks, just on dusk. The area around Victoria Rock was cut out around 1921. It is an excellent alternative to travelling the Great Eastern Highway. 52). The push south continued some two hours later. The rehabilitation and containment of the open cut is somewhat lacking. The morning fun started only 50 metres from the camp site where our fearless leader thought he was in his Patrol and didnt correctly navigate some rocks., Dordie Rocks. Scotty Toyota Landcruiser Trayback no issues. The harvest walls are very effective on this rock. "The distance-saving to Perth for the Cascades community is 54 kilometres and the communities of Salmon Gums, Grass Patch and Scadden will enjoy similar benefits.". Explorer/surveyor C.C. Joe to the rescue! New underground techniques of leaving rock columns to support the stopes also drastically reduced the demand for structural timber. Your best option for mapping and navigation no matter where you go in Australia. The Balladonia Telegraph Station is on Balladonia pastoral station and is fenced off to restrict access. Turn off to Kings Rocks and head to Corrigin via Billericay and Bendering. Apioneer telegraph track has been revived some 120 years latertoprovide a vital link in Western Australias telecommunications infrastructure. This intersection is typical of many along the route as it follows property boundaries. Only a few kilometres after leaving The Breakaways Mike came on the radio calling for the convoy to stop as the Vitara was overheating. This road comes out in Norseman township. With TV! Beverley is not located on the route, but can be reached via Westdale Road which branches off midway to Brookton. Typical rural WA signage setup - ID sign facing the terminating leg and only fingerboards facing the through route; at the junction of Brookton Highway & Kulin-Holt Rock Road. For the next several hours we forced our way south along a rough, overgrown track characterisedby tight corners, steep, loose slopes, rocky creeks, slippery descents, washaways, ditches, and the occasional open patch were one could hit 30 kph. Note the Golden Fleece branded service station - one of only two that I know of in Australia (the other is in Merriwa, NSW). It is understood all three men, who hailed from nearby towns in Southland on New Zealands southernmost tip, were not wearing seat belts. Note the reference to Brookton Corrigin Road rather than Brookton Highway. Brookton Highway looking west at the small bridge over Nalyaring Gully, 20km east of Brookton. Ten kilometres out I raised Scotty on the UHF. Dusk was fast approaching and no campsites were presenting themselves. With three vehicles bogged there was lots of uncoordinated effort. This junction was a typical triangular junction which has recently been reconstructed to a safer T-junction layout. On the Lake King-Norseman Road after exiting the Lake Sharp Track. I'm not sure why Newdegate is shown as the next service when the majority of traffic proceeding southwards along SR40 to Ravensthorpe!. AD sign southbound on Albany Highway approaching Brookton Highway at Kelmscott. Last time i went to Lake King then to Ravensthorpe then Esperance, Norseman. As we were heading back to bitumen Joe slipped into a washaway. Does anyone know if this road is sealed or not? Brookton Highway looking northwest at the junction with Holland Track on the boundary of the Shires of Kulin and Lake Grace. The name of the rocks is derived from an incident in 1894 when three white men carting stores to Kurnalpi came upon a party of 19 Afghans with 104 camels camped at this place. The cheapest way to get from Lake King to Norseman costs only $39, and the quickest way takes just 4 hours. Brookton Highway looking north at the junction of Brookton Highway & Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road at Lake King. State Route 40 traillblazer on Brookton Highway eastbound, 6km west of Hyden. Thanks guys. Obviously, after our experiences earlier in the day, we were a bit wary of salt lakes. Poorly-designed RD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway at Westdale. The remainder of the route includes Brookton-Corrigin Road, Kunjin Street, Corrigin-Kondinin Road, Graham Street, Nichol Street, Kondin-Hyden Road, Marshall Street, Hyden-Lake King Road, and Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road. I am grateful to Professor Alex George, AM, for identifying the flora named in this report. Time was getting short to make our planned campsite south of Norseman along the Balladonia telegraph track so it was an easy decision to turn the convoy around. They were clearly of a later vintage than when the telegraph line was put through in 1896. Note the reference to Perth, rather than Corrigin, and the rare Brookton Highway nameplate. Our ego was now at rock bottom and after two hours and over 100 meters of snatch strap, we finally got out., It was an interesting sight seeing the three Patrols all bogged in a dry lake with the lighter Suzukis, Rodeo, etc.. looking on its not every day you have a recovery with a truck (Scotty) snatching another truck (TurboJoe), which (with five snatch straps joined together) is it turn snatching a third truck (me, and then afterwards Dusty). Find the travel option that best suits you. RD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway after the Canning Road (SR41) junction at Karragullen. Since 1976, the Eyre Highway is a fully sealed road and in many places runs alongside the original gravel track which was pushed through this vast outback region back in the 1940s. All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner. Brookton Highway looking east, showing the typical undulating and curving road, 25km east of Brookton. Turn off to Kings Rocks and head to Corrigin via Billericay and Bendering. Slightly dodgy RD sign northbound on Brookton Highway near the junction with Kulin-Holt Rock Road, 13km north of Varley. Brookton Highway looking east through the catchment area at Warrahdale Road, 55km east of Kelmscott. From 1903 railways were utilised to bring in the wood. This type of junction is fairly common in rural WA as roads zig-zag along property boundaries. Dusty Nissan 3.0L Patrol Wagon bogged. He endured much hardship, apparently describing the plain as a hideous anomaly, a blot on the face of Nature, the sort of place one gets into in bad dreams, and survived the year-long expedition by eating lizards and wringing moisture from roots. Typical view of Brookton Highway through the eastern Wheatbelt near the junction with Lake O'Connor Road, 37km east of Hyden. Photo taken: November 2010. Brookton Highway looking south approximately 46km south of Lake King. Two of the mens parents have flown from New Zealand to Esperance, while the third mans parents will arrive soon. To differentiate between the two Scotts we referred to the prospector in the Toyota Landcruiser as Scotty and the fireman in the Suzuki Jimny as Scott. Brookton Highway looking south at the junction with Old Newdegate Road, 6km north of Ravensthorpe. this was a extremely well planned trip with great people. Scott Suzuki Jimny Wagon two punctures (plugged). Main Roads Department, Annual Report 1985/86, p. 16. There was no push for such an early departure but as everyone was packed and ready to go there was no reason to wait around. Along the way are various scenic sights such as the spectacular Bunda Cliffs, which drop vertically for 100 metres or more off the plain into the Southern Ocean waters of the Great Australian Bight. Great, all three Patrols stuck! Eastern Terminus: South Coast Highway & Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road, 3km west of Ravensthorpe, Western Terminus: Albany Highway & Brookton Highway, Kelmscott, Route taken: Brookton Highway (includes Brookton-Corrigin Road, Kunjin Street, Corrigin-Kondinin Road, Graham Street, Nichol Street, Kondin-Hyden Road, Marshall Street, Hyden-Lake King Road, Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road), Focal Points: Perth, Brookton, Corrigin, Kondinin, Hyden, Lake King, Ravensthorpe, Main Roads Act 1930 classification: H52 Brookton Highway. The Balladonia telegraph track wound its way up to the top of a hill where there were several open areas that would have made a comfortable camp site but it was still a bit early. Scotty had a previously arranged engagement and had to leave us here. We talked about the future with so much happiness and excitement and I will hold onto that feeling forever. Contribute. Other places of interest along the way include Newman and Afghan Rocks near Balladonia, the Eyre Bird Observatory, the famous Cocklebiddy Cave, the view from Madora Pass, whale watching at the head of the bight, several sink holes and blowhole, to mention just a few. Hyden-Norseman Road Werrong Lane 1.08K subscribers Subscribe 5.3K views 4 years ago Western Australia's Hyden-Norseman Road (now promoted by the tourism people as the 'Granite and Woodlands. We pulled into a cleared area and walked up to the mine. This junction was to have been the northern terminus of a State Route extending southwards to Albany via Lake Grace, however this route was never signed. Funding for the project had been met from the Government's $1 billion Additional Funding program for important road projects to be completed over 10 years. The original formation is still visible to the right, although fairly overgrown. He headed back to Norseman just after 6.00 a.m. Service sign advising motorists that there are no service stations before you reach Brookton or Beverley. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Australia. Joe got underneath and diagnosed a leaking rear main seal that was allowing oil to drip out and be blown over the hot exhaust. Note the recent shoulder widening. After a short distance, the route crosses the Canning River and then begins the climb up the Darling Scarp via Slab Gully and Roleystone. Old AD sign, new AD sign and trailblazer assembly southbound on Canning Road (SR41) approaching Brookton Highway at Karragullen. AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching Melba Street, Karlgarin. The road distance is 440.4 km. Poorly designed AD sign southbound on Northam-Cranbrook Road approaching the junction with Brookton Highway. Brookton Highway looking east near Koorikin Rock, where the route crosses a number of shallow, mainly dry lakes, 36km east of Corrigin. Locally sourced neoprene stubby holders designed and printed in Australia exclusive to ExplorOz. The typical view is that of a straight highway and practically unchanging flat saltbush-covered terrain, although some parts are located on ridges. Brookton Highway looking north, 60km south of Lake King. Brookton Highway (Graham Street) looking south through Kondinin. The man killed at the rock was buried there and as a result the rock subsequently came to be known as Afghan Rock. The road is not sealed are after recent rain it will be very dangerous. From Cascade townsite to the South Coast Hwy is bitumen, mostly full width. Not sure what is going on with this sign - Narembeen is not left aligned properly and the '273' is clearly oversized. Horror scene. Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page. Photo credit, Many consider crossing the Nullarbor Plain a long and boring trek that should be travelled as quickly as possible. To make a positive identification flowers and/or leaves are required and, even then, it can be very difficult. RD sign southbound on Brookton Highway at Bulyee. AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Williams Street at Brookton. Sign assembly facing eastbound traffic at the junction of Brookton Highway & Northam-Cranbrook Road (Great Southern Highway), 2km east of Brooktown town centre. There is no 'END SR40' sign to denote the end of the route, nor an RD sign for eastbound traffic. Telstra have used this route for their fibre optic cable. After a group discussion I was presented with Hobsons Choice (wont happen again) and we elected to stay the night in Norseman. The Main Roads Act classifies the entire route from Kelmscott to Ravensthorpe as the Brookton Highway (Highway No. My maps say it isnt. The next 100km from Karragullen to Brookton can best be described as uneventful.