On our way from Hyden to Kalgoorlie in WA the tour bus stopped many times for us to take photos.
The road followed this famous water pipeline which stretches 560 km from Perth through the arid interior to the gold mining town of Kalgoorlie. It was constructed by C. Y. O'Connor in 1890 and it was an incredible feat of engineering even by present day standards. The steel was imported from England. It took months for them to come by sea.
We were surrounded by wildflowers.
We pulled into a small town called Southern Cross for morning tea. It was one of the first gold mining towns to develop, supplying provisions for the miners trekking further on to the gold fields of Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. (Don't you love the sound of those names?)
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| The Club Hotel, Southern Cross. |
I love the way these country towns have renovated the old hotels back to their original glory.
The gardens in the town were awash with colour.
Back on the road again, there were more wild flowers to see.
I have never seen such a variety of native plants all growing together. In one square metre you could find dozens of different plants.
So many and so beautiful.
The popular story that has been taught in schools for many years is that O'Connor committed suicide because the water didn't come through when he said it would and that the pipeline was a failure. But that's not true at all, of course. He knew exactly how long the water would take to get through. He knew.
ReplyDeleteSuch pretty flowers, lovely Hotel, lots of them there :)
ReplyDeleteWater, that really was a problem for that area years ago.
so much beauty, and I like that hotel. I love old buildings and it makes me happy to see them saving them.
ReplyDeleteThe path along the pipeline looks already golden ! The flowers are beautiful and I love the architecture of the Club Hotel.
ReplyDeleteSuper flowers, the pipeline is special.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
Beautiful flowers and lovely hotel! An Eden created in a desert :)
ReplyDeleteI think our world is soo amazing! not only the hard-scapes..the mountains, rivers and such are so different, but even what I call the soft-scapes..the flowers and the birds..thanks for always explaining and teaching us as we travel along with you!
ReplyDeleteBut did he commit suicide anyway for some other reason? I always thought the John Forrest was involved somehow and there were political shenanigans involved ...
ReplyDeleteI agree about those lovely old hotels, Diane. Just sooo many have been renovated wonderfully. Must cost the owners a fortune.
Great shots Diane.
ReplyDeleteI hope the Club Hotel's air-conditioning is not prone to break downs. Your beer would get warm very fast in that place.
I wonder how long water does take to get from Perth to Kalgoorlie????
Anyone know?
The purple flowers look like "Paterson's Curse" to me, does anyone know if they are or not?
Cheers
Colin
The water pipeline is amazing and those wildflowers are so pretty. I have enjoyed catching up on your adventures Diane and thank you for stopping by with your sweet comments after my father-in-law's heart operation.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are absolutely gorgeous, and your pictures are superb. The story of the water pipeline is interesting. You're right -- that was an amazing feat of engineering.
ReplyDeleteThe wild flowers were fantastic - great pics. Love the hotel too - nice architecture.
ReplyDeleteJulie, Yes he did commit suicide. It was political. Seemed a shame after all the hard work he did for WA.
ReplyDeleteColin,
It is not Patterson's curse. We did see that in the farming lands but not in the bush. I think this is called Lechenaultia biloba
It's amazing to think that pipe-line was build in the late 1800's - it has served it's purpose well over many years. Such pretty wildflowers.
ReplyDeleteYou guys put me to shame - here I've been in this state since '86 and I haven't to a fraction of the places that you have!
ReplyDeleteSoakingly wet day here today.
Such lovely flowers. And such lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteJust a quick note to let you know I found a few minutes to check in and see where you have been traveling. What wonderful adventures you are blessed to have. I love reading and seeing some of the sights you see!!!
ReplyDeleteOoh. I've missed so much of your adventures - I will find time to back track. All so different from anything I've ever seen. I like the little pink flower like a brush.
ReplyDeleteI do love the sound of those names! And I love the flowers. And imagine building that pipeline way back then. Amazing bit of history.
ReplyDeleteAn adventure indeed Diane. Great shots of some amazing wildflowers.
ReplyDeleteThose photos of wildflowers are amazing! How lucky you were to see such an abundance of natural beauty. Cheers from Long Island, NY,
ReplyDeleteUSA
Wow, the horizon is so perfectly straight and flat in that first photo! I don't think I've ever been out in the middle of such flat country, though we certainly do have such here in the States too. I wonder what it feels like in person? All these colorful flowers are amazing. Isn't it interesting what variety there is, even in a dry and wild place like you were visiting.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised by the diversity in our huge country! Beautiful Bloggong Mum.
ReplyDeletexxx
So many beautiful wildflowers, it does look like you were surrounded by them. I love that old hotel.
ReplyDeleteJust lovely:))))
ReplyDeleteWow, the wildflowers are lovely. What a pretty collections of flowers and colors. Wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteEach flower seems more beautiful than the last! :-) So wonderful that they have kept up the old hotels. That is a really lovely balcony.
ReplyDeleteAren't the flowers lovely and showy ... not right down on the ground like the dessert plants.
ReplyDeleteWow, there certainly was a fantastic selection of wildflowers in that area. Great shots.
ReplyDeleteMy mother is from WA, and her love of WA wildflowers is legendary!! Nothing else will ever match them - according to her - and your pix start to show me why!!
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