Kodjerning Rock and Well No. 13

Statement of Significance

Many of the wells that Hunt and his party excavated were well known by his Aboriginal guides. The local people knew of these water sources, but at times were reluctant to divulge their location as it was on these water sources on which their lives depended. Surveyors and explorers such as Hunt and John and Alexander Forrest, and others, agreed that without the assistance of their Aboriginal guides, they would never have reached the remote places in the interior as they did Hunt's track has great historical significance as a precursor to other events, including: 1. The establishment of the telegraph line to Kalgoorlie and the first stage of the transcontinental railway line, both of which follow its general course. 2. The routing of the Perth to Kalgoorlie pipeline. 3. The movement of prospectors and later pastoralists in the Western Australian interior.

Physical Description

Hunt's Well No.13 Kodjering Well was dug in March 1865 covering approximately 7 feet in diameter (having previously been under a road) and a depth of 5 feet. When Hunt visited it again in July 1866 it contained 2 feet 9in of water. The well itself is located 80 meters (4 chains) from the north edge of some flat rocks; Hunt recommended a 10 acre reserve for the site. Hunt also marked a tree 0.25 mile (20 chains) for the site along the track to Koorkoordine. Today this reserve is a class C reserve of the purpose of water and is located 6 miles to the east of Moorine Rocks. The well has been stoned and fenced by the Southern Cross Historical Society, and a concrete slab with its name and date of restoration was placed on it, in addition there is a wire netting covering the top of the well. There is a signpost both on Great Eastern Highway and the road from Moorine Rock to mark the wells location.

History

Charles C Hunt led government backed expeditions into the Yilgarn between 1864-66. His aim was to discover and map water sources that could ensure a reliable supply for future venturers going east. He also sought a further assessment of the region for pastoral use. The expeditions led to the discovery of some good water sources. Some were improved by being shored up or having the catchment area enlarged. A number of water sites mapped by C Hunt have been recognised as significant to the survival of the early explorers, prospectors and settlers in the Yilgarn district. During his second journey of 1864 for the York Agricultural Society and subsequent expeditions in 1865 and 1866, Hunt succeeded in clearing a track some 300 miles to the east of York. The track which he cut as far as Lake Lefroy was cleared the greatest part of the series of 26 wells, dams, tanks, soaks and other seasonally reliable water holes, securing a safe route to the Hampton Plains. Hunt's wells and soaks were constructed by a workforce of pensioner soldiers and probationary convicts. The wells took many hours to build, being carefully lined with slabs of granite and timber poles. In his journeys ahead of his constniction team to look for more potential wells. Hunt often came upon wells that he named and recorded locations for, although he chose not to develop them as the water yield was either insufficient or not reliable enough to be included in this track. One of these wells is at Duladgin, now on the Duladgin Nature Reserve and Class C Reserve. Hunt first sighted this rock in October 1864. He returned with his construction party in March 1865, digging the well to a depth of two metres with a sloping approach of steps. He returned to the well twice more on his expeditions into the easterly regions. Reserve 19622 is gazetted as a C Class reserve. The well has been restored by the Southern Cross Historical Society. It is fenced and identified on a concrete slab.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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