Great Eastern Highway’s coolest campsite - KARALEE ROCKS
Located in Yellowdine, between Southern Cross and Coolgardie is Karalee Rocks. Walls have been constructed on massive granite outcrops with the intention of channeling rain water. The walls and other channels eventually lead to a wood and metal aqueduct. That single structure carries enough water to fill a dam with a capacity of 48 million litres.
This was used to water the thirsty steam trains of the Eastern Goldfields line but also the thirsty travellers on the original Goldfields Road. Before the dam, there was a rudimentary dam with a well built by Charles Hunt in the 1860s. This was part of an exploration and the original track being cut through the region, opening up more exploration and development for the region.
A pipe also ran over 3km from the dam to where the train station would be built. Here, a settlement developed that endured until the 1970s as it was situated on the modern day Great Eastern Highway. One of the last survivors of this settlement was the Karalee Hotel. There’s a great video on the ABC about the final days of this pub. Check it out through a link below.
Sources:
https://www.goldenpipeline.com.au/place/karalee-rocks/
https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/public/p/10062
https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/26996d56-eb0a-4b72-b33e-9d40c8ec2405
https://visit.yilgarn.wa.gov.au/see-do/natural/karalee-dam.aspx
Photos:
water tank: http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=15831
Station building: http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=25132
http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=33315
Tank and other features: http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=25535
Long view: http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=32739
Camp 1902: https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2301647_1
Great colour photo of hotel late 50s: https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2216824_8
ABC video about the pub:
