Day 25 – Tennant Creek to Alice Springs
Only minutes after we left the caravan park we stopped at this historical marker at the old Telegraph Station.
-
- Stuart Highway marker.
Engineers Australia maintains a database of these historical markers Australia wide. It is an interesting listing of more than 200 very diverse, historical engineering projects.
Next stop was one of the icons of the trip – Devils Marbles.
-
- The Devils Marbles are known as Karlu Karlu by local aborigines.
Camping is allowed at Devils Marbles but it is bleak proposition. Better to see this unusual and dramatic display of million of years of erosion on the way through to somewhere else.
As one would expect of this icon of the Outback it gets very busy.
-
- Tammy the model.
-
- Such a strong girl.
-
- Hold it a bit longer, Tammy, while I get the focus right.
-
- Tammy
-
- Adding extra weight to her exercise.
-
- Overhead press.
-
- Kim at Devils Marbles.
-
- Parting the way.
-
- What wind and water can do over many millions of years.
-
- Hundreds of interesting shapes.
-
- Easy when you’re fit and strong.
-
- Push that rock back into position.
-
- Tenacious Corymbia aparrerinja (Ghost Gum).
-
- So many different and unusual forms.
-
- A singularly interesting rock.
-
- One of the Devils Marbles.
-
- Devils Marbles
It is posited that the Devils Marbles were formed when an upsurge of molten rock cooled and became solid beneath a layer of softer sandstone. Vertical and horizontal fractures formed in the solidifying granite, creating rectangular blocks. Over many millions of years water in the fissures and fractures broke down the sandstone, and then the granite. This resulted in the rounded granite boulders perched on top of each other that can be seen today.
-
- Keep pushing.
-
- So many of the rocks are balanced precariously.
-
- Worn and eroded granite boulders.
-
- One finger.
-
- Watch out below.
-
- Tammy walking out of Devils Marbles.
The push south continued – nine kilometres to Wauchope. This small settlement was established in 1917 to service the new nearby wolfram mining operations and to provide a pub for the workers at the various Barkly Tablelands cattle stations in the area.
-
- Wauchope Hotel
-
- At Wauchope Hotel
-
- Road train at Wauchope.
-
- From a bygone era.
-
- I’m too young to identify these cars.
-
- From a bygone era.
-
- From a bygone era.
Eighteen kilometres down the track is the self proclaimed UFO capital of Australia – Wycliffe Well. If it was intention of the promoters of this legend to go over the top they succeeded.
-
- Wycliffe Bridge
-
- Welcome to Wycliffe.
-
- Obligatory photo.
-
- Wycliffe wall
-
- Wycliffe’s versions of aliens.
-
- More aliens.
There is a wonderfully restored Telegraph Station at Barrow Creek. John McDouall Stuart named the creek in 1860 during one of his early exploratory expeditions after John Henry Barrow who was, at the time, a member of the South Australian parliament.
-
- Barrow Creek Telegraph Station
-
- Barrow Creek Telegraph Station
-
- The Overland Telegraph Line
-
- Barrow Creek Telegraph Station
-
- Barrow Creek Building
We were getting close to the centre of Australia.
-
- Centre of Australia
-
- Stuart obelisk
-
- Stuart plaque
The 500 kilometre drive from Tennant Creek to the capital of Central Australia was, by now, a simple matter. We had time to get an overview of the town from Anzac Hill before we booked into a caravan park. The park was inundated, muddy and uncomfortable. Tammy was run down and needed more comfortable surroundings.
Go to Part 11 – Alice Springs