Willaroo Lagoon
John McDouall Stuart at Willaroo Lagoon
From John McDouall Stuart’s journal – Monday, 21st June, 1858:
At eleven miles we came upon a salt lagoon (Wealaroo) two miles long by one broad.
From the north end of it, on a bearing of 55 degrees, one mile and a half will strike Andamoka.
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Willaroo Lagoon, the ironstone hill and Andamooka Waterhole.Willaroo Lagoon is quite a sight! It occupies a basin maybe two kilometres by four and sits to the north western side of this low area. There are cliffs of different types for most of the way around, maybe fifteen or twenty metres high.
The ironstone hill refered to by Stuart, extends to the edge of the depression and forms an ironstone bluff, visible for many kilometres. The contrasting form, texture and colour of a white, flat topped hill, of the same height, out in the depression, not all that far away, makes for an eye catching landscape image.
From the cliff top, I saw several willy willys raising the dust in the bed of Willaroo Lagoon, way off in the distance.
On the far side, the north western side, slate cliffs run for a kilometre or two. There was once a slate mine there.
Visited 15.10.07. Just as you describe, Laurie.
Significant contrasts between the sandhills in burnt orange colours with green vegetation Vs dry lagoon bed with many different cliff facets Vs the semi-permanent waterhole called Andamooka, located on a very barren watercourse which intersects an unbeleivably rough, brittle rock plateau surface.
An experience in just being there with my GPS in an airconditioned 4WD – makes one respect Stuart, his toughness, and his skills, all the more.
Google earth makes it come alive.