We have been here in Mullewa for 3 days and have enjoyed it greatly. A very neat caravan park close to town  and amonst the wildflowers. Homealone has bought a couple of wildflower booklets and is busily ticking off the flowers as the photos are taken. Quite a process of identification, sometimes the actual flower doesn’t quite look like the book’s photo. The bush is alive with everlastings of all types and colours, wattles and a few bottle brushes and grevilleas.

Emu Tree

Everlastings

Apart from wildflowers, Mullewa is also famous for the work of a Roman Catholic priest in the early 20th century. Monsignor John Hawes, an architect by profession, was based here for 20 odd years and in this time designed and built with his own hands a number of churches in the Murchison region, including the Geraldton Cathedral. They have been described as architectural gems reflecting the natural environment in which they are situated. He left Australia before WW2 and died in the Bahamas, a Franciscon hermit. A strange end for such an active real world person. He might have just worn himself out, the energy all gone?

Church of Our Lady of Mt Carmel and Saints Peter and Paul.

Wildflower display at the Mullewa Show

A highlight of our time here has been a day trip out into the country to the Coalseam Conservation Park . The park was  ablaze with yellow pom poms, a total contrast with the white pom poms closer to Mullewa.

A pom pom among the pom poms

At Coalseam Conservation Park

The wreath flower is a special of this area. People go hunting to find them, which isn’t hard because there are sign posts all the way to their location , about 35 km from Mullewa. They seem to be in an isolated patch of country beside the road side. They do look great. A circular green plant which flowers at the edges. Looks just like a wreath!

Wreath flower

The weather so far has been great, sunny blue skies. Except for last night. The wind got up and the rain came down. It continued this morning putting a bit of a dampener on the opening of the Mullewa Agricultural Show. But by lunch time the sun was out and the Show’s activities were successfully underway. Some interesting displays of local produce,craft, photography and artwork were on display. Lots of prizes being given out, a very large deformed carrot secured a first place. As the day wore on the storm clouds gathered and the rain came down.

We now move on over the next few days to Yalgoo, Cue and Murchison Junction. The internet is a bit slow out here so we may be off the air for this time. we’ll see!