Moorine Rock and Well No. 11

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. 11 Moorine Well - The tree that marked the location of the well was about 200 meters from the well on the south side of the track to Kodjerning. Hunt recommended a 10-acre reserve be created for the well. The well is currently in a reserve, named Moorine Rock and is about 20 acres in size. This reserve was originally gazetted on 11/11/1927, and is presently a class C reserve for the purpose of water. In September of 1981 and June of 1982 the well appeared as only a shallow depression, that was badly silted with some ask present and evidence of stone collapse. The Southern Cross Historical Society has subsequently renovated the well and when visited in 1991 was found in good condition. It has been restored and a wire covering placed over it.

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 construction 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. Moorine Rocks is a large granite outcrop. During his second expedition east in 1864 Hunt met a group of 70 Aborigines there. The story is told that, thinking he was the Governor (because of his red coat) they arranged a corroboree in his honour. The well was sunk in March 1865 at the base of Moorine Rocks. Hunt thought this was one of the better wells dug by his construction party. The well is situated on the track from Keokanie and Yarkarakine. Res 19622 is currently a C Class Reserve. The well has been restored by the Southern Cross Historical Society.

Uses

Historic Themes

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