Hamelin Station - 16 September

We left our beautiful ridge top campsite early and after reinflating the tyres at the blowhole - another photo opportunity - we drove out on the Blowholes Road to Hamelin Station via Carnarvon. 

Woo hoo - the pressure of the waves was so loud.
We arrived and checked in at the Hamelin Station one of the cleanest and best run of all the Stations we've stayed. The facilities are modern and spotless; the communal shearers kitchen is large, modern, well equipped and maintained with a dining area, large stone fireplace and an extensive covered barbecue area.  And there's a second campers kitchen, also well decked out and provides a gas BBQ, decent fridge all under an outback-style structure.


Hamelin Station infrastructure.
Hamelin Station is on the shores of the Shark Bay World Heritage area and features 32 km of coastline alongside Hamelin Pool and was acquired by Bush Heritage Australia and extends the protection of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area by a substantial 10%.  This helps to protect Hamelin Pool, one of the only two places in the world where living marine stromatolites are known to occur.

 We enjoyed a devonshire tea at the Hamelin Telegraph Station - but the woman who served us seemed a bit tired. It turns out she'd been camping there, offered to help one day when they seemed flat out; was asked if she'd help the next day; then for the week - now it seems the managers have gone off and left her.  She's been there for one month all on her own!
Hamelin Pool Telegraph Station - and petrol station!

 After filling our tummies with dry wheat flour single scone, served with the tiniest packet of jam and 'butter-cream' it was time to explore the stromatolites.
Stromatolites at Hamelin Pool.
The Hamelin Pool stromatolites are the oldest and largest living fossils on earth.  Scientists around the world have studies these living organisms and compare them to discovering a living dinosaur!  The Hamelin Pool stromatolites are apparently the best example in the world of these rare organisms.

A specially constructed boardwalk allows the visitor to get up quite close to the stromatolites without disturbing or damaging them.

Boardwalk over the stromatolites.
 It is believed they were formed by algae, sediment and sand binding and forming hard rock over millions of years.  They've survived in this area because of the high salt content of the water which means there aren't any predators.  The stomatolites grow at a slow rate - around 0.33 mm each year.  The ones at Hamelin Pool are a metre high.  

 Lorraine was thrilled to see a fireplace and a huge bin of free firewood - so we enjoyed our sundowners over roaring fires both nights of our Hamelin Station Stay. 






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