CARNARVON

WEDNESDAY 16.10.2013: Carnarvon is a lush horticultural region and the town's plantation district lines the banks of the Gascoyne River. A drive along the scenic North and South River Roads (known by the locals as the 'Fruit Loop'), reveals the heart of the horticultural industry. We set forth on the 'Gascoyne Food Trail' and our first stop was Bumbak's Preserves and Icecreams (Best Home Based Small Business of the Year 2010).

BUMBAK'S

DID COME ACROSS
THE B-I-G EGG!

Stocked up on everything and then continued on, but that was it really. We did travel the trail, but the season's produce had finished so we were unable to buy anything further. Undaunted we headed for One Mile Jetty and the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage. The jetty is the longest in the North West of WA and was constructed by Matthew Price in 1897. It was built to accommodate State ships that brought supplies and passengers from Perth and allowed the export of livestock and wool from the region. Carnarvon Jetty in 1900 was the first port to export livestock.   

JETTY 1910

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ‘Coffee Pot’ train (the name believed to have stemmed from the engine's cute funnel), takes you out and back ($7.00 per person), at walking pace and you are able to exit midway or at the end of the wharf if you are fishing, or just take a return trip. If you stay out and are ready to return you simply ring the Guard's Van Kiosk and the train will come out and pick you up – excellent. There is something a little incongruous being transported out to what felt like the middle of the Indian Ocean on a ‘Thomas the Tank’ train.

 

The Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage was completed in 1897. The cottage has been home for many families, the last leaving in 1980.

LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER'S COTTAGE 1897

 

The Carnarvon Lighthouse was erected in 1896. By 1899 the lighthouse had suffered considerable damage in its base due to white ants. The light tower was converted from kerosene oil to acetylene illumination in 1909. In 1961 the current steel tower and automatic light replaced the old structure.

AS IT IS TODAY



BABBAGE ISLAND
LIGHTHOUSE





One final point of interest in the front yard of the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage was the concrete dome. The dome covers an underground water storage tank complete with pump. Water was obtained from the cottage roof or carted from town in times of shortage.