Matt's Old Stompin' Grounds - Part II

So we visited the mining town of Leinster (pop. ~ 1400) where Matt was a Fly-In Fly-Out (from Perth) for almost 2 years and then a resident for 3.5 years.

This was Maizes' (the cat) second home where she joyously learned to climb a Jacaranda Tree onto the roof and generally did some cattin' around.

Front of the old house - Austin Place - Leinster, W.A.

The town is very well organised and has a 'town centre' with a well stocked grocery store, a post office, hair dresser a cafe and housewares shop. All this just a half a block away from the sporting arenas, footy oval and 25m swimming pool. Oh, and right next door to all that is the Bistro/Tavern/Bottle shop (liquor store). What more could you ask for?

The streets were silent during our glide along memory lane. Middle of the week, any local kids are in school, the miners either sleeping in preparation for the night shift or on duty 25 minutes away at the mine site. Very few folks out and about but the town itself was pleasant and quite tidy.

So weird to think about the town Wiluna that we had spent last night in as a town that was at one point probably quite similar but is now in such disarray and it is only 1 hour 45 from Leinster. It is quite heart breaking to think that when the mine shuts down at some point in the future, this town too, will probably fade away to a virtual ghost town.

Before we got to the Leinster turn-off we stopped off at the 'red sand dune' that was one of Matt's favourite places to take visitors. Unfortunately, when he tried to take his Mum Ann and sister Kate, it wasn't to be found. Luckily, from the north you can see the dune off to the left out in a high spot surrounded by dry Lake Miranda. Here's a few pics.



Red Sand Dune - Lake Miranda in the background, W.A.



Spine - in sand - Red Dune, Lake Miranda, W.A.

Further south, we passed through Leonora and just five minutes away is the ghost town of Gwalia. This town is actually a ghost town. Besides the museum, there is nothing but sheds, dilapidated houses and interpretive signs where the miners, mine bosses and support crews lived.