Colin heads north of Morowa in the WA wheatbelt

WAR ROCK

By Colin Kerr

Hidden away around 15km north of Morawa in the WA wheatbelt, measuring around 100 metres across and standing about 1-2 metres above the surrounding countryside, War Rock has quite a curious historic background.

The rock itself is probably millions of years old, but the legend surrounding War Rock goes back to a time when a war, or some sort of conflict, occurred between two boundary Aboriginal tribes - believed to have been the Gullewa and Irwin Tribes. Today the site is creatively marked with metal sculpture interpretations of events which took place here on the rock many years ago. On top of the rock itself today, there is one quite large gnamma hole (a natural depression in the rock) which usually fills with winter rains and can last many months - a quite reliable source of water for local Aboriginals thousands of years ago. There was another deeper gnamma hole also here years ago, but this was filled in by settlers in the early 1900s to prevent stock falling in.

It is not known, but it could be presumed that these gnamma hole features of the rock (and their valuable water supply) were the reason for the ‘war’ which took place here, or perhaps this rock was the site of some form of semi-ritualised conflict or payback revenge between these neighbouring tribes. Exactly what happened here or why, will probably never be known. Many years later in 1936, downhill from the rock a dam was built as a local water supply for early settlers. The majority of the work digging out an estimated 1,800 cubic yards of earth was done using a 2 ton Holt crawler tractor, supplemented by horses pulling dam scoops and human labour with

Metal sculptures at War Rock.

There is space to park adjacent to the rock.

Pintharuka Dam, now covered over. Water collection wall at War Rock.

picks and shovels. The water was guided into the dam from War Rock by a series of rock walls built around the edge of the rock, guiding rain water into a drain leading downhill to the dam. The Pintharuka Dam was officially opened as a water supply on 5 June 1937. A roof was built over the dam to reduce contamination and evaporation some years later.

INFORMATION BAY LOGO LOCKUPS To get to War Rock and nearby LOGO/ Pintharuka Dam follow the Morawa to Mullewa Road approximately 15km north of Morawa, and then turning east Q follow the signs to Pintharuka Dam and the rock around 2km away.MESSAGING PRIMARY GENUINE OUTBACKHOSPITALITY This is the Pilbara East wordmark YOU DESERVE IT locked up with the ‘Wildly Colourful, Vastly Different’ messaging. In corporate application and when identity and message need to exist together, this primary GENUINE OUTBACKHOSPITALITY lockup is to be used. YOU DESERVE IT It can be used in both positive and reversed as shown. Plan a stay at the grand old Queen of the Murchison Guest House & Address: 53 Austin St, Cue 6640 Tel: (08) 9963 162 Cafe, and soak in the history of Cue. Admire the preserved buildings, E: info@queenofthemurchison.com.au Web: www.queenofthemurchison.com.au fossick for gold, photograph amazing sunsets. 53 Austin St, Cue 6640 Tel: (08) 9963 1625 info@queenofthemurchison.com.au www.queenofthemurchison.com.au