This trip can be commenced from either end point on the
Tom Price to Nanutarra Road. You will obtain current mud maps and information when you pay and obtain keys from Cheela Plains Station. This information is merely a description to inspire those of you who don't know that this private self-drive track is available and we take no responsibility for errors in this document which may arise due to changes made by Cheela Plains Station. Please follow their instructions. Contact cheelaplains@gmail.com
There are steep vehicular climbs from which extensive panoramas in all directions can be seen. The track continues through similar series of high points, all of which have excellent
views until it levels out along a tributary of the Beasley, passing through a protected Indigenous site along the way. Woongarra
pool is set against a wide sandy gravel bed and river gums – very pretty.
How to Use this Trek Note
- To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.
Environment
The Pilbara is located in the Australian arid zone and this area has low rainfall of around 250mm annually, arising mainly from cyclonic
events in summer. Temperatures are very high in summer and pleasant in winter, but with significant diurnal variations leading to frequent cold evenings.
The area falls in the Fortescue botanical district with an estimated 2000 species of flora present including significant proportions of eucalypt species as well as acacias. The upland rocks are notable for iconic snappy gums. Everywhere other than rivers and alluvial valleys, the landscape is characterised by Spinifex; triodia pungens on the lower slopes being replaced by triodia wiseana as the ground rises.
Rivers and streams are dominated by river gums. Woongarra Pool lies on the Beasley River which flows to the Hardey, which is in turn a tributary of the Ashburton.
The Hamersleys are also rich in faunal diversity with over 30 mammal species, 130 birds, and 90 reptiles and amphibians.
Rocks in the Hamersleys are old; in the order of 2000 million years. At the macro level three groups of rock, Fortescue, Hamersley and Turree Creek groups together overlay an older Hamersley Basin and collectively are known as the Mount Bruce Supergroup. Subsequent folding and erosion has led to today’s distinctive character. The Hamersley’s are highly prospective for iron as is the case for this trek. The prominent features of the trek’s landscape result from the highly resistant to erosion banded iron formations present throughout.
History
Aboriginal history in the Hamersleys extends from at least 30,000 years ago. The area of this trek was part of the Kurrama language group. Aboriginal interests continue strongly today and this trek contains at least one exclusion zone due to religious sensitivity.
Colonial history commenced with F.T. Gregory who surveyed the Hamersleys twice from a landing at Hearson Cove near Dampier on the Burrup Peninsula. He named the Ranges after his friend Edward Hamersley as well as naming many other features. Gregory reported good grazing at many places and early runs were taken up for sheep. Both Cheela Plains and Rocklea stations continue pastoral operations on the area of this trek.
Mining in the Hamersleys initially took place for asbestos at Wittenoon as well as for minor gold deposits at Turree Creek. Interest in iron deposits intensified after the lifting of a federal Government ban on exports of iron ore in 1960, leading to the building of no less than ten towns in the Pilbara during this decade alone!
Nearby major mines are located at Mt Whaleback (at Tom Price) and at Paraburdoo. Initially built as company towns, Paraburdoo and Tom Price were ‘normalised’ in the 1980s with residences being placed on the open market.
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