We left Collie at 9:45 with the temperature sitting on 13 chilly degrees. We are happy to be moving onto new territory, but we both agree that Collie has been the best caravan park we have stayed in during this journey, and would top the list in all other journeys also.

As we travelled on familiar roads I started reading some more of the Cat Among Dragons series. We are presently on Book 3.

Once we neared the outskirts of Busselton on Highway 101 the time was spent watching the scenery. This highway is four lanes divided by a wide centre strip of land. The land has been planted with pink and white everlastings and was in full bloom. It was a gorgeous picture.

We turned off this highway onto the 104 Vasse Highway towards Nannup, which is located in the Blackwood River Valley. Ironically, we have travelled from the mountain region around Collie to the flat of the valley at Nannup.

The Shire of Nannup was founded in 1834. It covers an area of 2,953 square km and embraces the town and localities of Nannup, Donnelly River, Biddelia, Carlotta, Cundinup, Scott River East, Lake Jasper, Darradup, Barrabup, Peerabeelup, Jalbarragup and East Nannup. (Now there are a few tongue-twisters for location names.)

The Shire of Nannup is the second largest Shire in the Southwest Region and is responsible for maintaining over 220 kilometres of unsealed roads and 250 kilometres of sealed roads.

In general, the population of 1,328 (2016 census) is spread throughout the Shire district with about half of the population residing in the Nannup townsite. The word “Nannup” comes from the Noongar people and interprets as “stopping place” or “Place of Parrots”. (Aptly named as they are everywhere.)

Prior to European settlement, the Wardandi, Bibbulmun, Nyungar and other Indigenous groupings collectively influenced the botany of the areas surrounding the present Nannup locality.

Following the European settlement of WA in Albany and the Swan River in the 1820’s, settlers subsequently occupied Augusta and then Busselton (Bussell) in the 1830’s.

Settlers quickly looked beyond their immediate vicinity for additional grazing lands. One of the earliest, Thomas Turner of Augusta, followed the Blackwood River towards present day Nannup in 1834.

Several expeditions followed in the 1840s, with consistent reports of good grasses. It would appear that some limited squatting commenced in the district during the early1850’s and considerable selections of land had been taken by 1860.

The town was officially gazetted in 1890. The predominant industries of timber and agriculture exist to the present day, with recent diversification into tourism.

Ton add to the odd location names we passed along the way, I offer you Quillergup.

We arrived at the Nannaup Caravan Park about 11:45 and the temperature had risen to 16 degrees, but it was still a bit chill.

We are in Site 9 which is close to the entrance and in a nice spot. However, is does not have the amount of space that was available to us in Collie. We will make do anyway.

The park is a lot larger than we thought it would be, as there are 95 sites available. There are also some permanents, and a few annuals also.

I was amazed to see some of the accommodation that was for hire in the park. Rather than studio apartments and flats Nannup has these incredible trapezoid constructions. Some are a double bed with lounge/kitchen, and others have single beds in them. I will post a photo of them so you will understand what I am trying to describe.

As we entered the caravan park and stopped at Reception, we encountered two adults who came over to the car and said, “Welcome fellow Victorians.” They usually caravan around but only had limited time on this occasion, so they flew to Perth and hired a car for three weeks. They said the airports have gotten heaps worse than ever before, and they will be happy to go back to their caravan journeys.

Russ had a long chat with mum while I edited the last of this week’s photos, and then I checked out the laundry for later. Here there are small washing machines which cost $7 a load, and two large washing machines – fairly new from the look of them – and these are $8 a load. The dryer is only small and there was no info on what it costs to use.

After tea I listened to a lady whom I have never heard before. She sings beautifully so I now have some more music to listen to. Her name is Eric Shin’s Sister (and apparently Eric Shin – whoever he may be – does not have a sister).

There is a lot of bird life around here from the sound of things. We look forward to seeing some more of the Black Cockatoos who abound in this locality.