Tales of the Gibb River Road Part 2: El Questro to Mount Elizabeth

We called in to Home Valley Station, which is another cattle station with a resort – all very nice and comfortable – before heading up to Ellenbrae Station where we spent the night. The owners do a good scone with jam and cream too. The Ringer’s Camp, where we stayed had an interesting bath and toilet system. The builder was obviously unschooled in conventional building techniques and the plumbing and the electrics were...rustic to say the least. Still, we had hot water for a shower that night, and the toilet flushed on demand.

                                    Crossing the Pentecost River - a road with few bridges

                                                                 Kimberley Country

From Ellenbrae we plugged along to Mount Elizabeth Station, only 40 kilometres off the GRR to the homestead. It’s a sizeable station running about 6000 head of cattle, although there are some smart cows that have never been brought into the yard and so never counted – they evade mustering every season. The station people offer a tour that takes you to see a few interesting features including some excellent aboriginal rock paintings, both Wandjina and Bradshaw – distinctly different styles of art laid down thousands of years apart. Wandjina is the more recent style of the last few thousand years while Bradshaw is dated back as far as 18000 years. Today’s indigenous people only recognise Wandjina and apparently have no affinity to Bradshaw art at all. A puzzle for the anthropologists amongst us. The tour also gave us the opportunity for a cooling dip by a waterfall and a cup of traditionally brewed billy tea.

                                                        The bath and shower at Ellenbrae

                                                         Ringer's Camp - Ellenbrae

A minor drama occurred when Vic’s car battery decided to give up the ghost. He got the vehicle started off his battery charger but decided it prudent to replace the dead battery so off he and I set for points west (as far as Derby if necessary, that’s a 740 kilometre round trip) in search of a new battery. Mount Barnett had nothing so it was either Imitji store (320 kilometre round trip) or on to Derby. Fortunately Nev at Imitji happened to have a couple that would suit the Tojo and one was duly purchased and installed. We got back to Mount Elizabeth just before dark. There are no corner shops on the GRR.

                                                Rosella plants - the fruit makes the jam

                      Pedestrian on the GRR - rather large goanna lazing his way across the track

Wandjina art at Mt Elizabeth circa 5000 years old

Lunch break at Mt Elizabeth - great swimming hole too!

Bradshaw art circa 17,500 years old

Creek scene from Mt Elizabeth - there's a small freshwater crab in there if you can spot it

Nicky swimming Mt Elizabeth  - you just couldn't stop them!!

Next up - Mount Barnett Station and the Manning, Galvans and Bell Gorges.