Canning Stock Route Well 26 Project

It was reported that Well 26 infrastructure had been struck by lightning and

burned to ground level. The windlass was still intact and it was still possible to

retrieve good water from the well but very unsafe to do so.

Track Care WA decided to make it a priority to rebuild the well to a condition

to make it safe for public use. Photos from visitors showed the well lining

timbers were actually burned below ground level and it was thought some

timbers lower down were falling in as a result of tree root activity.

Use was made of sketches used by the 1983 rebuild team which were based on

Alfred Canning’s original drawings. Donations were solicited and sourcing of

materials and manufacture of components was commenced in April 2011.

While it would be preferable to use plastic look alike sleepers for longevity,

they proved too expensive, so Jarrah timber was sourced for the lining and

platform, and pine logs for the fencing and troughing rails.

A busy bee was held to cut timbers to size and shape to minimise time at the

well site.

The group of 11 vehicles, 5 with trailers carrying 3T of materials left for the CSR

sustained requiring track side welding repairs, and extensive snatching of

heavy trailers over sandhills made heavy going.

Photo of Well 26 after lightning destroyed the upper timbers.

It was intended to use the ‘airstrip track’ from Well 23 which runs NW around

some lakes then east to rejoin the CSR just north of Well 26. At our request

some Rangers from Parnngurr Community checked the track the week before

the party left and found it impassable due to deep water across the track.

Unfortunately, the sandhills on the CSR between Well 23 and Well 26 were

formidable to the loaded trailers and caused delays.

An advance party had arrived at the well 2 days before and set up a temporary

toilet and commenced removing the loose and burnt out timbers from around

the well.

trash pump into the well which pumped out water and sand which had found

its way into the well. Then it was hard work pulling up buckets of sand and

water by hand.

Other volunteers commenced installing the new sheet metal troughing and

rails, then, when it was safe to work at the top of the well, replaced the top 3

layers of sleepers, the surrounding platform, a perimeter fence, and reinstated

the old windlass.

There was no sign of the whipping pole or the two large cast iron pulleys so

this feature was not reinstated.

We had pre arranged to meet up with a group of Rangers from Parnngurr

Community who arrived on Monday.

The Rangers attended to business in the area while the volunteers completed

the structures, pumping out the well 5 times to flush the lower levels, and

cleaned up the Well 26 area. Work was completed in two and a half days.

The well was measured to be making approx 4600L per hour and CSR travellers

were already queuing to draw the clear fresh water.

Well 26 Restoration Team July 2011