We needed to go back to the Post Office at the Westland Norrie Street Shopping Centre before we left Whyalla. I don't remember that this huge shopping centre was here in 2014.  Hopefully the Express Post letter is back in WA by the 28th.  Travel today is just over 100 kms to the small coastal town of Cowell.  There was a bit of drizzly rain on the way. The countryside hadn't got anymore inviting in eight years.  Just low saltbush scrub and a mine here and there.  Peter's comment eight years ago was that it was heartbreak country!

Mining south of Whyalla

 

Welcome by Ollie Oyster, Fred Crab & Henry Fish

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We fuelled up before booking into our nice drive through caravan bay at the Cowell Foreshore Caravan Park.  The stop on the highway enabled me to walk across the road to check out Ollie Oyster, Fred Crab and Henry Fish, which were created from recycled wood by Mark Seneka in 2021.  Oysters, crabs and fish attract people to Cowell no doubt!  The weather seemed to have cleared, so we took the opportunity to do a load of washing before we went exploring the area.  

There are two caravan parks in the town, the other being Harbour View a few kilometres from the town centre.  There is also a very good camping area for RV’s.  The cost was $15.00 a night, with a limited stay of 2 weeks.  On Yorke Peninsula you do have to purchase a Camping Pass to stay in such areas. At the RV area there was a water tap that we presumed was for campers use.

We went to check out the Cowell Harbour.   You can cross Spencer Gulf from Wallaroo to Cowell by ferry.  Peter had thought we would do this, but it was very expensive. Even with the current fuel prices, it was far cheaper to drive.  One would presume that most grain in this area is delivered to be cells and the open bulkhead at the harbour.  Trucks were being loaded at the bulkhead and travelling the side road to the harbour.  The grain was then being unloaded into the grid.  A grain barge was in the Port being cleaned down ready for loading again to take out to a waiting ship.  Our discussion was very much about the cost of handling charges for farmers.  We are fortunate to be farming close to the Port of Geraldton.

I searched the web and didn't seem to be able to find out whether the Viterra cells in Cowell are still used and what was actually happening out at the wharf.  Then when I went to the photos I had taken during the day, I hit the jackpot with my research!  When Peter and I are travelling we love looking at what is happening with industry.  The other Pamela Joan asked me where I get my information for my blog!  I said I always take photos of display panels and do search the web!  The following information was found because I took a photo of a sign at the wharf!

T-Ports was established in 2018 to initiate the $130 million Lucky Bay Port facility development, securing private investor equity and debt.  The name T-Ports is based on the use of transhipment  vessel design.  They require a fraction of the capital expenditure to build shallow-water ports compared to a deep-water facility and operating expenses are highly competitive in comparison.   The ports constructed by T-Ports will be multi-user and multi-commodity transhipment ports, with the first at Lucky Bay on Eyre Peninsula and a second planned for Wallaroo on Yorke Peninsula. Lucky Bay’s development has been based on agricultural product and over time, will be expanded to allow export of local minerals.

The coastal shacks of Lucky Bay were a bit further on from the harbour.   They were very similar to what we had seen at Port Broughton. The beach was free of seaweed, but there was the tiniest camping area we had ever seen.  It would seem campers are discouraged.  We couldn’t imagine more than one camper staying there!

Back in the town of Cowell we took some photos of the stunning silo art.  You can drive into the sports oval for a great photo shoot.  As I prepare this blog I am questioning whether grain is delivered to these silos in the centre of town nowadays?  Unfortunately I can't find anything on the web.  But there was great info about the silo art.  

The Cowell Silo Artwork tells a story of friendship, mateship, loyalty and humility.  Artist Austin Nitsua has captured a moment in time that defines the unique character of the Franklin Harbour District.  The artwork commenced in August 2019 and only took 2 1/2 weeks to complete. The black and white features in the piece represent the past.  The colour represents the essence of what remains.  The towns stunning western sunsets are the cascading pinks and blues stretched across the horizon.  The Ring Neck Parrot represents the ongoing journey the community is on together, rising above the challenges they share. The bull camel's name is Diamantina.  He holds his head high smiling over the town.  That is the first face you see as you approach the town.  He is the ultimate symbol of strength, hope and resilience, a trait so many who have lived in this district are instilled with.  The resources of the town are agriculture, oysters, jade and mining. The main subject is Lionel Deer, could be just another farmer, shearers, father, uncle or grandfather from the area.  Each wrinkle on his face defines the many years spent battling with patience and perseverance a tough life on the land.  The building is a historic ruin that has been a school and a church.  There is another artwork by the same artist on the ruin on the Lincoln Highway. The artwork stirs up a rich sense of nostalgia for many in the Cowell community.  Lionel and his camels have long been a rich part of Cowell's history.

Before heading back to the caravan park we purchased a dozen oysters for Pete to shuck! There was still time to walk the main street and check out the development of the foreshore area and jetty.  Which meant another walk on a SA Jetty and a photo to prove we had done so.  One would think the new building will be a cafe or restaurant.  The hotel was advertising the special evening meal of roast pork, spud & salad or vegetables for $16.00.  And there on the front verandah, was the pig on the spit roasting !  We decided against a pub dinner, even though it was only a short walk from the park.  Without Covid we would have been keener!

Peter does a pretty good job preparing Oysters Kilpatrick, which we enjoyed with a drink while sitting on the tailgate of the cruiser.  The sunset reflecting on the tidal water in front of us and the large bird that walked by, provided more photos for the day. 

The fish cleaning area at the caravan park was excellent.  There were big tubs that could be hired for $2.00 to cook your crabs.  If you are lucky enough to catch some that is!  Plenty of stainless steel benches with running water for fish cleaning and a freezer that the offal could be placed in.  I’m not sure if there has always been access from the park to the boat ramp.  But it is going to be possible with the foreshore upgrade.  We very much enjoyed our overnight stay in Cowell.