Monthly Archives: June 2015

Leper Colony

Australia, Kimberley, WA, WA

One of the places to visit at Derby is the old Bungarun Leprosarium. It is no longer called leprosy but Hansen’s disease to avoid the stigma of associated with “leprosy”. The Doc bets the title caught people’s attention.

The Bungarun Leprosarium closed in the 1980s and the ruins are still in good order. It had an A class hospital, living quarters, morgue, gaol and cemetery. The cemetery is well maintained by the inmates from the nearby regional prison.

For many years the Leprosarium was run by the Sisters of St John of God. Surprisingly it was only closed 30 years ago. More surprising was the suggestion that isolated cases still occur around the West Australian and Northern Territory border to this day.

It was an eerie place to visit. A few photos from The Doc’s short visit.

ODO Update

Australia

A complete list for the trip up to now (over 15,000 kilometres so far):

  • Roebuck Plains, WA 69,000kms
  • Silent Grove/Bell Gorge, WA 68,000kms
  • Cape Leveque, WA 67,000kms
  • Broome, WA 66,000kms
  • Derby, WA 65,000kms
  • Mitchell Falls, WA 64,000kms
  • Mornington, WA 63,000kms
  • Manning Gorge, WA 62,000kms
  • Lake Argyle, WA 61,000kms
  • Bungle Bungle Range, WA 60,000kms
  • Katherine, NT 59,000kms
  • Barkly Highway, NT 58,000kms
  • Barcaldine, Qld, 57,000kms
  • Nebine, Qld, 56,000kms
  • Grafton, NSW 55,000kms
Port of Broome
Port of Broome

Expensive Broome

Australia, Broome, coastal, Landscape, rock, WA

Caravan Parks in Broome sure know how to charge. $37 a night for a small unpowered site next to a noisy road, a total of $111 for 3 days.

The Doc decided to stay 20km out of town at Broome’s Gateway Caravan Park. It was $15 a night for a large site and far less noise. For a few dollars more than $111 he got 3 nights accommodation, a 2 course meal and drinks at The Roey (Roebuck Bay Hotel) and watched the new Mad Max movie at the Sun Picture theatre, the oldest Picture Garden in the world, 99 years young.

They are not the only ones who make you pay top dollar, Autopro charged $11 for a small packet of split pins. The Doc sourced over 200 for $16.50 delivered on eBay.

The Doc’s likes Broome, but it will be a shorter stay when prices are so high.

Next stop Cape Leveque tomorrow.

Gantheaume Point
Gantheaume Point

Buccaneer Archipelago

Australia, Kimberley, WA

The Doc was in the helicopter today flying over the Derby mud flats, King Sound and the many islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago.

The tidal movements can be as large as 10.5 metres in Derby, high tide today was 11.33 metres.

The mud flats contains natural fractals. Fractals exhibits a repeating pattern that displays at every scale.

The Doc flys over AWC’S Artesian Range-Charnley River Sanctuary tomorrow.

A map of today’s trip.

Buccaneer Archipelago

The R44 at Derby Airport and on a deserted Island in the Archipelago.