David Carnegie Rd (WA)

Hi Willem,

Like you I drove passed these sites many times heading elsewhere not knowing they were so close to the road.

I have also heard that Mr Tjukayirla RH (the manager) has found some previously unknown caves that have aboriginal art in them, they are not far from the roadhouse.
These has since been viewed by Museum WA staff and relevant aboriginal authorities.
Since then the word is getting out that the general population can now go and see them.

I have yet to crack exact info on the whereabouts of these caves. Would love to track them down.

Cheers
Phil.

Hi Mike
No it wasn't me re Pikalu camping. But they are just a few hundred metres to east of a very large area that is suitable for camping. It has lots of trees for shelter from the winds as well.
It could probably camp about 40 vehicles.
It was an old Exploration camping area and as disused airstrip is nearby. I have the plt and wpts as well.

Below find an extract from my trip notes for that section of the trip.

When we reached the David Carnegie Road turn off, we headed north. Found the track to the overgrown old airstrip drove along it and up a stony rise to the end of the vehicle track. Walked over the ridge in a northerly direction to the caves. They were massive; head high in places and up to 6 to 8 metres deep and at that extremity they were still 800 mm high.
There were dozens of caves; some were connected or separated by a pillar of rock. Found three grinders.
Lots of the caves had pseudo bitumen. One had a stock of fire wood hidden up inside, it looked like it had been there for countless years.
Most of the rock was red and friable. We also spotted introduced rocks such as quartz. One rock in particular had been flaked; pieces had been chipped off for use as knives and the like.
What an amazing place, you could walk around the area for hours poking about.
It was getting late so we returned to the airstrip and found a great spot to camp amongst some mulga to the west of it.
Next day we returned to the Breaden Caves and walked across the top of the breakaway to the north heading for the aboriginal ceremonial sites.
Two gullies north of the caves we spotted a number of standing stones. We walked down onto the flat and although it was very rocky we saw all manner of standing stones, stone pathways, and circular stone arrangements and cleared sleeping areas. Also to be seen were a numbers of grinders and core stones (chips were taken off these for other uses).
A core stone is usually, jasper, chalcedony or quartzite. We spent 2½ hours (round trip) exploring this most fascinating area.
On the southern lip of the breakaway we found a number of deep gnamma holes.
Near the NE end of the old airstrip we discovered the Pikalu Rockholes. Only one had moisture in the bottom and this had attracted bush bees.
Below hopefully if I have done it correctly find soe photos.

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Hopefully the above has been of some help. Happy to help more if I can.

Phil