Sunday, October 31, 2010

Along the road from Norseman to Esperance


Salmon Gums hotel

Bob @ bar of Salmon Gums hotel

Salmon Gums hotel

Grass Patch Yabby classic annual event in March

Grass Patch tavern

Sea Lion on beach in Esperance

Light beacon

Cute Methodist church in Esperance

Tank jetty

Clock tower

Bob @ waterfront

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Norseman race course & Dundas rocks



Lovely roses in full bloom at the race course

Pink flowering gum

Winning post

Jan admiring the the roses

Home straight

Race offical office

Norseman turf club sign. Might be this way again in March when the next meeting is on!!

Bob in the race callers box

This puts on new meaning on the "Thunder Box" this is what was used down in the mines & only had to be empty once a year. PHEW !!!

Miners wheelbarrow, carried all his worldy goods & shattels from camp to camp hoping for a big strike!!!

Replica miners camp from gold rush days

Dundas rocks is 20kms south of town & the dam was originally built to supply water for the steam trains & also it was a mining camp before gold was discovered in Norseman. Town had a short life span & has now returned back to sand & scrub

Strange rock formation (take a close look)!!!!

This one reminds me of the back end of an elephant!!!!


All that's left of the dam, hasn't held any water for a long time


Superman "Bob"

Norseman "Gateway to the Nullabor"

Arrived in Norseman on Saturday & we were surprised that it is a nice town. It is the "Gateway to Nullabor" either the start or end of a truly Outback experience, & one of the worlds great road trips & an adventure not to be missed.

Jan with Norseman. The story goes Laurie Sinclair from Shetland Islands had emigrated with his family in 1863. In 1893 after an unsuccessful visit to Coolgardie goldfields he was returning to Esperance & heard that his brother George & Jack Allsop were prospecting in this area & decided to look them up. He had his horse "Norseman" tethered up for the night & found next morning a chunk of gold reef, which the horse had pawed up & exposed during the night. Laurie was grateful to his horse & called his lease NORSEMAN. Legend or not the name Norseman can be found on mine registration records today & also given to name of mining town that sprang up as a result of this find


Tree ornament we found along the road to Norseman

I love this one, old building with the front door locked & bolted & there were NO windows!!!

Streetscape

Railway hotel/motel

Country race meeting, I think we missed it by 8 months, maybe next year on our way across the Nullabor

Post office

A stroll around town found some lovely flowers in town gardens

Norseman hotel only one left that is still trading

Not sure when the last movie was shown here !!

Gold mine slag heap

Kangaroo paw

Even in Norseman they have a Beauty parlour!!

Beacon hill lookout



Prospectors best friend

Camels & their Afghan cameleers certainly helped to open up the goldfields, carting food, water, building materials etc etc


Camels in the main street

Lemon rose

Kangaroo paw


Little town house

Dead trees along the road

Town bandstand