QUINDANNING PICNIC RACES EASTER 2021

QUINDANNING PICNIC RACES

EASTER SATURDAY, 3 APRIL 2021

After missing Easter travel last year due to COVID, it seems that everyone hit the road to 'wander out yonder' for Easter 2021. We headed to the annual Quindanning Picnic Races which have been held on Easter Saturday since 1979.

 

Boddington is located in Marradong Country. Just 90 minutes south-east of Perth, Marradong is the Noongar name for the district of Williams, Wandering and Boddington and is home to WA's elusive state emblem, the numbat.

Boddington itself is a picturesque town located on the Hotham River and sports not only the best children's playground (including a skate park, bike park and flying foxes) I've ever seen, but also quirky public artworks, walking trails and cafes. Boddington is also home to the annual Lion's Rodeo and Community Festival in November. 

We stayed at the Boddington Retreat just off the main road and in walking distance to the park and river. A quaint 2 bedroom shack that sleeps 6, the house was well appointed with a coffee machine and air conditioning. If you don't feel like cooking, then the Black Sheep Cafe is just around the corner and serves up a big breakfast, fish & chips, salads and really good milkshakes. 

Quindanning is a small town located on the Pinjarra-Williams Road just 26km south-west of Boddington and the drive between the two towns is one of the most picturesque in the area. You know you've made it to Quindanning when you reach the Ye Olde Quindanning Inne located just past the pioneer cemetery and St Alban's historic church. 

The original hotel was established in 1901, however since then it has been renovated and added to. In 1908 it was reported in the Great Southern Leader that "rapid progress is being made with the building of the new hotel, which is being erected in front of the present one. It is to contain fourteen rooms, all fitted up with the latest and most modern improvements". The third hotel was built in 1925 and over the years septic systems, electric lights and additional bedrooms and bathrooms have been added. Many community meetings have been held at the hotel as Quindanning is one of the oldest settled districts in West Australia. 

Today, the hotel hosts live music events in the spacious beer garden, is open for lunch and dinner, is available for function hire and has accommodation. Be sure to stop in and admire one of WA's most historic buildings. 

The Quindanning races have featured in newspapers for over 100 years, however in 1978 it was decided to resurrect the Quindanning Picnic Race Club which had disbanded in 1941. Since then the annual event has been held every Easter Saturday. This year was a bumper year for attendees with all funds raised going to local charities such as the Quindanning Bush Fire Brigade, the Boddington St John Ambulance and the Quindanning Hall. We had a great "day in the dust" watching contestants of all ages and breed (ie: human, dog, horse, donkey) partake in the full day of festivities. 

Camping is available at the race track and tickets can be purchased online at https://www.quindanningraces.com.au/. Be sure to put it in the diary for next year!

 

WANDER OUT YONDER - MERREDIN & KALGOORLIE

MERREDIN & KALGOORLIE

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

COVID ADVENTURES 2020

The Kalgoorlie Race Round is an annual event which sees scores of punters flock to the Goldfields for a great day out. With the WA Government continuing to encourage WA residents to "Wander Out Yonder", our brood of six adults departed Perth just after lunch on Friday afternoon and headed east.

Our first stop was Merredin in the heart of the WA's wheatbelt. Located halfway between Perth and Kalgoorlie, the town serves as the middle stop for the Goldfields Prospector train. Merredin is a thriving business centre and boasts many historic buildings, walks and other attractions. The town is also part of the FORM Public Silo Trail where famous street artists paint giant murals on grain silos.

We stayed at a local Airbnb and had dinner at the highly recommended Jimmy's Merredin Palace Chinese Restaurant. 

Pioneer Park, Merredin

Merredin Train Station

Cummins Theatre opened in 1928 & boasts one
of the best collections of Australian performers in the State

Reaching Kalgoorlie in time for the first race, we had been warned that due to a new Covid plan being implemented and lack of hospitality staff, wait times for drinks and betting may be affected. This was an understatement; however it didn't dampen the fun we had. 8'000 people gathered at the track, half of who weren't quite dressed for the freezing wind that whipped across the racecourse. We had organised an umbrella package, which included six chairs, table and umbrella in a VIP area. BYO picnic or organise catering through KBRC. Sorry, you can't book the weather!

We had dinner at Paddy's in the Exchange Hotel, Kalgoorlie. 

KBRC Umbrella Package

The Goldfields Oasis Recreation Centre is a great place to burn some excess calories and entertain kids (if travelling as a family). Its open early so the late starters in your brood won't know you've been and come back!

Kalgoorlie Boulder is the largest settlement for many hundreds of kilometres and first came to prominence as a mining town in 1893 when Paddy Hannan first discovered gold. Walking around the town, many historical buildings and hotels are still standing. A great way to learn about the history of Kalgoorlie and Boulder is by taking a self-guided audio walking tour. Headsets can be hired from the Kalgoorlie Boulder Visitor Centre. The tour takes you past 50 different sites including the Goldfields Museum and Super Pit Lookout. 

Kalgoorlie Boulder Visitor Centre
located in the Town Hall

Statue of Paddy Hannan

Kalgoorlie Super Pit

Boulder is just 5km south of Kalgoorlie and not to be overlooked. The historical buildings of the Recreational Hotel and Boulder Town Hall are fine examples of 'Federation Free Classical' architectural styles. 

The Beaten Track Brewery is located in Boulders industrial estate. It is a microbrewery oasis serving great burgers and beer. What more could you want for a Sunday lunch?

In 2010 we visited Kalgoorlie with our children and panned for gold at the Hannan's North Tourist Mine. We also took a scenic flight and realised that the Kalgoorlie Golf Course was the greenest patch of land for miles around. The Kalgoorlie Golf Course is one of Australia's finest and definitely worth playing when visiting Kalgoorlie. 

We had dinner at Yada Thai on Hannan Street after golf. The food was exceptional, some of the best Thai we have ever had in WA. Make sure you book as there are few tables.

Heading home to Perth, we didn't have time to follow the Wheatbelt Way, however we did download the phone app so we could listen to the stories related to some of the towns we did drive through. We have added it to our bucket list for future travels. 

Starting in Merredin and ending in Perth (or visa-versa) the Pioneers' Pathway self-drive route traverses the Wheatbelt following the trail many prospectors once took on their way to the Yilgarn and Kalgoorlie Goldfields. Although it adds a couple of hours to the trip home, it is much prettier than following the Great Eastern Highway and a great way to see just a little bit more of WA. 

 

Don't forget to stop in and see Rusty the Tin Dog in Dowerin. Rusty was born in 2004 as a project initiative by the students at Dowerin District High School. Tin Dog Creek runs through the town and was once a popular watering hole for travellers on their way to the goldfield. Tinned food or 'tin dog' was a popular lunch and the empty tins were often left behind. Rusty is a tribute to Dowerin's history. 

Last stop on our itinerary was a walk and lunch at the newly renovated Victoria Hotel, Toodyay just over an hour from Perth. 

WANDER OUT YONDER - MARGARET RIVER REGION & PEMBERTON

MARGARET RIVER REGION

& PEMBERTON

WA'S SOUTH WEST

COVID ADVENTURES 2020

Since we first moved to Perth over 20 years ago, we have visited the Margaret River Region many times. Prior to children we frequented the winery's, brewery's, ate at the various outstanding restaurants and felt guilty about visiting the chocolate factories or ice-creameries. However, the children hated spending hours driving up and down Caves Road, so we changed the way we visited the region and have for the past few years really enjoyed the beach, surf and hiking culture of the region. Now that our brood has disbanded, we have taken to visiting the south west with friends and enjoying a combination of activities.

The Cape to Cape Walk Track is a 123km walk trail which starts and finishes at the lighthouses of Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin. The track takes hikers from smooth, wide tracks to narrow rocky paths and in some cases along the soft sandy beaches. In parts it can be quite tough and without the correct walking shoes, water and stamina, it can become quite treacherous. However, it is accessible from various carparks and vantage points, so hikers can complete sections of the track at different intervals. 

Over the past couple of years, we have been slowly completing the track on separate visits referring to our well used copy of the Cape to Cape Track Guidebook. In order to do this, we have needed two cars so we have transport at the beginning and end of our walk.

On a recent visit, we discovered a copy of Walking Round in Circles written by the same authors as the Guidebook. The book has heaps of round trips incorporating the Cape to Cape Track and perfect if you only have one car, but still want to get out and explore. 

There are so many fabulous places to stay in the region. Airbnb's, apartments, resorts, chalets, the list is endless and we have stayed at a variety of places. This trip we stayed with friends at one of our favourites - the Canal Rocks Beachfront Apartments. 

There are often artists exhibitions and food and wine festivals planned for the southwest, so be sure to check the Margaret River Region website for "what's on" events. The weekend we visited the Margaret River Region Open Studios was on, so the area was a buzz with art lovers. 

The Studio Gallery & Bistro
Artwork: Henryk Szydlowski

JahRoc Galleries
Artist: Lauren Wilhelm

September is wildflower season in WA, so natures artwork of colour is enough to keep you entranced if you are not into galleries and studios. 

PEMBERTON

After lunch at the Cowaramup Brewery we said goodbye to our friends and headed east towards Pemberton via Nannup and Manjimup. The timber town of Manjimup was also where the Pink Lady Apple was first created and the town was once a lucrative exporter of tobacco, marri flooring, apples and spring water. Today, Manjimup is the leading Australian-mainland producer of black truffles and every June the Truffle Kerfuffle long weekend takes place at Fonty's Pool.

Cowaramup Brewery

Ryan's Rest is a tiny house located on the Ryan Potato farm backing onto the Donnelly State Forest between Pemberton and Qinninup. It is the dream of Jo Ryan who, with the help of Simon Joiner of Tiny Homes Perth, has created a getaway masterpiece situated with views over the dam. The eco-friendly accommodation can sleep four, however it is better suited to couples or two friends who require separate sleeping arrangements. The tranquility and surrounds are mesmerising making it more than a "stop in" stay.

Even the No 2 loo has a view!

There is so much to do around the area. Pemberton is home to the fire lookout climbing trees - Gloucester Tree, Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree and the Diamond Tree. There are also heaps of walks, so be sure to visit the Pemberton visitors centre for a map of all the trails on offer.

The Pemberton Tramway Co. is a privately operated tourist railway. The tram departs twice daily throughout the year and is a great way to see the magnificence of the towering Karri and Marri trees.

Pemberton is also the home of Art, Glass and Sculpture Artist Peter Kovacsy. Peter makes sculptures for both interior and exterior locations using cast glass, metal and timber. His work is on display at his Studio Gallery in Pemberton and Peter is more than happy to show you through his workshop and discuss his works. Be sure to call ahead to make sure he is open.

Peter Kovacsy Art Glass & Sculpture Gallery

In 1946 the Quinninup timber mill was said to be the biggest in the WA and the township had a population of over 250 people. In 1982 the mill closed and today many of the original families still farm in the area.  The Quinninup Tavern is a long-time character of the town and after burning down in 2017, is now reopen.

I thought when we visited Gnomesville in the Ferguson Valley we'd seen them all, however Quinninup has its own contribution on the site behind the Quinninup Tavern. Take a wander down the path to witness the Gnome takeover.

Our long weekend over, we headed back to Perth via Bridgetown, Balingup and Donnybrook. All beautiful towns we will definitely plan to visit on our future wander out yonder.