Even though large scale mining has been at Leigh Creek since the 1950s the town today is a modern one built in the 1980s when it was decided to move so the mine could be expanded. As such the town looks like one of those modern mining towns with lots of similar quickly erected houses but with plenty of trees planted to soften the landscape and heat. Current population is around 600. The house here is of course a remnant old building not one of the new ones.
Is that a Coolibah tree beside the abandoned house? Every Australian knows about Coolibah trees because the bush ballad Waltzing Matilda is nigh on our unoffical national anthem but most of us live nowhere near the inland where they grow. Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong, Under the shade of a Coolibah tree, And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled, You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me. Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me, And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Sad to see the slag heaps in the top photo, but what joy that you included a windmill.
ReplyDeleteI had a chocoloate paddle-pop in new Leigh Creek when we passed through. I've had CPPs in many outback towns, I fear.
I am in the process of booking my trip to Cape York from 10 - 22 May next.
The slag heaps remind us of this town's heritage - they might not be 'scenic' but they are a part of what makes the town what it is!
ReplyDeleteHappy travels!!
I'm with you Red, without the slag heaps there would be no Leigh Creek and I find mining operations rather awesome.
ReplyDeleteJulie, if I was travelling in the summer I'm sure I'd have been eating plenty of CPPs too. As it was we settled for something warmer for your lunch.
Cape York sounds like a heap of fun. One day, when we retire we will be heading up that way for the winter.
I can see that the slag heap is the heritage of the town, but the land was there before the town, and the slag heap is a negative.
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