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Thompsons Rock Hole Tanami Desert

Submitted: Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 07:59

Member - bungarra (WA)

Heard this place mentioned on Australia All Over this morning......Apparently a bloke visited there when walking across the Tanami with some camels some years ago.....sounded of interest....a search of this site didint turn anything up specific

maybe I got the spelling wrong (name definately correct as heard).....maybe I have still things to learn about the search engine?...found locks of rocks and holes....:))

any knowledge of it would be appreciated

thanks



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ThreadID: 54166 Replies: 6
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AnswerID: 285261   Submitted: Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 08:51

Outbacktourer replied:

The bloke was Kieren Kelly and his book on the trip is Tanami, a great read. As far as I know the rockhole is inaccessable by road and would require extensive cross country travel. Sounds like an interesting place though.

OT
Reply 1 of 6
AnswerID: 285271   Submitted: Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 09:20

Sand Man (SA) replied:

NATMAP Zone 52 map shows an approximate reference at 20 38.008' S - 130 57.901' E just below the De Bavay Hills.

A track heads out east from the Tanami Track near the Granites to Mt. Davison Outstation but there is no track shown from this one to the Rockhole.


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AnswerID: 285286   Submitted: Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 09:54

Rick (S.A.) replied:

From memory, this was discovered by Allan Davidson. He prospected and explored the Tanami region in the early part of the 20th Century.

You'd better check that for accuracy, however.

His story is retold in " Allan A Davidson's explorations in Central Australia 1898 - 1900" pub by the Friends of the State Library of South Australia. An interesting story with an excellent matching mapcase full of maps he made. It's only $ 99!

Cheers
Reply 3 of 6
FollowupID: 550099   Submitted: Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 10:13

equinox posted:

Hi Rick,

Kieran Kelly reckons the first white bloke to visit the rockhole was Alec Thomson in 1926. It was named by Michael Terry who visited the rockhole two years later.

Maybe Davidson was a blackfella lol.

Cheers

Alan
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FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 550101   Submitted: Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 10:28

Rick (S.A.) posted:

thanks Alan, knew I knew it somehow.......

.................and There Ya Go!!

(I hope that I am absolved by way of my disclaimer about checking).

Terry, Davidson, Gosse, Larry Wells, Ross, Winnecke, etc, etc. All good explorers, with feats largely un-known by the average Joe blow.

Here's to our glorious past!
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 285298   Submitted: Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 10:36

Member - Duncan W (WA) replied:

As an aside if you use Wikapedia and search for Rock holes in Western Australia you will get bucket full. I was searching for a location of a rock formation and get 8 pages of rock formations in WA. Excellent source of info.
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Dunc
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Reply 4 of 6
FollowupID: 550105   Submitted: Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 10:43

Member - Duncan W (WA) posted:

mm Wikapedia had nothing on it.
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Dunc
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FollowUp 1 of 5
FollowupID: 550276   Submitted: Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 19:03

Member - Willie , Sydney. posted:

G'day Dunc ,
I just searched "rock holes" in the WA section and only got a couple of references .
Can you describe how you searched please .
Thanks a lot ,
Willie .

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Grey Gnomad

To be blunt, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
FollowUp 2 of 5
FollowupID: 550435   Submitted: Monday, Feb 04, 2008 at 10:48

AdlelaideGeorge posted:

I think he means Google it - try:

"rock holes" AND "Western Australia" and check the "pages from Australia" dot box

you'll get 14,300 hits. Some look good

Happy days

George
FollowUp 3 of 5
FollowupID: 550448   Submitted: Monday, Feb 04, 2008 at 11:24

Member - Willie , Sydney. posted:

Thanks George .
Willie.

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Grey Gnomad

To be blunt, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
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FollowupID: 550491   Submitted: Monday, Feb 04, 2008 at 13:49

Member - Duncan W (WA) posted:

Nope meant Wikipedia. Used it before with great results. But I can not find any references to a list of Rock holes. Even tried geographic formations. If you search for rock formations in WA you get pages of sites.
Also tried Google and not much help either.
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Dunc
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FollowUp 5 of 5
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AnswerID: 285327   Submitted: Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 12:29

Member - Willie , Sydney. replied:

Mr B ,

In what context was it mentioned ?

I have read the book and still have it , so I will go and have a look for the description.

Willie .

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Grey Gnomad

To be blunt, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Reply 5 of 6
FollowupID: 550165   Submitted: Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 12:56

Member - bungarra (WA) posted:

Willie

Kieren Kelly was interviewed on ABC this morning. The interview was based on a speech he gave as what it meant to him in being Australian. It covered a range of experiences and emotions

He described a camel trek he undertook through the Tanami area and specificaly his impressions of this rock hole on his arrival. He made particular reference to the rock art / carvings there.....dont think my next comment were his words exactly but something "quite spiritual in atmosphere" etc if you get my drift

Clearly this rockhole was significant enough for him to recall it and what he saw has made a lasting impression.

Sufficient enough for me to want to delve futher as it certainly aroused my interest....and now I will be getting the book to read for sure

B

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FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 550186   Submitted: Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 14:09

Member - Willie , Sydney. posted:

Mr B ,

I cannot find the book - the usual - lent it to someone who has not returned it .

From memory there was a picture of some rounded boulders with engravings on them at the rockhole . A very interesting spot to visit , I agree .

Email me on jigalonjigalongathotmail.com and I will give you my normal email address .

Willie .

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Grey Gnomad

To be blunt, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
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FollowupID: 550592   Submitted: Monday, Feb 04, 2008 at 18:32

Member - bungarra (WA) posted:

email sent

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AnswerID: 285409   Submitted: Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 18:19

Member - Willie , Sydney. replied:

Mr B ,

I have found a faint track that goes to within 1200 metres of Thomsons Rockhole .

There are a number of granite rocks poking out of the sand , and I am not able to tell which one is the "waterhole" . It is really only a soak and was dry ( damp ) when both Terry and Kelly visited it .

There was a fair bit of evidence of aboriginal use - cupolas which are very old form of rock "art" .

When do you want to go ?

Cheers ,

Willie .

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Grey Gnomad

To be blunt, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Reply 6 of 6