20120330 SA Port Pirie to Port Lincoln York Peninsula

20120330 I didn't sleep last night so we were up early to start our trip to the York Peninsula.  After hearing Heather and Mel's experience when staying in a compound in Port Augusta we were very cautious apparently the Aborigines could cause some havoc, not wise to free camp in a place like this, drove onto Port Pirie.

Sheep crossing the road as we left Burra, the lady in the blue pants must have been at least in her late 70s & she's still chasing sheep.

The inlet is dominated by an Industrial area with huge grain silos and smelter chimneys producing silver, lead and zinc stand against the sky. These massive Silos are what captures your eyes as you drive into Port Pirie, which is located on the Spencer Gulf, 130 miles north of Adelaide.

"Timepiece" 1989 Sculptor by Gregs Johns.

Built in 1904, the elegant veranda was one of the few in Port Pirie which survived the Council by-law ordering removal of veranda post in the 1950's and 60's in deference of the motor car.  Intervention and support for it's preservation by the National trust of S.A in the late 1960's helped retain this fine structure.

I'm sure this wonderfull old building has a history but i can't be bothered looking for it, so the picture will have to do.

Port Germein - We weren't real keen on Port Pirie so we drove on to Port Germein a lovely tiny town on the water of cause, and reminded me of Darharb in Egypt, no grass to be seen only dirt, it's very dry.  We parked up and walked to the pub when I say a second hand shop so we checked it out. Talking to the owner we asked if it was OK to park on the beach, I wouldn't park their, if the Mayor see's vans parked on the beach she throws rock's at them, are you joking? The shop owner said we could park in their vacant block which was closer to the pub, so we moved the van. At the pub we were telling the barmaid the story about the Mayor, she looked at us strangle and said, I've never herd that one before, she said that lady's a bit strange. We went home cooked tea then went back to the pub, It was funny, one minute theres no one around and when we looked up the road there were people coming out of the wood works, I said to Des it's like their nocturnally, we had a great laugh. 

We thought it unusual for a Thursday night for so many people to be out, then a couple told us it was Friday, I told Des it was Friday but no he always right (not).  The barmaid tapped me on the shoulder and pointed out the mayor and to our surprise she doesn't look like a nutty mayor who throws rocks at vans.

Once the "watering hole" for the local farmers,wharves and all the sailors from the ships, it was a hive of activity for the area after a hard days work.  As the railway came and the larger ships could not moor, Port Germein was downsized to almost a ghost town and the hotel closed.  The beachfront building was opened as a general store throughout 1970's but has sence closed and the building has been restored back to it's original hotel appearance.

The Town Centre, Port Germein population in 2006 census was 249.

31-03-2012 I think we may have caused a bit of trouble in this little town so the next morning we left the vacant block and moved to the beach early.  I walk along the long Jetty, spoke to some fishermen took my photos then back for breckie.

On the water this looks very much like Darharb.

The Jetty was officially opened in 1881 and had an extension in 1883.  Total length was 1676 metres /5,500ft .  Storm damaged the jetty over a number of years and the length has been reduced to about 1500metres.

A lighthouse was erected at the end of the jetty in 1894, replacing the Port Germein Lightship. The lighthouse was manned until July 1917, when it was replaced by an AGA flashing light.

Walking the jetty one of the fishermen called me over and I got a photo of this Manta ray trying to eat the bait out of his crab pots.

Port Augusta-We pulled up in a park on the water, I strolled around taking my photos when a aboriginal lady in the park was yelling something at me, I turned around and waved but kept on walking, I have no idea what she was saying.    We walked the town but it was after 12.00am and everything was closed as they do in these towns so we drove onto Whyalla.

The new bridge built along side the old one with little jetty's jutting out along the inlet, this was a very pretty inlet.

The Old Great Western Bridge opened in 1927 and was replaced by the existing bridge (below) in 1972.

Beside the old bridge was this recked boat but couldn't find any history on what happened to it.

I couldn't resist this old photo of this fifth wheeler, now that would be different to travel around in.

From Port Augusta to Whyalla is nothing but wide open land with some mountains in the back ground, certainly nothing to take photos of.

We stopped in the town centre, walked around and yes everything was closed but their wasn't much to look at except old pubs and buildings, which is in every town we go through. 

The first permanent white settlement began in January 1901 when two dozen workmen landed at the beach below Hummock Hill.  After the jetty and tramway construction, the first family began to arrive by 1905.  The Hummock Hill settlement, later known as Whyalla was proclaimed town in April 1914.

Driving into Whyalla this boat sits close to the road to late to stop so a quick fly by shoot.

I spotted this sign over a Jewellers DESMOND'S so I had to get a photo with Des posing.

                                                                              At Hammock Hill Heritage lookout and what a spectacular view, the colors in the water were so vibrant and just beautiful.  This is by far the prettiest beach we have seen.

The view to the right of the port and what a view.












We slept below this hill near a Yacht club with hot showers and toilets opposite, bonus.  The afternoon started of with cars and bikes driving past all afternoon, then into the night the young kids were taring up the road, beeping there horns and yelling out, is any one home.  They settled down around 1.30pm when I decided to go to bed after blogging for hours.


01-04-2012  April fools day, we drove onto Cowell and Arno Bay which are very small towns not much to talk about and we are over Jetties by this time and the wind so it was a quick walk around before driving onto Tumby Bay also very windy.  We found on a vacant block down a side street and parked up away from the wind and I made Ham Steaks and veggie bake,Yum! Yum.


Walking around Tumble Bay we found another great chair, I don't know what it is about chair's in all these towns but they make for a great photo.


















02-04-2012  Another windy day and we were told Port Lincoln is always windy so I'm not looking forward to it, but were here so why not check it out.  We drove to the Port which was breezy but quite nice and warm. .

Looking over the wharf I managed to get a photo of this seal putting on a display for all the on lookers

Large Silos again cover the Port of Lincoln

One of the large ships at the port.

We topped up our shopping and stayed in a caravan park that night to build up our batteries, this would be about the forth time we've stayed in a caravan park, our solo and inverter works great.  We had a BBQ for tea followed by a lot of drinks, Des recons were going to spend more money on alcohol than petrol.


03-04-2012  Now to double back up the coast then figure out which way to head home, the floods are still a concern inland.