Dundas Nature Reserve WA - Old Telegraph Line Track

Tim,
Yes this was the old copper line running to Balladonia from Norseman, right up till the early 70's, before the microwave system made it redundant. Originally, it was the Coolgardie-Norseman-Balladonia-Eucla telegraph line, which, after the cutover of the open-wire systems on the east-west railway, was handed over first to the army, then to pastoralists for a party line. After the microwave system was installed, pastoralists connected to the new system, and the old line was recovered. For some reason, the line continued south of Norseman, then turned east at Dundas, heading to Balladonia. I do have access to some very early maps which might give a clue to this.
There is a Dundas (Norseman)-based group who have published a series of maps and treks on the internet covering the area you are interested in, but I can't seem to locate the link (I'm currently in the UK). I'm sure someone will come up with that link. They are rough, but Ozi-compatible maps, and look quite useful.
Otherwise, I will try to locate them when I return in a couple of weeks.
cheers,
Gerry

I have the 3rd Edition of the Travellers Atlas of W.A.,,,,,1986,,and no track is shown through the whole area, except one heading basically south from Balladonia, that goes all the way into Cape Arid N.P.. Will do some more looking and see if i can find anything.

meow.

rick.

Tim,
Just thinking further, there are a couple of interesting old abandoned stations south of Balladonia worth a look, especially Balbinya (about 80k south, and about 12k east on the track to Mt Ragged/Israelite. It has been roughly restored (a stone cottage, and a bigger stone barn), and the surrounding area is quite interesting, with remains of dams, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, etc.
Was there one January, and managed to get the mulberries when they were ripe (had to fight off two emus which had the same idea). Had a fantastic mulberry pie that night.
The other station is roughly to the west about 25km.
cheers,
Gerry

Thanks Folks for the info.

My QPA Roads and Tracks of WA have a 500,000 map of the area and shows the track, and as Davoe says, it exists and is likely trafficable which is just what I wanted to know. I've not checked my Ozi maps, as I know where the track is, I was more interested in what condition it was in.

Back around 1920 my mum was taken out to Southern Hills station, south of Fraser Range, with her parents who were managers there for a while. After that they moved to Kulin and farmed then to Wellard in the depression. Several of that generation of 'seven little australians' have died and even the youngest are now 80, so a couple of my cousins are interested in heading out to Southern Hills and retrace their steps just as one of those things to do. Thinking about it, they most likely used the Old Telegraph Track to get to and from Norseman. Anyone know when the Eyre Highway was built??

I know from the current leaseholder at Southern Hills the original homestead was burnt down which is a bu**er, and the area is now only used as a granite mine; but there might be some old stuff around. Anyways, Fraser Range area is interesting and I imagine Southern Hills will also be interesting scenery and off the beaten track.

Thanks
Tim