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Published: July 28th 2013
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Shell Beach
This beach is at the isthmus of the Denham peninsular. At the end of the beach is one end of the vermin fence. Denham was the most westerly camping spot in our journey around Australia. We drove back to the North Western Highway, stopping at Shell Beach and overnighting at Hamelin Station and then Edaggee rest area before moving to Carnarvon.
On our way out to Denham we heard what sounded like a rusty windmill and pump squeaking on endlessly. But no matter where we looked we could not find a windmill.
We had only just arrived at Hamelin Station when the same sound could be heard. Yes there was a windmill, but it wasn't squeaking. We looked and listened and the sound was coming from inside a thicket. A lot of looking and a couple of questions we were told that the noise came from a chiming wedge bill, a bird about 20cm long, but very rarely seen, rather private little bird, and we did not see him other than in a set of bird photos at Hamelin Station.
Hamelin Station is a large working station, 20,000 sheep, a mix of merino for wool and two other breeds for meat. Also about 5,000 goats, and we did get to see a few of these.
Just a little further west
Gallah Confrence
Hamelin Station, right beside a grain feeding trough. of the station at Shell Beach is a coast to coast electric fence and road grid. West of here is all national park, and since 1991 there has been a big effort called project Eden to clear the national park of feral cats, fox, goats, sheep and cattle.
Shell beach is rather unique. There is a bed several meters deep of tiny shells, mostly little white cockles. Over time the shells break down and have created a solid base that becomes shell bricks. The loose shells are also harvested and turned into grit for Australian chooks. At Hamelin Station the owners had just completed a new BBQ and kitchen building built out of shell bricks. (see photos)
Sat 27th
We left the station and headed on through a mixture of scrub land and low grade grazing stations towards Edaggee, a nothing place in the middle of nowhere so to speak. There are many warnings to drivers regarding wandering stock. David and Mary had a close encounter with an emu, and we saw a variety of sheep and goats grazing at the edge of the road.
We pulled into Edaggee and the first thing we heard was
Shell Beach
Very clear water contrasted with the white shells of the beach. the squeaking windmill. David, Marg and I approached the offending thicket and were able to see the head and little wedge shaped bill that seriously needed lubricating. We all took totally unsuccessful bird photos, but the bush came out ok.
Late in the afternoon I took my camera for another walk and was photographing a colourful little swallow when I spotted our squeaky little bird silently grubbing at the edge of another thicket. He let me get three shots, one the south end of a north bound birdie, a side profile and a head on before he shot back into the thicket and started squeaking again.
Sunday 28th
This morning we had an easy 80k drive into Carnarvon. On two occasions we slowed right off as cattle wandered onto the road. Clearly these animals are a hazard and come to grief as a result of injury. One Toyota van appeared to come off badly as well, with the front totally wrecked.
We mentioned the HMAS Sydney Memorial in Geraldton, and here at Carnarvon there is a memorial avenue leading into the town centre. This was a palm avenue with a tree and plaque for each of
the 300 crew who lost their lives off this coast. Sadly, the cyclone that struck this area a year ago has destroyed many of those palms. I hope they will be able to restore this over the next little while.
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Mum & Dad
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Interesting reading and photos Rob. You would not want to walk on shell beach without shoes