Karrarinarri Claypan - WA

Karrarinarri Claypan is the site at which the last two aboriginal nomads in this part of the desert, Warri and Yatungka, were found and then relocated to Wiluna in 1977. There is a cairn and plaque at this site commemorating the event.

Ngarrinarri Claypan is ten kilometres south of the Warri site and a well worn track takes visitors through the sand hills to the broad grass covered claypan. Driving across the pan from the north, you are taken past several clumps of mulga in the pan to reach a cairn and marker at the pans southern edge. Hidden amongst the acacia in a clump closest to the cairn is the remains of the well that sustained Warri and Yatungka in the days prior to their rescue by Gratte, Peasley party. It has mostly subsided with a conical depression about 1.4 metres wide and a metre in depth. On the southern side of the acacia, several small sink holes have subsided into the limestone surface. Quite distinct from the larger well dug by the traditional owners, these were quite full in 2012 with the water visible in 30 cm below ground level. The pan was covered with thick grass in that year. 2015 was very different with the entire area barren and dry.

On the 19th August, 1977, almost 28 years to the day, The Gratte-Peasley party located Warri and Yatungka wandering in the dunes five kilometres to the south of Ngarrinarri.