We awake to rising mist and then a sunny morning. The caravan park in Carnamah has clean and great amenities. A stop at the big tractor down town is a must, a tribute to Australia’s Chamberlain tractor, a real work horse for Australian farmers. The big tractor is made from tin yet the tyres look authentic.
Morning tea was at Moora, the bakery there is very nice. A visit to the Information Centre was well worth it as we are directed to nearby Candy Bush Reserve where we find Donkey Orchid. They also suggested we visit New Norcia.
New Norcia is just amazing. This is a Benedictine community setup by Spanish Benedictine Rosendo Salvador in 1846. It is the only one in Western Australia. Religion like politics is best left alone except among friends but one could say religion’s real strength lies in offering sanctuary. Reading the Benedictine efforts at New Norcia they have offered sanctuary, education and a home for indigenous people particularly girls, they produced agricultural products, music and art and have saved many great art works within their walls, such as those of Indigenous artist Albert Namatjira and his family, Pro Hart and Elizabeth Durack and many more. There are also paintings, clothing, historical items and books from the 16th – 19th Century, many from Europe. The New Norcia library has more than 80,000 books and a big collection of journals housed in 10 rooms inside and outside the monastery enclosure. It seems the Benedictine tried to bring knowledge and culture to a colony seemingly more focused on exploitation for monies sake at any cost to indigenous people and their country. Notable individuals who lived here include Santos Salvador former chaplain to Queen Isabella II of Spain. The buildings and their architecture are stunning, they are set amongst beautiful wooded farmland you could think you were in Europe. There was also a display about early W.A. Botanist and conservationist Charles Austin Gardner. New Norcia is really worth a visit and it would likely take two days to explore.
We travel through the eucalypt woodlands of Chittering, large old trees spreading over the steep rolling hills very picturesque.
Final stop is on the banks of the Avon River at Toodyay.
