The may be several ways in which to describe the Rockingham bulk grain loading facilities...and all will be fine providing they include the words 'huge', 'massive' or something equivalent.
Not only do they dominate the skyline at the northern end of our caravan park, they can be seen from most parts of Rockingham, including here looking across Cockburn Sound from Cape Peron.
This shot, also taken from across the Sound, hopefully provides some idea of the size of this facility. We estimated the highest section of the grain storage building to be in the order of 15 - 20 storeys.
From the silos, a conveyor system transports the grain under the beachfront road and then along the elevated conveyor to the gantry loading heads. These huge systems crank and grind their way up and back along the wharf to place the outlet pipes directly into each of the ship's holds.
And from what we observed, they do not mess about with the loading. This newly arrived bulk carrier is sitting high out of the water as loading began, and
bingo, but 24 hours later, the ship's bulk has almost disappeared below the dock with the weight of grain in her holds. I must admit that this is not the sort of thing which will appeal to all, but I found it just fascinating to watch, not only from the perspective of the size and speed of the operation, but to then imagine the destinations of the departing ships as they sailed off up the Sound and out into the Indian Ocean. I guess it's the old story....you can take the boy out of Port Lincoln, but not Port Lincoln out of the boy!
Immediately north of the grain terminal lies the oil refinery and docks of Kwinana, so there was no shortage of shipping for me to watch (Liz was far less enthused but remained kindly tolerant of my youthful excitement about all that was going on!)
Enough of docks and shipping....let's take a tour of Cape Peron, the point of land which marks the southern end of Cockburn Sound.
The Cape can be reached by driving along the Esplanade past Palm Beach where we stopped to look back over a couple of the short jetties here and the cafe district of Rocky in the background.
Like the main beach, this southern end of the Rockingham foreshore is lined with very functional and inviting parks,
whilst opposite, rows of relatively new apartment blocks indicate that this end of Rocky has 'been discovered'. The lucky folk in these domiciles have marvellous views north up Cockburn Sound.
Past the entrance to the Garden Island causeway we drove and less than five minutes later we were gazing west across the limestone rock formations of the tip of Cape Peron.
From this same vantage point, looking in the opposite direction, we could see back along the coast over a few local rock islets to far distant Mandurah.
From this same spot we could also see across the scrub of the Cape to the trig marker atop the highest point.....this was clearly the place to be.
After a short but significant climb up a rocky stairway in the shadows of the late afternoon sun we reached the summit.
It was well worth it. From the vantage point of this old military gun sighting lookout, we could see west out over the Indian Ocean and,
to the east, back along the road we had just travelled along much of the length of this short Cape.....over the red roofs of a school holiday camp facility (what a spot for a school jaunt) to the sweep of the main Rockingham beach on the left and that of the Cape beaches on the right.
From here we could also see much of the length of the Garden Island causeway, although sadly it only appears as a thin grey strip in the centre of this shot. (I will lash out on some serious photographic equipment one day!) and of course, the grain silos hold a place of prominence in the background.
This vantage point did allow me to take a close up shot of the impressive causeway arch which allows for the passage of small vessels out of the Sound past the southern end of Garden Island,
and the main naval docks of HMAS Stirling (which I freely admit will mean little to any who have not been there).
Cape Peron is a place much visited by a certain group of Rockingham locals diving for the crayfish to be found in the rocky underwater ledges and fishing from the various beaches, beaches which are quite different from those of 'Rocky central', but with equal appeal.
As I have mentioned previously, we really had a good time in Rockingham. In addition to Stu's homecoming, the delights of the water activities on offer, the scenery and the interest of the docks, we were also able to again catch up with Perth friends and repay some of the hospitality they had previously shown us. We were delighted to welcome Deb and Greg Glossup to our humble abode on our final Saturday evening, and, with timing which probably should have been better managed from the point of view of my state of health,
the redoubtable Finlay-Jones's for a Sunday BBQ, where the quality of John's vinous gifts did much to quickly revive my social stamina.
We did enjoy a wonderful afternoon (even if I was a tad late getting around to cooking lunch!)
And thus our Rockingham adventure came to an end. What better way to close than with one of the quite spectacular Rockingham sunsets of which we had seen a few during our stay.
We were off again down south....destination Albany, but with a planned five day stopover en route at one of Liz's 'bucket list' parks.....Fonty's Pool just out of the Southern Forests town of Manjimup. The great karri forests of southern WA beckon.
This shot, also taken from across the Sound, hopefully provides some idea of the size of this facility. We estimated the highest section of the grain storage building to be in the order of 15 - 20 storeys.
From the silos, a conveyor system transports the grain under the beachfront road and then along the elevated conveyor to the gantry loading heads. These huge systems crank and grind their way up and back along the wharf to place the outlet pipes directly into each of the ship's holds.
And from what we observed, they do not mess about with the loading. This newly arrived bulk carrier is sitting high out of the water as loading began, and
Immediately north of the grain terminal lies the oil refinery and docks of Kwinana, so there was no shortage of shipping for me to watch (Liz was far less enthused but remained kindly tolerant of my youthful excitement about all that was going on!)
Enough of docks and shipping....let's take a tour of Cape Peron, the point of land which marks the southern end of Cockburn Sound.
The Cape can be reached by driving along the Esplanade past Palm Beach where we stopped to look back over a couple of the short jetties here and the cafe district of Rocky in the background.
Like the main beach, this southern end of the Rockingham foreshore is lined with very functional and inviting parks,
whilst opposite, rows of relatively new apartment blocks indicate that this end of Rocky has 'been discovered'. The lucky folk in these domiciles have marvellous views north up Cockburn Sound.
Past the entrance to the Garden Island causeway we drove and less than five minutes later we were gazing west across the limestone rock formations of the tip of Cape Peron.
From this same vantage point, looking in the opposite direction, we could see back along the coast over a few local rock islets to far distant Mandurah.
From this same spot we could also see across the scrub of the Cape to the trig marker atop the highest point.....this was clearly the place to be.
After a short but significant climb up a rocky stairway in the shadows of the late afternoon sun we reached the summit.
It was well worth it. From the vantage point of this old military gun sighting lookout, we could see west out over the Indian Ocean and,
to the east, back along the road we had just travelled along much of the length of this short Cape.....over the red roofs of a school holiday camp facility (what a spot for a school jaunt) to the sweep of the main Rockingham beach on the left and that of the Cape beaches on the right.
From here we could also see much of the length of the Garden Island causeway, although sadly it only appears as a thin grey strip in the centre of this shot. (I will lash out on some serious photographic equipment one day!) and of course, the grain silos hold a place of prominence in the background.
This vantage point did allow me to take a close up shot of the impressive causeway arch which allows for the passage of small vessels out of the Sound past the southern end of Garden Island,
and the main naval docks of HMAS Stirling (which I freely admit will mean little to any who have not been there).
Cape Peron is a place much visited by a certain group of Rockingham locals diving for the crayfish to be found in the rocky underwater ledges and fishing from the various beaches, beaches which are quite different from those of 'Rocky central', but with equal appeal.
As I have mentioned previously, we really had a good time in Rockingham. In addition to Stu's homecoming, the delights of the water activities on offer, the scenery and the interest of the docks, we were also able to again catch up with Perth friends and repay some of the hospitality they had previously shown us. We were delighted to welcome Deb and Greg Glossup to our humble abode on our final Saturday evening, and, with timing which probably should have been better managed from the point of view of my state of health,
the redoubtable Finlay-Jones's for a Sunday BBQ, where the quality of John's vinous gifts did much to quickly revive my social stamina.
And thus our Rockingham adventure came to an end. What better way to close than with one of the quite spectacular Rockingham sunsets of which we had seen a few during our stay.
We were off again down south....destination Albany, but with a planned five day stopover en route at one of Liz's 'bucket list' parks.....Fonty's Pool just out of the Southern Forests town of Manjimup. The great karri forests of southern WA beckon.
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