Travelling with MM: May 2025

31 May 2025

Mount Magnet to Cue WA

We were awakened by passing showers a few times during the night but had no troubles driving out from our camp spot this morning.

Tho the humidity had caused us to be shrouded in fog for most of our 118km journey to Mount Magnet. Another outback town that was first established by pioneer pastoralists in 1878 and grew after the discovery of gold in 1888. It is said to be the oldest continuous gold mining town in WA.

We spent a couple of hours in the Museum $5pp, exploring the various exhibits.

Brought back a few memories

Too many lives lost in the pursuit of profits..

An massive restoration project done by volunteers over 5 years.

After filling up with fuel, we turned onto the Great Northern Highway, ending our westerly travels. 9km out of town we did a short drive through the Granites area, owned by the Badimaya people, offering some lovely scenery.

Back on the highway we drive another 73km to Cue, a historic mining town that had once a population of 10,000 but now virtually a ghost town.

Still got a few km to Darwin.

There are still a number of impressive buildings left from the goldrush era.

After a walk around we drive 20km out to Nallan Lake which offers a 48hr free camp, preferring that to the RV stop in town. There is still a bit of water attracting a few birds. There is weather is warmer both day and night which is great too.

Thus ends today’s 223km journey. 3856km from home.

30 May 2025

Leinster to Sandstone WA

Leinster or Sandstone WA

After our peaceful spot on the banks of Malcolm Dam, we continued our journey. We headed back into Leonora and filled up with water.

Then drove 149km north to Leinster. The town was purpose built in 1976 to support the nearby nickel mine and is essentially owned by BHP. The lure of free washing machines got us diverting off the highway and setting up at the caravan park ($10 unpowered site). By the end of the day most sites were taken. After our washing was done we went for a stroll into town, even going to have a look at the drive-in theatre. Later we watched the Bombers. It’s another slow day as I recover from a stomach bug.

The next morning we left Leinster, not a lot to do here, and changed our direction to West, towards Sandstone. On the way out we took a photo of ‘the hole in the rock’.

Not too far was the old Agnew townsite. Not much is left and until 2017 it still had the hotel, but unfortunately that has been bulldozed as well. We did stop and read about the history here around the old header frame and battery stamp.

30km east from Sandstone, we had a cuppa at the Peter Denny Lookout which provided some lovely views of the breakaways. There a few showers about too.

Just a few kms from town we turned off onto the 18km Heritage trail. Our first stop was the Old Brewery, constructed in 1907 by an ingenious Irishman, wanting to provide cold beer to the thirsty miners.

Next we stop at London Bridge, found on a weathered basalt ridge, and is 800m long and 10m max in height. Unfortunately the rain decided to fall at this precise time so we get a few photos and continue on.

Further along we have a look at a former State Battery, one of six that are still intact of 40 that would have been functioning in 1913. This one ceased its operations in 1982.

We finished the trail and headed into Sandstone township. Europeans settled here in 1894 after gold was discovered and initially had 6,000 people living here. 10 years later only 200 remained as the readily accessible gold ran out.

We park Buster in front of the most colourful display of Bougainvilleas we have ever seen. It’s a neat little town offering the basic necessities. We have a look at the Gold and Wool Interpretive Park.