Roeburn

We stayed in Roeburn for two days, there isnt much here, just the old gaol to visit which doubles as the tourist info. office and one shop that sells everything from toilet paper to washing machines.  There are some lovely old stone buildings, used now for hospital/day care facilities and social services.  These buildings were built by the Bunning Bros.  The great great whatever of the Bunnings of today.   We did a tour of the Rio Tinto facilities that operate out of this region. Very interesting to hear how much this state relies on the mining industry.  Everywhere we go its all about mining, housing, etc.  You can rent a house in the Pilbara region for $1200-$2500 PER WEEK.   The average house consisting of 3-4 bedrooms can go for $7-900,000.   If you live in a Rio Tinto owned house you pay $140 PER MONTH and they pay the utilities.   The mining companies are building huge community/village type housing and lots of community infrastruture to make it a much easier for families to be together.  Many men fly in/fly out, working so many weeks on and then have a break back home in Perth etc.   Caravan parks are full of permanents or casuals working in the industry.

The loading dock.

Thought you might like this one Rachel. xx

The Bond Store

These photos are from the town of Cossack.  Once upon time a very big pearling town until the pearls ran out and then the focus moved to Broome.  Most of the buildings were built from timber/iron and between wet seasons and cyclones they are all gone.  These buildings remain in mint condition.    The bond store was once a Turtle Soup Factory.  Photos of the hunters with their massive turtle catches make you feel sick when you think about how we would condemn such practice today.   There is also a two storey post office, a gaol and some other buildings in good condition.  Reading the stories are challenging as the practices of that bygone ere are so cruel.   The aboriginal people were rounded up, bought into town, auctioned off to station owners or pearl lugger captains.   Men, women (some heavily pregnant) and kids were sent down as divers.This practice eventually was banned, the Japanese pearl divers were bought over and eventually the industry moved to Broome.   Most of the men jailed were aborigines who ran away from their "masters" and tried to go back home.  They were confined in gaol, chained by the neck and legs, they bedded down in bunks, chained together and then bolted to the walls. 

The court house

The beach at Port Samson, 20kms from Roeburn.  Such a contrast between the dry, dusty broken down town and this little oasis, where there is a lush resort and caravan park right on the water.   Fish n Chips from the pub were taken away and we had them at the beach. Its still very hot, arnd the 30o each day.  Havent seen a drop of rain since the start of June.  A swim in the water was a perfect way to wash away the red dust that seems to coat us everywhere we go.    The bus is now dusty rusty looking red on the outside and pretty much the same on the inside.  No matter what you do, its either red dirt or sand everywhere.