Thompsons Rock Hole Tanami Desert
Submitted: Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 08:59
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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
Reply By: Outbacktourer - Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 09:51
Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 09:51
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
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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 10:20
Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 10:20
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.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Rick (S.A.) - Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 10:54
Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 10:54
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
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Follow Up By: equinox - Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 11:13
Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 11:13
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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Follow Up By: Rick (S.A.) - Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 11:28
Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 11:28
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!
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Reply By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 11:36
Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 11:36
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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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 11:43
Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 11:43
mm Wikapedia had nothing on it.
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Follow Up By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 20:03
Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 20:03
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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Follow Up By: AdlelaideGeorge - Monday, Feb 04, 2008 at 11:48
Monday, Feb 04, 2008 at 11:48
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
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Follow Up By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Monday, Feb 04, 2008 at 12:24
Monday, Feb 04, 2008 at 12:24
Thanks George .
Willie.
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Monday, Feb 04, 2008 at 14:49
Monday, Feb 04, 2008 at 14:49
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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Reply By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 13:29
Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 13:29
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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Follow Up By: Member - bungarra (WA) - Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 13:56
Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 13:56
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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Follow Up By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 15:09
Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 15:09
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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Follow Up By: Member - bungarra (WA) - Monday, Feb 04, 2008 at 19:32
Monday, Feb 04, 2008 at 19:32
email sent
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Reply By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 19:19
Sunday, Feb 03, 2008 at 19:19
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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