Metchering Well – Well No. 6

Location

203 kilometres (straight line) from Perth.

142 kilometres along the Hunt Track.

26 kilometres (straight line) from Kellerberrin.

GPS Coordinates

 

UTM
Zone 50J
594663metres East
6497680 metres North

DMS
31°39'7.97"S
117°59'54.34"E

Directions

From Great Eastern Highway
Fifteen kilometres east of Kellerberrin take Doodlakine Bruce Rock Road south-east off Great Eastern Highway for 10 kilometres. Turn left into Coulahan Road. After 3.1 km, at a ninety degree bend in road, the well is 300 metres south-east on private property. It is on Block 3495, owned by Ken Hooper who lives at Belka. Block No. 13891.

From the Hunt Track
Leaving Dodolakine Well cross Great Eastern Highway (275 metre dogleg onto Bruce Rock Doodlakine Road) and follow instructions above.

 

Condition

History

Hunt improved the native well here:

13 February 1865. Monday. … 3h p.m. halted at Metchering, found the native well quite dry, though I have not before known it fail … small quantity of water on the rocks, it being hot weather, I have set the men to dig out the well by turns during the night.

14 February 1865. Tuesday. Party still engaged sinking the well having gone down about 10 feet during the night without obtaining water, very hard sinking. 7h p.m. self and native start in an eastnortherly direction to find a practicable track towards the next camping place Totadgin. Noon returned to camp having passed over some very good grassy land, from this rock, with another native well, but dry at this time. 2h p.m. discontinued sinking the well, having obtained a few buckets of water on the bottom, which is rock – depth 13 feet 7 in. clear at bottom, 12 at top, the sides being so very hard and compact, I deem it unnecessary to stone it up. I believe that hereafter it will never be without water, …