Winter Journey

Whyalla

Iron Knob

We decided to take the 50 kilometre journey from Whyalla inland to Iron Knob.. It was a long way along the straightest road I've ever been on. My comment to Trev was these road makers didn't have a lot of imagination.

Both sides of the road were fenced and signs like this one were placed 

about every 10metres along the way.

The road follows the railway line that was built to carry the enormous amounts of iron ore from the huge open cut mines to Whyalla where it was either used in the steel works or shipped to the Port Pirie smelter or to Port Augusta. The mine is still operating today although only sending out 2 to 3 train loads of ore per week. The ore is now being extracted from the old mullock heaps with more modern methods of removing what was left behind in past years.

The immense mullock heaps can bee seen from miles away

Pretty much a deserted town, we only saw one old lady sitting on her verandah..

The electric digger that replaced the steam one in 1965

There is a small town remaining at Iron Knob today and a few inhabited houses. A small caravan park with toilets and a camp kitchen is operated for a donation . There is a playground and a picnic area. The only shop is the Post Office which has basic supplies if you need them.

At the caravan park in Iron Knob

The highlight was a wonderful little museum run entirely by volunteers. The museum has lots of old photos and many artefacts of the past. It really gave us an insight into the history of Iron Knob, its people and how the Australian steel industry started right here after the first iron ore deposit was discovered in 1894.

Great photo of the open cut mine, seen at the museum.

Fearless