The Most Remote Collections in WA
You’ll need a four-wheel drive to access these collections, so buckle your seatbelts, make sure you have at least 20 litres of water on board, and phone ahead to get up-to-date advice about what to expect on the road, and that there will be someone there to greet you! Seriously – accessing these collections is not for the faint hearted! It is also recommended to check in with the relevant Shire for useful information about the status of the roads and tracks.
Visiting Warlayirti Artists at Wirrimanu (Balgo) Community, down the Tanami Track from Halls Creek is a rare treat. Not only can you visit the Cultural Centre, featuring artworks by a number of highly significant Balgo artists, such as Helicopter Tjungurrayi, Tjumpo Tjapanangka, Elizabeth Nyumi and Eubena Nampitjin, to mention a few, but you can also buy artworks directly from the artists’ cooperative and maybe have the chance to meet them. Make sure you pre-arrange a permit well before you visit Balgo – there’s more information about permits here:
The museum at the Eyre Bird Observatory near Cocklebiddy, is well worth a diversion as you drive across the Nullabor Plain. Housed in a restored stone telegraph station and situated 500m from a beach at the western end of the Great Australian Bight, this is a great place for bird watching, walking and relaxing. You can visit for the day or stay for a night or two. The fee includes your own room and all meals – it’s essential to book well ahead. If you’re staying for a minimum of two nights, the managers can collect you from the Cocklebiddy Roadhouse.
The Warburton Art Collection can be viewed at the Tjulyuru Cultural Centre in Warburton and includes significant artworks by some of the Western Desert’s most senior male and female artists. if you’re in the remote Ngaanyatjarra lands, consider visiting the Aboriginal art centres at Warakurna, Blackstone (Papulankutja), Wingellina (Irrunytju) and Tjukurla (Tjarlirli). Make sure you pre-arrange a permit well before you visit the Ngaanyatjarra lands – there’s more information about permits here.
The Forrest Museum near the Forrest railway siding on the Nullabor Plain is humble, but an important part of the experience of going to Forrest. The half-dozen or so houses at the siding are available for accommodation, and you can pre-arrange meals with the caretakers. Forrest is also home to a weather station and runway which was constructed in the Second World War and continues to serve as a backup runway for diverted aircraft from both Perth and Adelaide. Believe it, or not, there is even a small sculpture walk in this extremely remote place.
