Oresome

Monday 7 August 2023 to Friday 11 August 2023

Having driven into Meekatharra from Peace Gorge on Monday morning to enquire as to the possibility of a wheel alignment, we had no joy on that front, even from the tyre retailer, however, another service station manager in Meekatharra suggested two locations in Newman.

Back to the camp to hitch up and we were on our way northbound. Stopped for fuel at the Kumarina Roadhouse and bumped into Russell and Denice from the BOG. They were heading south before going to the Muster. Our journey took us past numerous ranges, such as the Robinson, Collier and Lofty Ranges and passed the Little Sandy Desert, crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and into the Pilbara region before reaching Newman.

There was no room at the Inn that night (Newman Tourist Park), however we booked the next three, and headed to a free camp just out of town for the night. Returning the following morning we left the van at our van park site and took Henri to a pre-booked mechanic to get the equivalent of a NSW pink slip. These aren’t required in WA, SA, Tas or Qld. Normally costing $36 in NSW, WA had to do a full mechanical inspection costing $211. No wonder WA is a wealthy state.

After the all-day inspection we checked on the three tyre places in Newman. Two didn’t do wheel alignments and the third was closed for stocktake. I rang first thing next morning and managed to book in for two days later.

In the meantime we did a tour of BHP Billiton’s Mt Whaleback Iron Ore Mine. A fascinating excursion we’d recommend to anyone. On our final night, BOGGERS Tassie Pete and Jenni arrived, enabling us to catch up over a drink in the late afternoon. Tour over, Henri registered and wheels pointing correctly, oh and a windscreen chip repaired, we headed out of Newman the following day further into the oresome (awesome) Pilbara. An amazing landscape of deep red and near black soils and rocks dotted with spinifex.

A short drive of just 88km took us to a free camp at Wanna Munna Gorge. It had 5 stars on Wikicamps so must be good. The 2km drive off the main road was a goat track that left Carol unnerved, so she walked the last 500m. It was a beautiful peaceful location, and a registered Aboriginal art location, though there wasn’t a great deal to see in the Gorge. Carol found the return trip along the goat track next morning more palatable as she knew what to expect. Henri and Blake enjoyed that part immensely.

Top: possibly the Glengarry range just north of Meekatharra
Bottom: possibly the Lofty Range 100km south of Newman.
Some old, obsolete mining machinery (not me) at the Newman Visitor Centre; and the Newman township from Radio Hill. The truck is a 200t Wabco ore truck, one of 22 owned by Whaleback Mine. This truck was worth $2.5m in 1973, when it was donated to the Visitor Centre for $1.00. The other is a P&H face shovel from the mid 1960s.
The main pit at Mt Whaleback, 500m deep, excavating Brockman Hematite which is 68.8% iron, blue grey in colour, and is one of the highest grades in the world.
The 3 x 110t drill rigs are working on a drill pattern. All holes will be 12 – 16m deep and blasted with 300-600kg of ANFO explosive; The blasted material is being loaded by a massive LIEBHERR R 996 excavator into 240t Caterpillar dump trucks (each worth $6m), which then have to make the gruelling climb to the primary crusher.

Ore being tipped into the primary crusher; One of five, 110,000L water carts keeping the dust at bay; Ore being blended to meet client specifications.

The lower grade Mt Whalebone pit which provides Goethite Limonite, which is 61% iron ore and is ocre in colour; A small ore train arriving from a satellite mine. (the long thin ribbon in the middle of the centre photo) This train has only one locomotive and 70 ore cars, whereas the trains that transport the crushed and blended ore to port consist of 4 locomotives and 268 ore cars, averaging 2.9km in length with a payload of 42,000t of ore; The reclaimer used to load the ore trains for their 426km journey to Port Headland.
Our camp at Wanna Munna Gorge, and the view from the balcony.
Some of the art in the gorge.
Downstream of the gorge. Two other vehicles arrived after us and asked if I’d been for a swim. I had to disappoint them, as there was no water in the gorge. It’s been too long since the last rain.
The Hancock Range; and Mt Robinson north of Newman.
Mt Robinson Gorge.

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