Sunday, June 6, 2010

Yanga National Park May 10 -12 2010

A map of the holding of Yanga





 Our campspot at sunset

  While we were at Merbein we had a discussion with a couple from NSW as to where was a nice place to go to near Balranald. They told us of a place called Yanga National Park and provided us with a brochure  which contained a map and other useful information.
 So we decided to give it a go and set off across the Murray and after a lunch stop at Euston arrived at Balranald early afternoon. We then continued on for 2 klms to the clearly marked turnoff to the Park and after travelling down the bitumen found another sign that said we must continue on a bit further to the Mamanga campground. Here there was a clear division  for caravans and motorhomes to continue on and Campers to turn to the left.
All camping spots were on the Murrumbidgee River bank. There was plenty  flat ground and lots of wood and beautiful new amentites.  The only thing was to camp away from the trees as they were inclined to drop limbs. We naturally don't camp under trees for that reason and also because we need the sun for our solar panels.




 The same view in daylight


 We set up camp and due to the abundance of firewood Lynn also set up our fire instead of the firebucket.





 When we arrived at the Park the rangers were very quick to tell us of the guided tour of the Yanga homestead which was conducted by them every morning at 1000hrs. We decided to have a lay day the next day and just cacth up on some grocery shopping, but the following day we set aside to do the tour of the homestead in the morning and tour around the Woolshed which was just down  road in fact we could see it from the campground, in the afternoon.



Yanga Homestead

 When we arrived at the homestead we found that there was a tour group of Aboriignals there too, there were 2 female rangers that conducted the tour and it is the only way you can see inside the homestead as it is not accessible at any other time. There were also some local aboriginal people working wiht the rangers to tell visitors of the aboriginal history as many of them worked on the station for many years.  They were also knowledgable about changes in the topography. 

The station was built on a rise above Lake Yanga which has been dry for about 10years. But in it's hayday supported a thriving aquatic sports  industry.
 This beautiful old homestead was built between 1862 and 1872. The walls that can be seen in the above photo are adzed drop slabs set between vertical posts. The slabs were made of Cypress pine and as can be seen are in very good condition.  These Cypress pines have been used in the construction of the main homestead and all the verandah roofs and rafters.
 It is the interior that has been updated over the years with some changes due to change in ownership and others due to boom times. The station itself was purchased by the Parks people in 2005 and the stationwas left intact so that the office looks likeit is still in use wiht all the ledgers etc still there.
 Stationhands Kitchen


 Prizewinning Merino Ram


  Back or Front of Homestead but with outlook over the lake.

 After spending several hours admiring this wonderful homestead which incidentally was only visited on occassions by it's owners from England  we returned to the van for fortification before going to the Wooldshed. The homestead is 6 klms from town but the Woolshed is only about 4 klms.


Side view of the old wool  shed

   The woolshed was strategically built on the banks of the Murrumbidgee  so that the wool could be collected by the paddlesteamers when they use to ply the river.


 The shearer's stands. In it's hayday use to have 40 shearers working here.

 These pens were the holding pens for the 30,000 sheep that were shorn on the property.


 Story board  erected by parks people telling of the river traffic


 Story board no2


Old wool press


The river view at the Woolshed. It is very similar to our campsite view.


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