1. |
Big Red or Bigurda? |
| The common reddish coloured “kangaroos” you may notice feeding on the green grass around the Creek, might not be kangaroos at all! Learn about the distinction between the big reds and the euro, known locally as the bigurda. | |
2. |
Water: Agent of Change in the Rangelands |
| Water is liquid gold in this landscape. Discover the man-made “permanent” billabong on Meekatharra Creek. | |
3. |
Tough Times on the Old Belele Road |
Here it is time to look at your feet – you could be standing on a road from a bygone era rather than the Discovery Trail. It’s a stark reminder of how tough transport was for early settlers.
|
|
4. |
Meeka Creek: Supermarket & Pharmacy |
| No, there are no shops along the Discovery Trail. Yet the Meekatharra Creek has been the source of a wide variety of foods and medicines for centuries. | |
5. |
The Birds and the Bees... |
| And the flowers and the trees. Meekatharra Creek is home to many natural wonders. Two of its signature species - the red river gum and the white plummed honeyeater feature here. | |
6. |
No Better Bakehouse This Side of Perth |
| Stomach rumbling? Meekatharra was once heralded for its bakery, a fine stone building which gave the town a note of permanence back in 1909. The good news is, the tradition of the Meekatharra bakery still continues today. |
7. |
Paddy Darrigan’s ‘Smithy’ |
| While the service station may be what we seek out today, at the turn of the century it was the blacksmith’s premises that people led their horses and wagons to. This original premises is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Meekatharra. | |
8. |
Hello...Hello...This is Meekatharra Calling |
| Feel like you are in the middle of nowhere when travelling through the Murchison? Discover how those living in Meekatharra managed to keep in touch, long before the telephone. | |
9. |
The Waterhole Now Known as Camel Soak |
| How did the tree lined bend in the Creek get this name? It hasn’t always been Camel Soak. For thousands of years Aboriginal people have called it “Bumba” (meaning blind). Find out why. | |
10. |
The Shaft That is No More |
| Are you standing on a disused mine shaft? As with most mining centres, the history of Meekatharra tends to focus on the larger mines. Here you will be reminded that mining has not always been the domain of the larger mining companies we know today. | |
11. |
The Vast Red Rangelands |
 Here you are in the true outback - all 850,000 square kilometres of it! Why did this vast country of arid shrublands so quickly become sought after pastoral country?
|
|
12. |
The Social Heart of Town |
| Like many country towns, sport has been the social heart of Meekatharra since its settlement. It hasn’t always been easy going though. Can you imagine performing to your sporting peak on the unforgiving grounds of yesteryear? | |
13. |
Death, Disease and Dunnies |
 Maybe you remember the times of the outside dunny! Even if you don’t, you are sure to find the humour in the cheeky antics of long-time Meekatharra resident Earl Mickle.
|
|
14. |
The School of the Air – or the School Over There? |
| From the first primitive school in 1904, devoid of water and toilets, to the excellent modern day facilities of Meekatharra District High School and the School of the Air, discover how education has always been a priority in Meekatharra. | |
15. |
On Your Bike |
| We’ve come a long way since Meekatharra ‘cop’ Jim McDonald patrolled the community on his bicycle, but are we really better off? After reading this panel, you too will be feeling like getting on your bike! | |
16. |
“Dead Finish”: The Best of Bush Tucker |
| Why would a tree that has good-to-eat seeds associated with life rather than death be known as “Dead Finish”? All is revealed about one of the Rangelands most useful plant species. | |
17. |
The Fish and Frogs of Meeka Creek |
| How have fish and frogs survived in this Creek when, prior to the construction of the permanent pool, it was dry for most of the year? | |
