Harms Lake Rest Area to Esperance

Day 37 - Harms Lake Rest Area to Esperance

Harms Lake Rest Area, Norseman, Scaddan, Esperance, Castletown

Sunday, 24 February 2013
After packing up and driving through a mixture of woodlands and grasslands we came to an extensive area of burnt woodlands about a 100km from Norseman. This area had been burnt in the November 2012 bushfires. The Eucalypts had extensive regeneration at their bases.

Arrived at Norseman. The town has its origins in a prospector stopping at the site of the present town to search for gold. Whilst tethered his horse 'Norseman' pawed the ground causing a piece of gold quartz to lodge in his hoof. The find was lodged and went onto be one of the richest gold reefs ever mined in Australia.

Drove up to the lookout at Beacon Hill and Tuka and I walked around the Beacon Hill Walk Trail. Views of Lake Brazier, a dry salt lake, and in the distance Fraser Range and Dundas Nature Reserve which I had just travelled through. The lookout also provides views of Norseman and the gold mines
I left Norseman and drove towards Esperance along a dirt road, the Dundas Coach Road Heritage Trail instead of the Highway. It features 10 historic stopping places along the 25km between Norseman and the site of the original township of Dundas. Had lunch at the site ofthe Old Dundas Dam and had a walk inthe woodlands (still part of the Great Western Woodlands).

At the end of the trail we drove back onto the highway. Drove past Lake Dundas. It is one of number of large dry salt lakes in the district that are ancient beds of a vast river system. Stopped for rest at Scaddan and admired their Pioneer Murals.

Continued onto Esperance and drove out to the suburb of Castletown and booked into the pet-friendly Bathers Paradise Caravan Park. Owner very friendly and even offered to sell me the park for $2,000,000. Tuka and I then walked the 100m to the dog leash free beach where Tuka had swim.

	Regeneration of Eucalypts after ushfire [Map]		Lake Brazier and Fraser Range [Map]
	Great Western Woodlands [Map]		Spillway, Old Dundas Dam (built 1892) [Map]
	Dundas Townsite (1894-1929) [Map]		Pioneer Murals, Scaddan [Map]

---

Sent from my iPad by My Vacation HD app (www.myvacationapp.com)