WELLS OF THE CANNING STOCK ROUTE:

their general deterioration over time

 

Paul Wise

 

 

Introduction

 

As Laurie Mclean describes in his article “CANNING STOCK ROUTE - Some Background Notes”, he and others traversed sections of the Canning so pictures of some of the wells date back to the early 1960s. These photos came from various sources John Allen, O.J. (Bob) Bobroff and the H.A. (Bill) Johnson (via Des Young), R.W. (Bob) Goldsworthy & Jim Combe collections.

 

In the late 1960s Dave Chudleigh (then from the Australian Survey Office, Canberra) together with Rus Wenholz traversed the Canning and Rus was kind enough to provide me with a CD containing their photos. Unfortunately, this set is incomplete as they lost slides when their vehicle was broken into. Dave’s account of their journey can be read here.

 

Laurie McLean et al travelled the Canning in 2007 and 2010 and provided me with their photos on CD.

 

A further series of photographs of some of the wells is contained in “Canning Stock Route – A Travellers Guide” by R &E Gard (ISBN:0-9586715-1-6). These photographs cover the intervening period of the 1970s-2000 but copyright restricts their showing here.

 

Photo layout

 

These four eras of photographs, although incomplete, provides a unique insight into the condition of the wells over time. There are wells that have been restored in the 4WD era, wells that are struggling to retain their structure against rust & rot and outright vandalism, and wells that have naturally become dusty holes or overgrown depressions.

 

It is unfortunate that Wells like 35 and 43 which supplied water to National Mapping field parties, especially during the geodetic survey of the 1960s, are among those which have deteriorated the most.

 

I have used only Well and Water names that could readily be sourced from readily available Canning material although all wells appear to now have an indigenous name.

 

All photos are used with permission and copyright applies.

 

1961 & 62

by H.A. Johnson

(Natmap)

1967 & 68

by Wenholz &

Chudleigh (ASO)

2007

by McLean &

O’Connor (ex-Natmap)

2010

by McLean, O’Connor,

Porteous (ex-Natmap)

 

 

 

 

 

 

No. 1 Well

 

 

 

 

 

 

No. 1A Well North Pool

 

 

From Web to complete set

 

 

No. 2 Well

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       

 

No. 2A Well

 

 

 

 

No. 3 Well

 

 

 

 

 

No. 3A Well

 

 

From Web to show comparison

 

 

No. 4A Well

 

 

 

 

Windich Springs between No. 4A & 4B Wells

 

 

 

 

 

No. 4B Well

 

 

 

 

No. 5 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 6 Well Pierre Spring

 

 

 

 

 

No. 7 Well

 

 

 

 

 

No. 8 Well

 

 

 

 

 

No. 9 Well Weld Spring

 

 

 

 

 

No. 10 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 11 Well Goodwin Soak

 

 

 

 

No. 12 Well

 

 

 

 

 

No. 13 Well

 

 

 

 

 

No. 14 Well

 

 

 

 

 

No. 15 Well

 

 

 

 

 

No. 16 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 17 Water Killagurra

 

 

 

 

No. 18 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 19 Well Kunanaggi

 

 

 

 

 

No. 20 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 21 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 22 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 23 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 24 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 25 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 26 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 27 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 28 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 29 Well

 

 

 

 

 

No. 30 Well Dunda Jinnda

 

 

 

 

No. 31 Well

 

 

 

 

 

No. 32 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 33 Well

 

Modern mill at Well 33; original well site hidden

by scrub some 15m east

 

 

No. 34 Well Nibil

 

 

 

No. 35 Well Minjoo

 

 

 

No. 36 Well Wanda

 

 

 

 

No. 37 Well Libral

 

 

 

 

No. 38 Well  Wardabunni

 

 

 

No. 39 Well Murguga

 

 

 

 

No. 40 Well Waddawalla

 

 

 

 

No. 41 Well Tiru

 

 

 

No. 42 Well Guli

 

 

 

 

No. 43 Well Billowaggi

 

 

 

 

No. 44 Well

 

 

 

No. 45 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 46 Well Kuduarra

 

 

 

 

No. 47 Well

 

 

 

 

 

No. 48 Well

 

 

 

No. 49 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 50 Well

 

 

 

 

No. 51 Well Weriaddo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compiled April 2012