Balladonia, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Balladonia is a small roadhouse community located on the Eyre Highway
in Western Australia
, Australia
. It is the first stop east of Norseman
on the long journey east across the Nullarbor Plain
. Between Balladonia and Caiguna
is a 146.6 kilometres (91.1 mi) stretch of the highway which is one of the longest straight stretches of road in the world.
word meaning "big rock by itself", and the area was settled in 1879 and a homestead was built 28 kilometres (17 mi) of the present townsite. From 1897 to 1929, Balladonia was a station on the Perth-Adelaide telegraph line, due to a previous coastal line being shorted by salt spray from the Southern Ocean
. The arid climate and lack of suitable water sources restricted the town's development.
In July 1979, the area gained worldwide attention when the re-entry of the Skylab
space station left a trail of debris across the countryside.
, a modern air-conditioned facility for travellers, has a display of debris and newspaper clippings, as well as a pub and motel rooms. Access via 4WD
is possible to the start of the cliffs, believed to be the longest in the world, of the Great Australian Bight
from Balladonia. Information is available from the roadhouse.
There is the ruined shell of a telegraph station just to the east of Balladonia at the start of the famous 'Ninety Mile Straight'. However, it is signposted as being private property. Also in the area are freshwater pools 14 km east at Afghan Rocks, named for an unfortunate camel driver who was shot by thirsty travellers.
BSh).
Eyre Highway
The Eyre Highway is a highway linking Western Australia and South Australia via the Nullarbor Plain. Signed as National Highway 1/A1, it forms part of Highway 1 and the Australian National Highway network linking Perth and Adelaide. It was named after explorer Edward John Eyre, who was the first to...
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is the first stop east of Norseman
Norseman, Western Australia
Norseman is a town located in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia along the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway, east of Perth and above sea level. It is also the starting point of the Eyre Highway, and the last major town in Western Australia before the South Australian border to the...
on the long journey east across the Nullarbor Plain
Nullarbor Plain
The Nullarbor Plain is part of the area of flat, almost treeless, arid or semi-arid country of southern Australia, located on the Great Australian Bight coast with the Great Victoria Desert to its north. It is the world's largest single piece of limestone, and occupies an area of about...
. Between Balladonia and Caiguna
Caiguna, Western Australia
Caiguna is a small roadhouse community located on the Eyre Highway in Western Australia. It is the second stop east of Norseman on the long journey east across the Nullarbor Plain. Between Balladonia and Caiguna is a stretch of the highway which is one of the longest straight stretches of road in...
is a 146.6 kilometres (91.1 mi) stretch of the highway which is one of the longest straight stretches of road in the world.
History
The name is an AboriginalIndigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
word meaning "big rock by itself", and the area was settled in 1879 and a homestead was built 28 kilometres (17 mi) of the present townsite. From 1897 to 1929, Balladonia was a station on the Perth-Adelaide telegraph line, due to a previous coastal line being shorted by salt spray from the Southern Ocean
Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60°S latitude and encircling Antarctica. It is usually regarded as the fourth-largest of the five principal oceanic divisions...
. The arid climate and lack of suitable water sources restricted the town's development.
In July 1979, the area gained worldwide attention when the re-entry of the Skylab
Skylab
Skylab was a space station launched and operated by NASA, the space agency of the United States. Skylab orbited the Earth from 1973 to 1979, and included a workshop, a solar observatory, and other systems. It was launched unmanned by a modified Saturn V rocket, with a mass of...
space station left a trail of debris across the countryside.
Present day
The Balladonia roadhouseRoadhouse (facility)
A roadhouse is a commercial establishment typically built on a major road or highway, to service passing travellers. Its meaning varies slightly by country.-USA:...
, a modern air-conditioned facility for travellers, has a display of debris and newspaper clippings, as well as a pub and motel rooms. Access via 4WD
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
is possible to the start of the cliffs, believed to be the longest in the world, of the Great Australian Bight
Great Australian Bight
The Great Australian Bight is a large bight, or open bay, off the central and western portions of the southern coastline of mainland Australia.-Extent:...
from Balladonia. Information is available from the roadhouse.
There is the ruined shell of a telegraph station just to the east of Balladonia at the start of the famous 'Ninety Mile Straight'. However, it is signposted as being private property. Also in the area are freshwater pools 14 km east at Afghan Rocks, named for an unfortunate camel driver who was shot by thirsty travellers.
Climate
Balladonia experiences a steppe climate (Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSh).
External links
- Shire of Dundas - Towns of the Eyre Highway
- Balladonia Hotel Motel home page, includes local information