Perth - Esperance - Kalgoorlie - Perth: Part 2

[Sam Laybutt]

Hi everyone,


Picking up from Part 1 at Esperance, here we go...

Coolgardie-Esperance Highway is actually a pretty good road and not as remote as you might expect. Between Esperance and Salmon Gums, there's a heap of small villages along the highway that serve wheat-growing land. North of Salmon Gums the land is your typical remote rural WA red earth and scrub, but services are still spaced no further apart than 140km. North of Norseman, the driver is a bit hillier and a bit curvier, with a few lake crossings which look quite nice when there's a bit of water in them. The lookout at Norseman probably once upon a time gave you some spectaculr views but tree growth has blocked off most of the views unfortunately.

How about some photos then?

Really faded services signs on Coolgardie-Esperance Highway about 25km north of Esperance
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8666.jpg 


For some reason, CEH has a number of these retarded RD signs between Esperance and Norseman, with green numeral/border on the NR shield and in a couple of cases, the word National as well!
Example 1: http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8694.jpg
Example 2: http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8701.jpg


At a few locations, CEH has been realigned to have a bulge away from the railway at intersections. This has avoided the problem of insufficient queuing area for road trains when trying to turn onto the highway - the back trailer often blocked the rail line. This one is just north of Grass Patch:
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8729.jpg


Road conditions signage on Lake King - Norseman Road - I don't know why but I find these quite interesting for the more remote roads
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8751.jpg


South of Norseman, there's a 'tourist drive' marked along the Old Dundas Coach Road (see here: http://www.dundas.wa.gov.au/tourism/documents/heritagetrail/file/at_download). Any thoughts of having a look were squashed by the fact the road was closed (must be recent rain?)
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8790.jpg
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8791.jpg


The main shopping street of Norseman, Roberts Street
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8812.jpg


On the road up to the lookout at Norseman, you cross a private haul road for the gold mine
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0452.jpg


Unusual sign near the top of the lookout road
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0449.jpg


Remote area warning sign, eastbound on Eyre Highway at Norseman
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8861.jpg


Older anti-litter sign that's quite common in Goldfields-Esperance region
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8885.jpg


Road conditions sign at the eastern end of Hyden-Norseman Rd, 10km north of Norseman
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8889.jpg


Kambalda is made up of two separate towns - Kambalda and Kambalda West. The original township is to the east but both have the same look and feel of a typical master-planned townsite of the 1960s. Residential streets that all the look same, and a segregated shopping/commercial areas that are really quite lifeless, even in the mid-arvo on a weekday. Typical of other places like Woomera - nice to look at from a planning enthusiast's perspective, not real nice otherwise. Here's a shot of the 'shopping centre' at Kambalda
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0570.jpg

After not seeing an overtaking lane since the little hill just north of Esperance, there's a good 5 or 10 along this stretch of Goldfields Highway between Kambalda and Kalgoorlie. The road is quite undulating and curving so I suppose overtaking the large trucks that use this road wouldn't have been easy. 


Approaching the big roundabout at the southern edge of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder urban area is a couple of unusual signs
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9018.jpg
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9021.jpg


This roundabout has no route marking signs at it whatsoever, adding to the generally contradictory and confusing route marking signage around town. Alt-NR94 is the only route that is signed (no route number on the Goldfields Highway heading northwards) but its route isn't clear. I've asked Main Roads for clarification so it will be interesting to see what they say and how they explain the terrible signage. 


Here's an example, probably the worst of the lot, on GEH approaching Anzac Drive at West Kalgoorlie. Couldn't have got it any more wrong if they threw a NR1 shield in for lols.
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9084.jpg

Kalgoorlie is a strange town. I've never seen so many pubs advertising skimpy waitresses. I don't think I've ever seen so many pubs per capita either. Plenty of historic buildings around the older parts of the twin towns, particularly along Hannan Street, Boulder Road and Burt Street. Here's the historic shopping strip on Burt Street, Boulder:
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9290.jpg


Brand new tourist sign on Burt Street, Boulder. Unfortunately they got it all wrong - the "t" should be brown with the box white, not the other way around! If you aren't familiar with this WA peculiarity, have a look further down this email for an example of where they got it right...
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9303.jpg



This one is a little amusing outside the Airport entrance - I know what it is meant to say, but did the designer?
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9059.jpg


More remote road signage, this time heading east from Kal on Mt Monger Road, which becomes the Trans Australian Railway access road. Has anyone driven it? Philip perhaps?
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9159.jpg
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9162.jpg

Next stop Coolgardie. The highway runs through the middle of this tiny town on a huge main street, it must be about 10 lanes wide. Some beautiful old buildings scattered around town, including this one:
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0794.jpg

In WA, local government authorities were originally called 'Roads Boards', reflecting their primary role in the early days of maintaining public roads. It wasn't until 1961 that 'Town', 'City' and 'Shire' terminology arrived. These typical buildings are scattered throughout WA, most built in the 1920s and 1930s. 


On the eastern edge of Coolgardie is this unusual sign:
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9381.jpg
I don't think I've ever seen a road where light vehicles are prohibited, but if they are, then why is it a caution sign?

Coolgardie is also the start of this 'Golden Quest Discovery Trail' which is basically a themed tourist route exploring all the old mining ghost towns north of Kal to Leinster. You can buy a comprehensive guide book which comes with audio CDs for in-car commentary 0_o I would've picked one up but they cost $40 and I didn't have time to go exploring up that way on this trip...
Here's the start signage in Coolgardie:
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0787.jpg

Not much to write home about for the highway between Kalgoorlie and Merredin - red earth, scrub, little civilisation. There are little roadhouses that pass as settlements along the way though, so fuel, toilets and some food are never too far away.


This is a view about 30km east of Southern Cross. This is the first trailblazer I saw since about 20km west of Esperance - it is really quite bizarre how they are placed in WA, some road sections will have none (e.g. only 3 in 300km on SR123 Geraldton - Mt Magnet) and others will have them placed almost every 10km in patches. 
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9499.jpg


Approaching Southern Cross, we came across this little bit of humour on the side of the road

http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0110.jpg

Southern Cross is a welcome bit of civilisation after the drive from Coolgardie. In the main townsite area, the streets are really really wide, which has led to some interesting treatments. This photo is looking north on Antares St at Phoenix St showing an unusual set up - there's a single two-lane carriageway for through traffic, a median island, then a huge unsealed carriageway which acts as a service road.
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9526.jpg


RD sign on Bullfinch Rd as it crosses the dry Lake Polaris on the northern edge of Southern Cross
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9527.jpg


Faded services and tourist signs at the intersection of GEH/Antares St. I like how the brown tourist sign has faded to pink!
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9539.jpg



Antares St looking north through the shopping precinct
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9543.jpg


The Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail is another themed tourist route that runs from Mundaring (in the Perth hills) to Kalgoorlie, following the water pipeline and guiding tourists past all the associates historic sites - pumping stations etc. The direction signage is actually quite comprehensive - far more prominent than the normal direction signage and more frequent than route markers - which is quite depressing. Obviously the money and effort for signs is there when they want it to be. Here's a couple of examples of the signage - eastbound at Bodallin, 60km east of Merredin
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0210.jpg


Trailblazer at the junction with Carrabin-Westonia Rd at Carrabin, 41km east of Merredin
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0242.jpg


Carrabin is typical of the small settlements between Merredin and Kalgoorlie that consist of a roadhouse and a couple of other buildings, at most. I just happened to be stopped, taking the above photo and this photo when a certain black car arrived
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9598.jpg
Turns out the black car was stolen, so a police car rocked up only a minute or two later and quick smart the black car disappeared at speed towards Kalgoorlie. Wondering what all the fuss was about, I checked the news sites when I got home and discovered what had happened - http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/two-dead-in-fatal-crash/story-e6frg14l-1226047571939
Pretty exciting! Glad I wasn't a couple of minutes later with these f*ckwits coming at me at 200km/h...


Back to the roadgeeky stuff! Here's a munted RD sign on Merredin-Narembeen Rd at Merredin...nuff said...
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9650.jpg


And here's what a non-munted RD sign should look like - Bruce Rock-Merredin Rd at Merredin
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9676.jpg


Merredin was pretty small with no much choice for a snack - ended up at the bakery. This is a view of the shopping strip on Barrack St 
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0270.jpg


RD sign heading north from Merredin towards Nungarin. This route would have been signed as SR50 had the complete plan for SRs in WA gone ahead
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9695.jpg


Just west of Merredin there's a level crossing, where the Indian Pacific crosses en route to Perth. 
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9808.jpg


Someone broke the foldable sign - westbound near Hines Hill. Note the much better road quality - long sections between Tammin and Carrabin have been extensively rebuilt over the past 5 years
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0320.jpg


Chasing the IP, 3km east of Tammin
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0434.jpg


Tammin was about where the half-decent sunlight ran out, so I'll finish this trip report with photos of some beautiful old black signs I found in town
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9835.jpg
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9844.jpg
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9849.jpg


Oh, and one last photo - a Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail ID sign in Tammin
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9836.jpg


Hope you enjoyed! I will hopefully be putting up most of the other photos that I took onto the site in the coming months...


Cheers


Sam

[Paul Rands]

Hi Sam

Nice to see you got out in the real bits of WA.

Loved the black signs although the last link wont load. 

Those weird NR 1 / NH1 shields are littered on the Eyre Hwy too.

The width of the main drag in Coolgardie is because of the large camel hauled road trains. They needed the space to turn around. Same goes for Norseman.

Speaking of bakeries, if you're in Narrogin, check out the bakery near park, close-ish to the toilets. They have some really awesome pies and cakes.

The anti-litter sign you mentioned is also found occasionally on Eyre Hwy too.

--
Paul Rands
paul...@gmail.com

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[Sam Laybutt]

Thanks - not sure went wrong with the upload. I've re-uploaded it so should work now. 

---

From: paul...@gmail.com
Subject: Re: [Aussie Highways] Perth - Esperance - Kalgoorlie - Perth: Part 2
Date: Sat, 7 May 2011 23:46:27 +1000
To: aussie-...@googlegroups.com

[Paul Rands]

Thanks Sam.

The remoteness of WA means we get to see the odd black sign and also ancient service signs. It's nice.

I am almost certain MRWA monitor this list or our site, because 99% of the time I have shown black signs, new ones have gone up within a few weeks.

--
Paul Rands
paul...@gmail.com

[Nihat]

nice pics Sam, great luck to catch the indian pacific and even better luck to avoid that stolen holden

--

[humehwy31]

Thanks so much for those pics, Sam. Kambalda shopping centre reminds
me so much of the neighbourhood centres in places like the Green
Valley Housing Commission estate in Sydney!

"We came across this little bit of humour" - who was the lucky
travelling companion? :P

What does the "t" sign mean? Tourist attraction? Tourist information?

I travelled some of these roads (Alt-NH94 and the CEH) way back in
1992, even then I thought they were good quality roads despite not
much traffic.

Those Golden Pipeline signs - I'm having trouble trying to figure out
how the icon is supposed to represent a pipeline.

In that photo with the stolen black Commodore - what do the signs
saying 332km and 338km mean? Are they railway access signs like you
often see dotted around NSW?

On May 7, 10:09 pm, Sam Laybutt <crazyknights...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> Picking up from Part 1 at Esperance, here we go...
>
> Coolgardie-Esperance Highway is actually a pretty good road and not as remote as you might expect. Between Esperance and Salmon Gums, there's a heap of small villages along the highway that serve wheat-growing land. North of Salmon Gums the land is your typical remote rural WA red earth and scrub, but services are still spaced no further apart than 140km. North of Norseman, the driver is a bit hillier and a bit curvier, with a few lake crossings which look quite nice when there's a bit of water in them. The lookout at Norseman probably once upon a time gave you some spectaculr views but tree growth has blocked off most of the views unfortunately.
>
> How about some photos then?
>

> Really faded services signs on Coolgardie-Esperance Highway about 25km north of Esperancehttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8666.jpg

>
> For some reason, CEH has a number of these retarded RD signs between Esperance and Norseman, with green numeral/border on the NR shield and in a couple of cases, the word National as well!
> Example 1:http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8694.jpg
> Example 2:http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8701.jpg
>
> At a few locations, CEH has been realigned to have a bulge away from the railway at intersections. This has avoided the problem of insufficient queuing area for road trains when trying to turn onto the highway - the back trailer often blocked the rail line. This one is just north of Grass Patch:http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8729.jpg
>

> Road conditions signage on Lake King - Norseman Road - I don't know why but I find these quite interesting for the more remote roadshttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8751.jpg
>
> South of Norseman, there's a 'tourist drive' marked along the Old Dundas Coach Road (see here:http://www.dundas.wa.gov.au/tourism/documents/heritagetrail/file/at_d...). Any thoughts of having a look were squashed by the fact the road was closed (must be recent rain?)http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8790.jpghttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8791.jpg
>
> The main shopping street of Norseman, Roberts Streethttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8812.jpg
>
> On the road up to the lookout at Norseman, you cross a private haul road for the gold minehttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0452.jpg
>
> Unusual sign near the top of the lookout roadhttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0449.jpg
>
> Remote area warning sign, eastbound on Eyre Highway at Norsemanhttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8861.jpg
>
> Older anti-litter sign that's quite common in Goldfields-Esperance regionhttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8885.jpg
>
> Road conditions sign at the eastern end of Hyden-Norseman Rd, 10km north of Norsemanhttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_8889.jpg
>
> Kambalda is made up of two separate towns - Kambalda and Kambalda West. The original township is to the east but both have the same look and feel of a typical master-planned townsite of the 1960s. Residential streets that all the look same, and a segregated shopping/commercial areas that are really quite lifeless, even in the mid-arvo on a weekday. Typical of other places like Woomera - nice to look at from a planning enthusiast's perspective, not real nice otherwise. Here's a shot of the 'shopping centre' at Kambaldahttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0570.jpg

>
> After not seeing an overtaking lane since the little hill just north of Esperance, there's a good 5 or 10 along this stretch of Goldfields Highway between Kambalda and Kalgoorlie. The road is quite undulating and curving so I suppose overtaking the large trucks that use this road wouldn't have been easy.
>

> Approaching the big roundabout at the southern edge of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder urban area is a couple of unusual signshttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9018.jpghttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9021.jpg

>
> This roundabout has no route marking signs at it whatsoever, adding to the generally contradictory and confusing route marking signage around town. Alt-NR94 is the only route that is signed (no route number on the Goldfields Highway heading northwards) but its route isn't clear. I've asked Main Roads for clarification so it will be interesting to see what they say and how they explain the terrible signage.
>

> Here's an example, probably the worst of the lot, on GEH approaching Anzac Drive at West Kalgoorlie. Couldn't have got it any more wrong if they threw a NR1 shield in for lols.http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9084.jpg

>
> Kalgoorlie is a strange town. I've never seen so many pubs advertising skimpy waitresses. I don't think I've ever seen so many pubs per capita either. Plenty of historic buildings around the older parts of the twin towns, particularly along Hannan Street, Boulder Road and Burt Street. Here's the historic shopping strip on Burt Street, Boulder:http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9290.jpg
>

> Brand new tourist sign on Burt Street, Boulder. Unfortunately they got it all wrong - the "t" should be brown with the box white, not the other way around! If you aren't familiar with this WA peculiarity, have a look further down this email for an example of where they got it right...http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9303.jpg
>
> This one is a little amusing outside the Airport entrance - I know what it is meant to say, but did the designer?http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9059.jpg
>
> More remote road signage, this time heading east from Kal on Mt Monger Road, which becomes the Trans Australian Railway access road. Has anyone driven it? Philip perhaps?http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9159.jpghttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9162.jpg

>
> Next stop Coolgardie. The highway runs through the middle of this tiny town on a huge main street, it must be about 10 lanes wide. Some beautiful old buildings scattered around town, including this one:http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0794.jpg
>
> In WA, local government authorities were originally called 'Roads Boards', reflecting their primary role in the early days of maintaining public roads. It wasn't until 1961 that 'Town', 'City' and 'Shire' terminology arrived. These typical buildings are scattered throughout WA, most built in the 1920s and 1930s.
>
> On the eastern edge of Coolgardie is this unusual sign:http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9381.jpg
> I don't think I've ever seen a road where light vehicles are prohibited, but if they are, then why is it a caution sign?
>
> Coolgardie is also the start of this 'Golden Quest Discovery Trail' which is basically a themed tourist route exploring all the old mining ghost towns north of Kal to Leinster. You can buy a comprehensive guide book which comes with audio CDs for in-car commentary 0_o I would've picked one up but they cost $40 and I didn't have time to go exploring up that way on this trip...
> Here's the start signage in Coolgardie:http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0787.jpg
>
> Not much to write home about for the highway between Kalgoorlie and Merredin - red earth, scrub, little civilisation. There are little roadhouses that pass as settlements along the way though, so fuel, toilets and some food are never too far away.
>

> This is a view about 30km east of Southern Cross. This is the first trailblazer I saw since about 20km west of Esperance - it is really quite bizarre how they are placed in WA, some road sections will have none (e.g. only 3 in 300km on SR123 Geraldton - Mt Magnet) and others will have them placed almost every 10km in patches.http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9499.jpg

>
> Approaching Southern Cross, we came across this little bit of humour on the side of the road
>
> http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0110.jpg
>

> Southern Cross is a welcome bit of civilisation after the drive from Coolgardie. In the main townsite area, the streets are really really wide, which has led to some interesting treatments. This photo is looking north on Antares St at Phoenix St showing an unusual set up - there's a single two-lane carriageway for through traffic, a median island, then a huge unsealed carriageway which acts as a service road.http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9526.jpg
>
> RD sign on Bullfinch Rd as it crosses the dry Lake Polaris on the northern edge of Southern Crosshttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9527.jpg
>
> Faded services and tourist signs at the intersection of GEH/Antares St. I like how the brown tourist sign has faded to pink!http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9539.jpg
>
> Antares St looking north through the shopping precincthttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9543.jpg
>
> The Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail is another themed tourist route that runs from Mundaring (in the Perth hills) to Kalgoorlie, following the water pipeline and guiding tourists past all the associates historic sites - pumping stations etc. The direction signage is actually quite comprehensive - far more prominent than the normal direction signage and more frequent than route markers - which is quite depressing. Obviously the money and effort for signs is there when they want it to be. Here's a couple of examples of the signage - eastbound at Bodallin, 60km east of Merredinhttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0210.jpg
>
> Trailblazer at the junction with Carrabin-Westonia Rd at Carrabin, 41km east of Merredinhttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0242.jpg
>
> Carrabin is typical of the small settlements between Merredin and Kalgoorlie that consist of a roadhouse and a couple of other buildings, at most. I just happened to be stopped, taking the above photo and this photo when a certain black car arrivedhttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9598.jpg
> Turns out the black car was stolen, so a police car rocked up only a minute or two later and quick smart the black car disappeared at speed towards Kalgoorlie. Wondering what all the fuss was about, I checked the news sites when I got home and discovered what had happened -http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/two-dead-in-fatal-c...

> Pretty exciting! Glad I wasn't a couple of minutes later with these f*ckwits coming at me at 200km/h...
>

> Back to the roadgeeky stuff! Here's a munted RD sign on Merredin-Narembeen Rd at Merredin...nuff said...http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9650.jpg
>
> And here's what a non-munted RD sign should look like - Bruce Rock-Merredin Rd at Merredinhttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9676.jpg
>
> Merredin was pretty small with no much choice for a snack - ended up at the bakery. This is a view of the shopping strip on Barrack Sthttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0270.jpg
>
> RD sign heading north from Merredin towards Nungarin. This route would have been signed as SR50 had the complete plan for SRs in WA gone aheadhttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9695.jpg
>
> Just west of Merredin there's a level crossing, where the Indian Pacific crosses en route to Perth.http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9808.jpg
>
> Someone broke the foldable sign - westbound near Hines Hill. Note the much better road quality - long sections between Tammin and Carrabin have been extensively rebuilt over the past 5 yearshttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0320.jpg
>
> Chasing the IP, 3km east of Tamminhttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/DSC_0434.jpg
>
> Tammin was about where the half-decent sunlight ran out, so I'll finish this trip report with photos of some beautiful old black signs I found in townhttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9835.jpghttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9844.jpghttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9849.jpg
>
> Oh, and one last photo - a Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail ID sign in Tamminhttp://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9836.jpg

[Sam Laybutt]

Hi Brad

> Thanks so much for those pics, Sam. Kambalda shopping centre reminds
> me so much of the neighbourhood centres in places like the Green
> Valley Housing Commission estate in Sydney!

Yep, that's the same vibe I got :)

> "We came across this little bit of humour" - who was the lucky
> travelling companion? :P

The girlfriend, who loved Esperance and surprisingly wants to go back to Kalgoorlie...

> What does the "t" sign mean? Tourist attraction? Tourist information?

Tourist attraction. Basically, rather than AD/ID signs for specific tourist attractions, they will have a generic AD/ID with the 't' on it and then the attractions listed below on those rectangular plates. 


I'm not sure if tourists to WA understand what the 't' means (haven't seen it in tourist material or anything) but I suppose it does mean you can have almost unlimited lists of tourist attractions signed with much less clutter than if you used individual AD/ID signs.

> Those Golden Pipeline signs - I'm having trouble trying to figure out
> how the icon is supposed to represent a pipeline.

Me too! Maybe a valve??

> In that photo with the stolen black Commodore - what do the signs
> saying 332km and 338km mean? Are they railway access signs like you
> often see dotted around NSW?

Yep. 

[Phillip McCallum]

Hi Sam,

 

Curious to see the signs of the railway access road!  I haven’t driven it, but I did try to in 2002.  I was intending to follow the Stuart Hwy to Glendambo, then out via Kingoonya and all the way across to Kalgoorlie.  But I was warned off!  While the road was not officially closed to public vehicles, it was notoriously littered with rail spikes which destroyed your tyre on touch.  People were telling stories of losing 7 or 8 tyres on the entire route.  Ultimately I chose caution and travelled across on the Eyre Hwy instead.  Anyway, this is the first sign I have ever seen that encouraged the idea of you driving it!

 

I have spent quite a lot of time driving out from Kalgoorlie and find the area’s gold history fascinating.  So many little settlements sprung up around a find, then died out 2 years later when the gold disappeared.  In some cases, entire towns were laid out, built, demolished, and faded back into the sand in the space of a decade.

 

Phillip

 

 

 

From: Sam Laybutt [mailto:crazykn...@hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, 7 May 2011 10:10 PM
To: aussie highways
Subject: [Aussie Highways] Perth - Esperance - Kalgoorlie - Perth: Part 2

 

Hi everyone,

More remote road signage, this time heading east from Kal on Mt Monger Road, which becomes the Trans Australian Railway access road. Has anyone driven it? Philip perhaps?
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9159.jpg
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/esperance_trip/2/IMG_9162.jpg

Hope you enjoyed! I will hopefully be putting up most of the other photos that I took onto the site in the coming months...


Cheers


Sam

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