Leaving Newman, we headed south on the Great Northern Highway, a very popular route for road trains servicing the ever-expanding mining activity in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

About eighty kilometres north of Meekatharra we called it a day and diverted fourteen kilometres off the highway to camp the night at Bilyuin Pool, in the Peak Hill locality.

After a wild and windy night at Bilyuin Pool, we left about ten o’clock in the morning and found our way to Peace Gorge a few minutes’ drive out of the town of Meekatharra.

Setting up camp at what is also known as “the Granites”, we rested for the afternoon before Jack ventured into town to reminisce about his shearing shed adventures in the Meekatharra area forty years ago. Of the three pubs still standing the Royal Mail and the Meekatharra Hotels were open for business.

The Meekatharra Hotel pictured below seemed to be the most popular with the locals.

The Commercial Hotel did not appear to be open, however Jack feels quite certain he would have had a beer there in 1983!

Sadly, those of a more temperate disposition, no longer have the option to go the pictures, as the outdoor theatre is now redundant.

A former gold rush town, Meekatharra has a population of about 700, with approximately thirty-five percent being of aboriginal decent. The town supports the surrounding mining and cattle grazing industry as well as tourism.

The name Peace Gorge originates from a celebration held for returned servicemen after World War One. Thank you to the Meekatharra community for providing this beautiful, quiet and peaceful free camping area.

Next: The road to Yalgoo.