Millstream-Chichester National Park – 27 May 2010

We took the Shire road from Karijini to Millstream-Chichester National Park.

The alternative is the permit road which is maintained by the mine. The permit road is 20 minutes shorter but one is required to watch a 20 minute safety video.

The Shire Road was well maintained and the grader had just been through.   Millstream-Chichester NP is along the banks of the Fortescue river.

Along the river lies the Millstream Oasis with a string of deep spring fed pools which come from an underground aquifer. This water supplies water for many towns in the Pilbara.
Originally some of this National Park was Millstream Station and nearby is the Jirrndawurrunha Pool. The original Station house is still there and is used as a visitors centre.  The Kitchen nearby was constructed by a local, who while doing a good job was slow.  The boss discussed speeding up and he quit, delaying the project even further.

In its hey day Millstream Station covered one million acres and carried 55,000 sheep and held the Australian record for the highest price paid for a fleece.

In 1980 the lease was resumed by the Government for its water reserves and part of the lease was incorporated into Millstream-Chichester N.P.
We camped at Millyanha Campsite.   On the drive from Millstream we visited nearby Python Pool, which must be spectacular when the water flows over the falls.