The
Eagle Hwy is a very isolated track in the Gibson Desert. At the northern end it can take you to the Gary Highway or the Talawanna Track and the southern end finishes at the Gunbarrel Hwy.
Leaving the
Eagle Hwy track junction with tracks to Gary Hwy or the Talawanna Track, an abandoned 2040 metres deep oil well, Eagle Dragon No 1, drilled in late 1982 is the first stop.
Further south of Eagle Dragon No 1 is an abandoned 1.34 km long airstrip and further south again is a turn off to the right to what is known as the Warri Site. It was at this site the Eagle Oil Company had its camp. The remains of a shed,
water tank and windmill in a picturesque grove of trees are still evident.
Further south is the turn off to the Karrarinarri Claypan. It was at this site that the last two aboriginal nomads in this part of the desert were found and then relocated. There is a cairn and plaque commemorating the event.
Next stop is Eagle Hussar No 1 oil well (abandoned) and a nearby, another abandoned oil company shed and airstrip.
The track improves as you head south, allowing speeds of 10 to 45 kph and occasionally higher.
Mungilli outstation, (abandoned), is an interesting stopping place with the remains of many buildings, sheds and concrete pads.
Upon reaching the end of the
Eagle Hwy turn left to Mungilli Claypan. When we visited it had a large sheet of water that attracted camels and birds.
Once at the bottom end of the Hwy the options are to travel east along the Gunbarrel Hwy to Warburton, south on the
David Carnegie Road to Tjukayirla Road House or west along the Gunbarrel to Carnegie Station/Wiluna.
On the track there was the odd washaway and rocky outcrop; however it was mainly low scrub with belts of mulga and spinifex flats and very few sand hills.
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Environment
The desert environment is pristine except for the remains of oil exploration camps, wells and airstrips. Recent rains had promoted a very green look to the spinifex. Although spinifex is the main vegetation, belts of mulga and low scrub are frequently encountered. It is very likely that Camels will be seen; they often frequent this part of the desert.
History
In the early 1980’s the Eagle Oil Company carried out a significant exploration and drilling programme in the area. The
Eagle Hwy, as it has since become known, was put in by them.
Karrarinarri Claypan is the site at which the last two aboriginal nomads in this part of the desert, Warri and Yatungka, were found and then relocated to Wiluna in 1977. There is a cairn and plaque at this site commemorating the event.
