Bilbarrd Outstation - WA

The drive into Bilbarrd climbs through the low ranges of the Waterlander Breakaways. These laterite areas have many ephemeral rock holes and the Christmas Tree Mulga dotting the rocky hills give the place an enchanted feel. Bilbarrd on the other hand is a small outstation consisting of three, two roomed steel shacks, some defunct amenities blocks, a water tower and solar pump. This sits on the middle of a stark plain with little or no timber around. Most of the outstation is in disrepair, fire having caused much of the damage. It wouldn’t take much to get it back to an operational standard but it remains largely unvisited these days. All the communities on this route, Lambanbunda, Jaga Jaga and Bilbarrd have been abandoned for the best part of a decade, the wanton vandalism and destruction that always follows these abandonments, is a sad indictment.