Stirling Ranges to Ravensthorpe

24th September 2014

Our last glimpses of the Stirling mountains today were the peaks breaking through a wreath of clouds and brilliant blue sky above.

Ravensthorpe is a small town which services the surrounding farmers.  This is a wheatbelt area with crops as far as you can see.  To the south is a very large national park, Fitzgerald River.  Most of the NP is inaccessible as it is another biodiversity hotspot and in need of protection.  Matthew Flinders sailed past this coast in 1802 and named the peaks the 'Barren Mountains'.  He was very wrong!

Gold mining occurred around Ravenshtorpe in the early 20th century and a railway was built between Ravensthorpe and the coastal town of Hopetoun to ship the ore.

Hopetoun beaches

The mining was short lived and was abandoned by mid century. The track has been turned into a a heritage walk and we were keen to walk part of it.  However we were very disappointed as the signage was poor and the track completely overgrown in places.  Hopetoun quite a nice little town though.