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Carnarvon - Cities, Towns and Localities |
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The coastal town of Carnarvon lies at the mouth of the Gascoyne River on the
Indian Ocean. As the largest town in the Gascoyne region, midway between
Exmouth and
Monkey Mia, it offers a wonderful
stop for visitors to the Coral Coast
region. With its warm winters, hot summers, and beautiful Coral Coast
coastline, this tropical destination is
only 904 km north of Perth. With world famous
Monkey Mia and Shark Bay to the
south, and
Exmouth and
Ningaloo Reef and Marine Park to the
north, it makes an ideal place to stay, from which to visit the surrounding
regions.
For
up-to-date accommodation, attraction, tours and other information
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Gascoyne River
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Starting in the Robinson Ranges, west of the Gibson Desert, the Gascoyne River
flows into Shark Bay and the Indian Ocean at Carnarvon. At 760 km, the Gascoyne
River is the longest river in Western Australia. It is joined by the Lyons River
(360 km long), about 160 km inland from the mouth of the Gascoyne River. It was
named in 1839 by the explorer Lieutenant George Grey after his friend, Captain J Gascoyne
(RN).
The river is said to be ‘upside-down’, flowing about 1/3 of the year above
ground, then below the river bed for the
rest of the year. It is in effect a huge water storage system with the river’s
aquifers lying below the desert sands.
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One Mile Jetty and Carnarvon Tramway
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Ph: 08 9941 1146
• The historic One Mile
Jetty is located 4 km west of Carnarvon. Construction on the timber jetty began
in 1897 by contractors Atkins and Law and was completed in 1904. It was widened
in 1912. At 1,493 m long, it is the longest
jetty in the north west and was the first port in Australia to transport
livestock by sea, as well as being used as a deep sea port for passengers and
the shipment of local produce and wool to Perth. The state ships ceased using
the jetty in 1966.
The tramway was built to link the town and the jetty, crossing the mangrove
swamps around Babbage and Whitlock Islands. The Kia Ora was the first locomotive
to be run along the jetty in 1909, replacing horses that were originally used to
pull the cargo trucks and passenger carriages.
In 1904, until its abandoned in 1911, quarantine hospitals were set up on
Bernier and Dorre Islands for Aborigines with leprosy and venereal disease,
being transported via One Mile Jetty.
Now part of the Carnarvon Heritage Precinct,
the tramway offers a 3 km walking and cycling trail between Olivia Terrace in
Carnarvon the the Heritage Precinct around One Mile Jetty.
As well as featuring many of the relics, the Carnarvon Heritage Precinct
encompassed the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage Museum, the Carnarvon Tramway and a
memorial to Australia's worst naval disaster, the sinking of the HMAS Sydney.
The jetty is now a popular all year round fishing spot for locals.
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Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage Museum
• The Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage was built around 1900 to house the lighthouse
keeper and his family and was used until the 1970’s when the light became
electric. Known as a ‘Kitson Light’, it was originally on a fixed wooden
frme tower, however, it was damaged by fire in 1909 again in 1961. In 1962, the
wooden structure was replaced by the steel one which you see today.
Due to the effort of the local community and service clubs, the cottage was
preserved, opened at the 1988 Bicentennial celebrations, and listed by the
National Trust.
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Carnarvon Tramway Museum • Carnarvon Heritage Group Inc
• Lot 1230, Annear Pl, BABBAGE ISLAND 6701 • Ph: 08 9941 4309 / 08 9941 3423 •
• Home of the Kimberley Steam Train,
which was built in Scotland in 1921 and has now been fully restored. The museum
also contains the HSK Kormoran lifeboat which bought ashore German survivors
from the sea battle with the HMAS Sydney at Carnarvon in WWII.
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