A quick stop over at this historic site was well worth it. We'd have liked to stay longer but there were 1080 baits in the area and didn't want to risk the dogs being poisened. (There's no antidote for this nasty killer, designed to control feral cats, dogs and dingoes)
Local Aboriginies used this area for thousands of years, collecting water from the natural rock holes and soaks. In the 1860's, exploration parties searching for pastoral land took advantage of the fresh water available but it was in the 1890's during the beginning of the gold rush that demand for this precious resource vastly increased.
An important part of developing the Perth to Kalgoorlie railway, the Karalee Dam was constructed in 1897 primarily to service steam trains running between Southern Cross and Coolgardie. It was designed to provide adequate water supply for up to 12 trains a week but Coolgardie grew so quickly that within a year there were 20 trains between the two towns EVERY DAY!
Huge slabs of granite up to a metre high, cut from the rock and laid by hand, surround the enormous rock catchments, directing the rainwater into the dam. There is also a 206m elevated, hand riveted semi-circular steel aquaduct for channelling water into the dam. I'm not sure railway engineer William Shields intended it to double as a children's playground but it provided unending fun for our 3 rowdy kids to run along, creating a symphony of incredible noise!
We enjoyed a beautiful sunset and another night of glorious outback stars. I'd recommend a few days here if you ever pass this way - it would be well worth the detour.
Right to left
The steel aquaduct
the kids in the steel aquduct
Karalee Dam
Late sunset at Karalee
early sunset at Karalee
our camp for the night