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Originally established in the early years of the twentieth
century as a droving route for cattle from Halls Creek to
Wiluna. Today you will
see herds of 4 wheel drives moving along the track.
The first survey for the track was done by
Alfred Canning
in 1906 and the track
was put through by a team of 31 men and 70 camels in 1908. There were 54 wells
an average of 27 kilometres apart, were sunk along the 1750km stock route which
passes over the Gibson, Little Sandy and Great Sandy Desert. The work took 18
months to complete.
Canning was already experienced in travelling through rough arid land as he
surveyed the first rabbit proof fence that ran from Esperance to 80 Mile Beach.
Finding water along the route was essential and it was realised that the best
way to do so was to get the information from local Aborigines. Unfortunately in
the early stages, the information was obtained under duress. Understandably the
Aboriginal tribes did not want to hand out information on their precious water
supplies to strangers. In order to get the information Aborigines were captured
and held in chains until they co-operated. Later as the explorers became
familiar with tribal customs and language, it was possible to get the
information in a far less aggressive manner.
Evidence given by the expedition’s cook (after Canning had fired him) led to a
Royal Commission being held but despite tactics that today would have landed
Canning in very hot water, he was exonerated.
The first cattle drive took place in 1909 when Joseph McGee took stock down from
Flora Valley to Wiluna. In 1911 James Campbell Thompson,
Shoesmith and an Aboriginal helper called Chinaman left Flora Valley Station in
the Kimberley with a mob of cattle and travelled down the Canning Stock Route.
When nothing was heard from them after 6 months an expedition was organised with
police officer Pliman in charge.
On reaching Well 35, Pilman found a group
of Aborigines who claimed that the drovers had been killed by another tribe who
were camped further north. At Well 37 Pilman found the grisly remains of the
murdered men with the carcases of a horse and several cattle.
The party continued north and were running
short of water when they came across an area where rains had recently fallen.
They camped there for a few days in order to recover and while they were resting
a large group of Aborigines (about 70) appeared from the bush an attacked
without waring. Luckily for the men on the expedition they had guns primed and
ready for just such an attack and they managed to drive the Aborigines off. As
the tribe had now scattered into the desert Pilman had no choice but to continue
north to Halls Creek and from there to Derby where they
took a ship back to Perth without having managed to
bring the murderers to justice.
The Aboriginal tribes that inhabited the area remained
hostile to the drovers. A number of people were speared with reports of deaths
still occurring as late as 1936.
Canning re-visited the stock route (aged 70) in 1929 to refurbish the wells. He
died in Perth in 1936.
The last cattle drives were in 1958 and until the explosion of 4 wheel drive
ownership in Australia, the country was largely left alone.
Today fuel supplies are available at
Wiluna, Kunawarritju Community, Billiuna Community and Halls Creek. The best
time to travel the track is between May and October. Anyone attempting this
route must be well prepared and ideally should travel in convoy with other
people.
The following information is from the
Wiluna Shire website and concerns conditions of use of the stock route sections:
All three CSR access routes are through private land
using station tracks. Conditions have been placed on their use.
- Travel is entirely at your own risk
- Stay on the approved sign-posted track – never
deviate
- No travel when the track is closed (wet)
- No shooting
CUNYU SECTION: Well 3 to Well 4B
- No trailers and wide track vehicles
- The track is rough, narrow, winding and not
maintained
- Carry own water
- Camp at Well 3 or Windich only
Granite Peak: Well 5 & Glen Ayle: Well 9
- A track maintenance fee is charged:-
- Standard 4x4 $20, trailer $10 Bus type vehicle $40
- Roads to homesteads are Shire maintained
- Access for trailers and large vehicles
Campsites along the track:
- Well 3
- Windich Springs
- Well 6
- Well 7
- Well 12
- Durba Springs
- Desert Oaks near Lake Disappointment between Wells
20 & 21
- Well 24
- Well 26
- Well 28
- Well 30 Desert Oaks
- Bungabinni Well
- Well 37
- Well 41
- Well 46
- Breaden Hills
- Well 49
Emergency Exits
In the event of rain, vehicle problems, supply shortage
or illness, it may be necessary to make an emergency exit off the track.
Exit to the west on the Talawana Track between Wells 22 & 23, or on the Kidman
track near Well 33.
On these same tracks you can also exit to join the Gary 'Highway' (but there are
no facilities here either), or head east from Well 5 or 9 to join the track to
Glen Ayle Station (permission is needed to use this track).
Fuel Requirements
Fuel consumption on the firmer sections of track will be similar to normal
consumption rates if driving at moderate speed. Allow up to DOUBLE or TRIPLE the
consumption rate for the dune sections due to soft sand conditions, tortuous
track and repeated short run-ups.
Extra fuel can be carried in long range tanks or jerry cans.
Carrying fuel cans inside the vehicle is not recommended, but beware of
overloading roofracks (risk of breakage & greater risk of rollover) - empty the
jerries into the main tank as soon as possible. Virtually ALL travellers require
a fuel dump - usually near Well 23. Fuel is ordered by the 44-gallon drum (200
litres) from Bill Sheppard at Newman (Ph 091 751 5356). It must be ordered and
paid for a few months in advance. Remember to bring a small pump to transfer the
fuel!
HF RADIO IS ESSENTIAL IN THIS AREA. Radios can be hired
and the cost shared by the convoy.
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