Rocks in Kununurra, NT

The photos of the some of the rock formations around a town called Kununurra in Western Australia in the tropics of Australia.  Kununurra is a very interesting place with much history attached to it. We've been there several times and it's a long way from home here in Launceston, Tasmania. The route in the photo is the shortest.

The striking red rock formations are made of quartz sandstone stained red by iron oxide around 360 million years old, dating back to the Devonian period, formed from ancient sand dunes, riverbeds, and windblows sand that compressed into solid stone.

The Devonian period is a major chapter of geological and biological evolution occurring from 419 to 359 million years ago, widely known globally and locally as the 'Age of Fishes'.

During this era, Australia was not an isolated island continent in its modern position; instead, it was part of the supercontinent GONDWANA and sat near the equator as a large peninsula before drifting southward. 

The first photo is typical of many such the same landscape you see in certain areas inland/outback in this area.

These two photos are of what is called Kelly's Knob was named after Father Kelly, a Catholic priest who was the first clergyman to visit the Kimberley district during the 1890's. This area all along the coast and inland is known as the Kimberley area.

The description term 'knob' refers to the prominent, rounded hill or small mountain that rises about 190 meters above the surrounding plain on the northern outskirts of Kununurra.

In the traditional Miriwoong language of the local Aboriginal custodians, the landmark is known as THEGOOWIYENG, reflecting thousands of years of connection to the land.  Dual naming signs now recognize both names of the site.

The view on top on Kelly's Knob is magic, you can see forever, the land below is flat.

Various rock formation around the area.

The red dotted area is the area of Kununurra.

The Hoochery

 The Hoochery in Kununurra is 4,500.5 km (2796.5 mi) from Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

They make Rum, Gin, Whiskey, Liquers, 

Visit their website here to find out more if you wish to.

There is a lovely small video on their homepage as well and the scenery is good and you will hear the Aussie accent of the outback.

Words from The Hoochery.  "Worth the drive! The Hoochery is located on The Dessert's family farm, 13 km out of Kununurra in the heart of the Ord Irrigation Area.  With a relaxing outdoor 'Gin Garden' and a rustic 'Rum Bar' serving lunch and bar snacks, cakes and coffee, cocktails and tastings.  There is something for everyone.  Come out for tastings of our Award-winning rums or for out delicious home-made cakes."

Husband and myself visited The Hoochery on one of our visits up north in the tropics.  We went in the winter and the temperature was about 30 deg C. as it is in that area.

Love this part of Australia, and the building was ever so clean inside, with staff so friendly and yes, we bought a bottle of rum.

Ord River, Ivanhoe Crossing, Kununurra WA.

Continuing Kununurra.  A selection of photos.

A Tortoise in the Ord River up stream.

Not far from the Tortoise

The Ord River near the bridge.

Ord River and the Restaurant which is near the Golf Course.

Part of the town.

Kelly's Knob a lookout.

The View.

Ivanhoe Crossing where people can fish but beware of the Crocodiles.  The crossing itself has been closed for while due to structural damage.

Ivanhoe Crossing takes it's name from Ivanhoe Station a large Cattle Station.

Aboriginals at Ivanhoe Crossing.

A chit chat near the crossing.

Kununurra, Western Australia.

Kununurra is a town in far northern Western Australia.  It's on the easterly aspect of the Kimberley Region, approximately 37 klm from the border with the Northern Territory.
Kununurra has an abundance of fresh water, conserved by the Ord River Diversion dam and the main Ord River Dam.
Tropical agriculture crops are grown along with Sandalwood.  Previous post on Sandalwood at Kununurra [ here ]

 Kununurra is 3,040 klm (1,889 mi) from Perth, Western Australia.

We stayed in a Caravan Park for several days in Kununurra.
If we didn't go out in the afternoon I would sit outside under the awning in my new chair bought in Darwin and fall to sleep.  It was rather humid and the temperature range was 33 to 35 degC in the day and about 17degC at night.

Part of the caravan park and Mirima National Park, known also Hidden Valley.

Lake Kununurra and the park before it.

Zoomed in to take this shot.

A large Boab Tree.

More of the grounds and boab trees

Sandalwood in Kununurra

Kununurra in Western Australia (WA) has changed in what is grown in the soil.
Previous visits showed us heaps of Mango Trees, Sugar Cane, Melons and various other fruits that will grow in the Tropics.  This visit the Sugar Mill has been closed. No where near as many Mango Trees and Melons, in place of these there are many plantations of Sandalwood trees.

Below are questions and answers regarding those trees.

SANDALWOOD TREES:
Q. What is the difference between Indian and Australian Sandalwood?
A. Of the 15 different species of sandalwood that grow throughout the world, there are 2 main varieties that are traded internationally. These are santalum spicatum (Australian sandalwood) and santalum album (Indian sandalwood). Australian sandalwood currently supplies well over half of all sandalwood traded around the globe annually. Australian sandalwood has historically been used in the agabati and incense markets in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong and most other Asian countries. It has been widely accepted in these areas for over 150 years. In recent years Australian sandalwood oil has been incorporated into many high end perfumes and other cosmetic products. Australian sandalwood does produce a lower oil content than Indian sandalwood although it consistently produces the oil forming heartwood from a very young age. Australian plantation sandalwood has been tried and tested in small plantations throughout WA for over 25 years by both private and Government organizations.

Q. Where else is Sandalwood being grown?
A. Western Australia currently has the largest sandalwood plantation resource in the world. Australian sandalwood is being grown in commercial plantations throughout the Wheatbelt of Western Australia, and Indian sandalwood in the tropical far north of WA mainly in the Kununurra region within the Ord River Irrigation Area. There are however some small plantations of Indian sandalwood being grown in India and the Pacific Islands.

Q. Why does Sandalwood need a host tree?
A. Sandalwood trees are root hemi-parasites and require host trees for healthy growth. The host trees provide extra water and nutrients to the sandalwood delivered by a unique root connection called haustoria. The two trees form a symbiotic relationship throughout the life of the sandalwood tree. The best host species are the nitrogen-fixing plants, especially the wattles (Acacias) which are also native to Western Australia.

Sandalwood growing along with the host trees. 

My purchase on our visit to the Sandalwood Shop in Kununurra.