Holland Track
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The
Holland Track - WA
The Holland Track was originally constructed by John Holland in
1893. With a distance of nearly 530 kilometres the track was
constructed in a little over two months making it the longest track
that had been constructed in one operation in the history of Western
Australia.
The goal was to open a passage from Broomehill in the south west of
the state to the goldfields in the Coolgardie area, which was achieved.
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In the initial years of the tracks
existance it
was used by tens of thousands of travellers anxious to make the fortune
on the goldfields. However the rail line from Southern
Cross was completed to Coolgardie in 1896, giving rail access
to Perth, which saw users of the Holland Track diminish considerably.
In the early 1940's much of the area around the south eastern end of
the track was cleared for farming which saw several sections of the
original track disappear.
This region now forms part of the
thriving wheat belt of Western Australia and much of the route of the
original south east section of the Holland Track
can be followed either on bitumen or good dirt roads accessable by two
wheel drive vehicles.
There are believed to be sections of the original track remaining in
some areas that haven't been cleared for farming in particular around
the Chinocup Nature Reserve.
North East of the Chinocup Nature Reserve is the Holland Tank and
Holland Rocks, a formation of granite rocks that formed a usefull water
catchment area and a source of water for the construction team.
From Holland Rocks to Hyden the route travels the line of the original
Holland Track.
There
is still an interesting 4wd only section, though, at the north eastern
end from Hyden to Coolgardie covering a distance of approximately 350
kilometres. |
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This section is now accessable thanks to a group
of off-roaders who, in the early 1980's, re established sections of the
track that had been neglected over the years and almost disappeared.
However be prepared to allow a couple of days for the trip and
you
will need to carry all of your own fuel, water and provisions as there
are no such providers along the way.
Top of
the Holland Track
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Thanks for
visiting and have a safe 4wd trip,
Mobile 0408 245 892
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