Day 44 – Port Hedland to Millstream-Chichester NP

Leaving Port Hedland for the NP again, and an uneventful drive out. Weather is becoming overcast and cooling down some.

The name "Wittenoom" was supposed to have been removed from all Road
signs, to "discourage" people to stop there

We finally reach the turnoff to Millstream Chichester NP, on the Roebourne-Wittenoom rd, except its not called that anymore. Wittenoom was “degazzetted” as a town by the WA government in 2006, and all signage and references on official government maps was removed (apparently). You may ask why? Wittenoom was “created” in 1947 as a company town for CSR’s ABA or Australian Blue Asbestos, after Lang Hancock sold his fledgling crocodilite (or Blue Asbestos) mine that he had been privately running from is pastoral lease, to CSR.  He found blue asbestos in Yampire gorge and Wittenoom Gorge, and in the 1930’s and 40’s “environmental impact” was a term still 50 years in the making

 

The mine was shut down in 1966, not due to health reasons for its workers and their families, but non-profitability!!! The town of Wittenoom, immortalised by the Midnight Oil song “Blue Sky Mine”, is now not officially a town, and in 2003 was disconnected from the P:ower Grid, and has no official services or support. In spite of all this, 8 people still live there. The ground is said to be covered in Asbestos Tailings (the residue from mining) and signs warn people (closer to the “site”) that “this area contains asbestos fibres, and poses a health risk to humans, and may cause cancer” Not very subtle!!!!

 

Around lunch, after driving on some superbly maintained dirt roads, we arrive at Python Pool for a bite to eat. Magnificent!!!! The pictures we take do it no justice at all. The light is flat as its overcast, but the pool is amazing, and only 100m from the carpark, and 200m from the road. What a sight it would be after some rain!!

 

Back in the car and we head for Millstream (hereafter called MCNP). The arrive at the homestead about 3:00pm and manage to shoehorn the Tambo into a site. The ground is rusty red and proved the better of several of our tent pegs L Actually had a slight sprinkle of rain, well, drizzle, and it lasted 30 seconds, and didn’t come back!!!

 

Called in to VKS737 again, and in doing so worked out what the strange interference on the HF was. It’s the Waeco fridge. When it is operating, it makes a nasty interference on the radio and you can’t hear anything except this warbling sound. I now know to disconnect the fridge while I’m on the radio. Which is better than having to get he Autotune antenna fixed when we get back (even thought I brought a spare “tapped whip”…..just in case)