Heritage Museum - Carnarvon

On the previous blog I covered the walk across Whitlock Island to Babbage Island where the one-mile jetty is located. At the end of the walk and the train tracks from town, just before the jetty is the Heritage Museum. This is a collection of items representative of the area and the history around the jetty.

(Left - arrival at the end of the walk and the Heritage Museum buildings)

It is maintained by volunteers, so I found a common interest. I'm not quite sure where their money comes from as they don't seem to charge much for admission or to ride the train out along the jetty (a later blog to come)

(Right - this plaque commemorates the first steam locomotive to operate on the jetty tramway in 1909. It was replaced and eventually superceeded by the "Kimberley" built in 1921, and now fully preserved in the Museum)

(Left - towering about the static exhibits is the water tower - no longer in use, but a distinctive land mark)

(Right - the water tower look out can be reached by the staircase - it is an easy climb, but in the custom of almost everything these days, there is a sign to suggest that if your health is not up to it, then you should not climb!!)

(Left - view from the start of the steps to the lookout platform - looking west toward the sea and the jetty - the green building is the Office for the jetty rides))

(Right - another image looking east
along the walking track and the currently unused rail tracks back to Carnarvon)


(Left - here is the jetty - a whole one mile of it - stretching out to sea)

(Right - from the tank platform looking south, across the very inhospitable countryside)



(Left - an old very rusted tractor -part of the museum)

(Right - a heavy cart used in the early days for transport)

(Left - inside the Museum buildings are some restored items, and also some that are in more need of protection)

(Right - a carry over from the whaling days - with these bones)

(Left - the old Kimberley was one of the early steam engines that operated on the jetty. It has been fully restored, but is now too heavy to travel on the jetty. There are plans to fire her up again, and start trips along the line to the first stop at Whitlock Island. These are due to start in late February - so I MAY get to see it!)

(Right - a visitor was so interested in the Kimberley that he made a replica from a single log - using saws, chainsaw and chisels)

(Left - some of the rolling stock that they have restored for the line. Plans are under way to cover the outside of these cars with some wood panelling, and then drag them behind the Kimberley when she starts her runs from Whitlock Island)

(Right - During World War II, the Australian ship HMAS Sydney II came across the German raider Kormoran. In the battle that ensued, the Sydney was sunk and the Kormoran extensively damaged. She eventually beached and some of the crew made it back to the Australian mainland, not far from Carnarvon. This is one of the lifeboats from the Kormoran)

(Left - I couldn't resist taking this shot of a meat safe of the pre-refrigeration era)