Destinations > Canning Stock Route, Part 2

Water may be available at the following locations, but do not rely on it and always boil all water before use - North Pool, Well 2, White Well, Tank and Windmill (past Well 4A), Windich Springs, Wells 5, 6, 9, 12, 15, Durba Springs, Well 18, Georgia Bore, Wells 26, 33, 38 (Rock Pool), 46, Breadon Pool and Well 49.

MAPS & BOOKS
Hema Maps have excellent maps in their Great Desert Tracks series covering the entire Canning Stock Route.

A must-have book is Explore Australia by 4WD Craig Lewis and Cathy Savage. This is an excellent reference with up-to-date information, distances and GPS recordings. For a long time the bible for this area was Canning Stock Route by Ronelle and Eric Gard. It carries detailed history on the Canning, some info is a little dated these days, but it should accompany everyone who dares to venture up the Canning.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Royal Flying Doctors 1800 625 800
RFDS satellite phone (08) 9417 6364
Police Halls Creek (08) 9168 6000
Aboriginal Affairs (permits) (08) 9235 8000
Weather Info (08) 9263 2257
WA Road Conditions 1800 013 314

THE HAUNTED WELL
Near Well 37 are the graves of Thomson, Shoesmith, Chinaman and McLernon. This collection of grave sites led it to become known as the Haunted Well, although there is no record of any mysterious sightings of ghostly figures at this remote location. In 1911 there was a droving party driving one of the few mobs of cattle to ever actually use the stock route from Halls Creek to Wiluna. A tribe of local Aborigines attacked the drovers killing Christopher Shoesmith, James Thompson and an Aboriginal stockman known as Chinaman. The Aboriginals took exception to the cattle drinking from their native wells and destroying their good sources of water. The fourth grave, bearing the name of John McLernon, joined the other three men in 1922. McLernon was a member of an oil prospecting company who lost his life on the track about 50km to the south of Well 37.

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HOW TO SEE THE CANNING
As mentioned throughout this two-part series on the mighty Canning Stock Route, this is not a place for the ill prepared. You need a top quality 4WD, you need to carry all your food and a large quantity of water, you need to carry more fuel than you ever considered necessary, you need to have good bush mechanical skills, good communications in the form of satellite telephone and/or HF radio and the resourcefulness to leave behind modern day amenities for up to three weeks. If all of this seems too difficult, this is where Great Divide Tours can help. Its guides carry all the necessary recovery equipment, communication equipment, tools and know the Outback and how to handle it. If you do not own a 4WD but would like to venture up the CSR, you can hire a 4WD from Britz 4WD hire as they have chosen Great Divide Tours as their preferred 4WD guides to lead their vehicles over the entire length of the stock route. Great Divide Tours can be contacted at www.4wd.net.au or talk to the author of this feature, Vic Widman on (02) 9913 1395.
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