The Beginning of the Canning Stock Route

The adventure began, and we drove from Billulina Station down to Well 51, pictured here, and then camped near Well 50.

During the 1890s and early 1900s pastoralists of the East Kimberley wanted to get their cattle to the flourishing goldfields of Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. The cattle were infected with tick and were prevented from crossing the tick free areas of the West Kimberley to get to the port of Derby.
In 1906 Alfred Canning led a survey expedition, to see if cattle could be brought overland to the goldfields. Canning led a party north to Halls Creek, and then back to Wiluna, during 1906 and 1907. They were shown water sources by their aboriginal guides - or forced them to show them. Some of the treatment of the aborigines was terrible.

After their return with optimistic reports of water availability, Canning led a team of experts to build 51 wells.

The Canning Stock Route was completed in 1910. It is still one of the most isolate tracks in the world. It stretches over 1800 km from Wiluna in central Western Australia, north to Billiluna, on the Tanamai Road. There are few resources to be found along the stock route, so travellers need to be self sufficient, particularly regarding water and fuel and food.


There's an astro shot of our campsite in Extras.


Backblipping ..