Eastern Goldfields 4WD Club's weekend trip

from Western 4W Driver #115 Spring 2020

Silly Snaps

Argus Junction Jaunt By Ben Broeder

The Eastern Goldfields 4WD Club Inc. recently held a club trip, east of Kalgoorlie. Western 4W Driver came along for the ride.

With vehicles loaded, tanks filled and morning coffees consumed, it was time to hit the road. A total of seven vehicles, made up of club members and two guests who had come along to try the club out, headed east from Kalgoorlie to start the weekend's adventures. Passing alongside the iconic KCGM SuperPit Gold Mine, the convoy made its way east, to the Trans Australia Railway Access Road. This is the point where the bitumen ended and the bulldust began. After approximately an hour of eating dust we took a side road to a very picturesque location known to locals as Karonie Dam. This was the site of a large, governmentbuilt dam to provide water for the Trans Australia Railway, and also the site of mining activity for ballast and other materials. The Karonie Dam area is littered with relics of its previous activities, including two very large dam structures. About an hour was spent exploring the dams and then driving a small, but very fun, rock section so that lunch could be had next to the water. Here the children ran around, explored and found numerous ‘treasures’ to load into the back seat to be taken home. Once lunch was done, the party re-grouped and continued east, heading further along the ‘trans line’ as it’s known, to a very easy-to-miss turn-off to the abandoned Cundalee Mission. A 40km, well-formed bush track leads to the mission, where you can find countless abandoned vehicles, buildings and remnants of what was a bustling community.

With swags pitched, campers set up and a well-formed fire set to ward off the winter chill, there wasn’t much else to do but enjoy a few drinks around the fire. It really is one of the best elements of being involved in a 4WD club; the mateship and social activity that’s had on these trips really can’t be replicated anywhere else. In the morning, though some were a little less chirpy than others, everyone was packed and eager to venture further north into the Nullarbor Plain, to the edge of the Great Victoria Desert. First stop was Queen Victoria Spring, which at best is usually a muddy puddle, however on this trip the bushfires of early this year had turned the area into a desolate, bare sandy pain. Progressing along, the club’s next stop was at Streich’s Mound. This is the tallest sand dune in the area and atop it is a monument with a plaque to commemorate the Elder Expedition of 1891 - 1892. Here a group photo was taken, whilst club members enjoyed the vast, unspoiled view from this high vantage point.

Travelling north from Streich’s Mound, the convoy spread out along the undulating sand hills and light vegetation which seemed endless. These sandy plains are a wonderful backdrop to a relatively easy going 4WD track. Stopping for lunch at Argus Junction, club members enjoyed the shade of a few fairly large trees. Once bellies were full, it was time to head west and unfortunately, back home. Travelling along the Nippon Highway, the vast undulating sand hills turned into a more well-formed road with heavier woodland slowly replacing the small and lighter vegetation that was seen on the earlier parts of the trip. There are so many parts of the Goldfields region which many don’t take the time to explore, which are truly breathtaking and beautiful in their own right. We were surprised when the Nippon Highway suddenly ceased and was intersected by a large mining haul road, leading to the Tropicana Gold Project. We entered the haul road and proceeded west until we met the Pinjin Road. With the amount of heavy traffic that traverses this roadway, the convoy soon stretched out over several kilometres, all trying to avoid the extremely thick bulldust. But even this main artery to the local mining industry offers glimpses of salt lakes, breakaways and relatively large hills. Getting back a little later than expected, the club pulled up on the outskirts of Kalgoorlie where everyone could say goodbye and make their separate ways back home. The Eastern Goldfields 4WD Club meets twice monthly and holds monthly day and overnight trips, as well as extended club trips throughout the year. We here at Western 4W Driver believe that 4WD clubs are simply the best way to get the most out of your 4WD. If you are new to 4W driving, the many official clubs scattered across WA are a perfect way to learn and enjoy.