What ever appended to Joe's Hole on the Gibb River Rd
Submitted: Friday, May 29, 2009 at 12:29
ThreadID:
69296
Views:
4910
Replies:
6
FollowUps:
4
This Thread has been Archived
scottforster
Not so long ago, it was July 1987. A few of us from
Darwin decided to go to
Broome for a look. We travelled via the
Gibb river. I was in my trusty Holden HJ ute, the others on a motor bike and in a Hilux. I remember camping at "Joe's Hole'
camping area, beside a beautiful
billabong. I can't find it in the trek notes. What is it called now???
Cheers
Scott
By the time we arrived in
Derby I don't think there was a single panel on the HJ that wasn't loose. I never got all the dust out of the vents and the trip back to
Darwin was all bitumen.
That Christmas we drove the trusty ute from
Darwin to
Bellingen non stop. 46 hours two blokes and two dogs. The dogs in the back faired better that the blokes in the cabin. It was so hot you couldn't put your feet on the floor. That's another story.
But what happened to Joe's Hole?
Reply By: Drysdale River Station - Friday, May 29, 2009 at 19:44
Friday, May 29, 2009 at 19:44
Hi Scott,
Jacks Hole was totally washed away by a big flood of the Durack River during the wet season of 2001 / 2002 , the flood not only took the buildings but also enough dirt to leave the top of the septic tanks showing !
The cost of starting again from scratch would have been huge.
I have heard in in the past (1987 and before ) it was also known as Joe's Hole. I recall there was local dispute as to if it should in fact be Jack's or Joe's.
When it was run for tourism till it washed away it was always known as Jack's Hole.
Don't recall the year it was set up for tourism might have been the late 80's or early 90's.
It is now owned by the ILC ( Indigenous Land Corporation ) and is part of the three '
Home Valley' group of stations.
There is no access and as far as I know the
gate is / was locked.
I did hear at one stage that
Home Vally guests could do a guided trip to there but you would need to contact
Home Valley (who now offer a lot in the way of tourism ) to find the exact facts.
Was nothing to do with cattle and water access, there are no fences there and cattle can access that whole river system anywhere they want.
cheers, Anne
AnswerID:
367464
Reply By: scottforster - Monday, Jun 01, 2009 at 11:22
Monday, Jun 01, 2009 at 11:22
Phew.
Well thanks to everyone who replied. Joe's hole was a welcome respite from the jarring ride in the HJ. The HJ made it to
Broome and back- though we decide to take the trip via Fitz' and enjoy the bitumen for a change.
I have just finished looking through a friend pictures of her trip last week up the Gibb to
Kununurra. They were supporting the bike riders in their fundraiser.
It is amazing to think our country is so diverse and magnificent.- makes me want to go out and beef up the
suspension on the twin-cab, pack the bub and brief the wife on what to pack.
Thanks again for your input.
Cheers
Scott
Forster NSW
AnswerID:
367890