Before I get on with this next episode of our adventures, I would make the comment that the more astute amongst you may have noticed a change in the way my kayak is mounted atop the Cruiser. And you would be right. A short explanation is called for.
Despite the endeavours of the Metricup metal fabricator and his extension arm, which did improve things to a point, getting the boat on and off on my own remained a challenge and was actively discouraging its use. Things had to change. I was inspired by what I had seen during our stay at The Estuary, and, whilst last in Perth, took the plunge and had a 'Hullavator' fitted. It was not cheap. My penance, which was enforced with uncommon zeal by the keeper of the purse, was no pub visits for a month....but it was well worth it in several ways.
For a start, we have noted a fuel saving benefit through reduced wind resistance. This has gladdened the treasurer's heart and taken some of the heat off me! And does it work as I had hoped?...indeed it does. Let me briefly explain.
The cradles are mounted on a set of hydraulic gas struts, which, when the handles at the outer end of each are disengaged,
can be lowered down to waist level alongside the Cruiser doors.
From here it is a simple matter to load the boat and strap it down.
Once the end handles are again disengaged, the thrust in the hydraulic system automatically hoists the kayak to its roof top position. Lock everything up and the job is done. The placement of the rack on the edge of the roof even allowed me to retain my large rod holders on the other side. I took full advantage of this system whilst in Rockingham and managed to get in a few good paddles and now look forward to many more.....should have fitted this system in the first place...one lives and learns!
On to Manjimup, or more to the point as far as our digs for five nights were concerned, the caravan park at Fonty's Pool. This had come across Liz's radar some time ago when she was looking through a booklet which details the towns and attractions throughout WA. We later received several glowing endorsements from Perth friends who had stayed there.....it was now a must!
This is one of those rare parks where the reality actually matches the publicity. What a gem. The only drawback was no Internet or phone access....but I've grizzled about that before, and I suspect many would view this as a blessing not a curse.
Approximately 8 kms out of Manjimup along the Seven Day Road we found the entrance roadway to the park. We were enthused from the outset.
The quite lengthy entrance road took us to the park office, to which there is more than initially meets the eye, but more of that shortly.
After the usual arrival formalities we turned left
and made our way up to our site, a drive- through, grassed, shady whopper. We were actually invited to make ourselves at home on what would be two sites during the busy season, an invitation we accepted with relish. This was getting better and better.
Trees are a real feature of this park....all manner of trees, large and small, native and exotic. As this back shot of our site clearly shows, we were in the thick of it from that perspective and although the weather was now cooling and shade not quite as critical to a comfortable stay, we could imagine the benefits of this stand of trees during the heat of the summer.
But we were far from alone! The local apple picking season was in full swing. Young travellers from predominately France and Italy (and a few other countries) had descended on Fonty's Pool in their droves. And set up their tents and assorted lean-to's right around the camping area. This shot shows probably about half their entire number.
We had been assured on arrival that they were well behaved and quiet, and in the main this proved correct, except when it came to the manner in which they wheeled their varied assortment of vehicles through the confines of the park. Having driven in Italy and France, the speed and 'who cares' attitude came as no real surprise to me, but it did remain the one constant annoyance as dust inevitably flew in the wake of some of their arrivals and departures. It annoyed the park managers, too. I was heartened to hear one group threatened with eviction if they continued to treat the narrow park roadways as their personal rally tracks. (Liz had banned me from any personal confrontations....I obeyed with sullen resignation!)
For all that we did enjoy our stay here, and the service these travellers provide is more than useful to the local fruit industry. Fonty's Pool includes a large and very well equipped camp kitchen
The park is also graced with a number of quite modern cabins, the rear of some of which can be seen here looking along a park roadway to our site at the end of it. We were here over the weekend of a race meeting at the Manjimup speedway and the cabins were well patronised for a couple of days at least.
But the highlight of this park is the pool, the gardens, the associated infrastructure and the story behind its existence.
In 1904, Archimedes (Archie) Fontannini, a young Italian immigrant, landed in Fremantle with the princely sum of 12 shillings and sixpence ($1.25) in his pocket. Despite his youth, Archie had been around before making the move to Australia. Born in 1880, as a 16 year old, Archie scooted off to France where he spent a few years acquiring the skills of a stone mason and general builder. At age 20, a compulsory three year stint of National Service found our hero off to China where the Italian Army had some involvement in dealing with the Boxer Rebellion (no further research done on this). Because of his literacy and handwriting skills, Archie became the unit hospital secretary where he learnt much about patient care, supervision and catering.
This range of acquired skills was to serve him well in his new country. After working for three years in a timber mill, Archie responded to Government encouragement to take up land in the south-west of the State and in May 1907 was granted 460 acres in an area he had selected for its constant spring fed water supply.
Archie married and set about building a bush cottage on his land.
He ring-barked 60 acres of the local karri forest and planted 10 acres with apples. Potato, cauliflower and other vegetable production followed. To regenerate the soil, Archie built a log dam across the small stream flowing through his property to provide residual silt. By this time he and his wife Lucy had a young family who, with their friends, took to the ponded stream with relish during the summer months.
In the nearby and expanding Manjimup, a shortage of water had precluded the development of any public bathing facilities. The local authorities prevailed on Archie to open his dam to the public for a fee. He agreed to do so.....Fonty's Pool was born.
As its popularity and patronage grew, Archie replaced the log barrier with one of cement and lined the pool floor and in 1925 it was 'officially' opened. The pool itself now covers just over an acre and holds 18 million litres of spring fed water which flows in over winter at 44,000 litres per hour.
The Fontannini family set about surrounding the pool with beautiful gardens and began an extensive tree planting programme. These improvements included a purpose built log chopping competition area.
On Australia Day 1947, Fonty's Pool hosted a log chopping competition and swimming carnival which attracted wide spread interest. The log chopping arena is still an integral part of the park. This carnival continued for 11 years and hosted thousands of competitors and spectators.
In 1950 Archie retired from farming to focus his attentions entirely on expanding and maintaining the pool gardens. By 1974 Archie, now 94, was unable to continue, and the pool closed.
The Western Australian government persuaded the family to consider a re-opening of the pool as part of the State's 150 years celebration. Eldest son Joe Fontannini responded to the call and the popularity of the venue was confirmed by the fact that 12,000 people attended the 1979 log chop and swimming carnival, but its future remained clouded.
Under the management group brought into run the place, Fonty's Pool and its surrounds regressed. Public liability insurance loomed as a major problem and in 2005 the intransigence of the insurance industry forced another closure.
Jeremy and Kelly Beissel, the present owners, bought the property from the Fontannini family, and with assistance from the National Trust, an injection of unusual common sense from an insurer, and the installation of a 300 metre fence around the pool, Fonty's Pool and Caravan Park is again open for public use.
And what of the far sighted and incredibly hard working founder? Archie finally shuffled off this mortal coil in 1982, a centenarian, but not before his achievements both at Fonty's Pool and throughout the wider Manjimup community had been recognised with an MBE and heartfelt local respect.
Let me take you on a quick tour of this incredible place, now listed on the National Heritage Register.
On on edge of the pool, near the old house, a diving platform has been erected over a relatively small area of the pond which is the only spot deeper than just over a metre.
Just beyond this, at what I'll call the 'far end' of the pool, a cement barrier separates the public section from that which is reserved for the outlook of the owners
who now occupy this charming home on a rise overlooking the pool.
On the opposite side of the pool, a wooden stage has been built to allow those who so choose to marry in this sylvan setting.
And afterwards, it is but a short stroll along the lawns to the reception area which is located next to the park office
whence the wedding party and guests can enjoy this view across the pool in addition to all the other goodies on offer.
Even the bushland beyond the immediate boundaries of this extraordinary park seems to have been 'made to order'
and the watering of these wonderful grounds can create its own spectacle as we can see here where the water jetting from this huge, single spout sprinkler on the log chop area sparkles and gleams against the green backdrop of trees as it catches the rays of the late afternoon sun.
We were lucky (from my perspective at least....I love autumn colour) to be in this area just as the leaves were turning. But the best was still a couple of weeks and a few more snappily cool nights away.
Let me close our tour of Fonty's Pool with this shot taken in the full splendour of autumn...the photo obviously used on the park website (and why not?) No wonder Liz was hooked from the outset and thank goodness she was. We would return here in an instant.
Oh, and yes, I did belt out a number of laps in the pool out of sheer determination to say I had....it is challengingly refreshing at this time of year!
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