A sleep in! After a very leisurely start to the day we
drove a short distance north passing by the Harold E Holt Naval Communication
Station and on up to Bundegi Beach for a swim. Although it was only mid-morning
the temperature was 38 degrees in the shade. The beach and the swim was lovely
and refreshing. We drove over to the western side for a look at Vlamingh
Lighthouse. This lighthouse was built in 1912 after the SS Mildura founded on
the North West Cape. All supplies to build the lighthouse had to come up from
Fremantle. The lighthouse keeper’s wife recorded that it was 2 years before she
saw another white woman and the supply ships could be as much as twelve months
apart. Heading back we drove up the North West Cape and could view the wreck of
the SS Mildura just off shore. In 1960, at the peak of the cold war, the US
needed to be able to communicate with their submarines so with the approval and
co-operation of the Australian Government established the US Naval
Communication Station (now Harold E Holt Naval Communication Station). There
are 13 towers at the station, the highest of which is the 3rd
tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere. It was realised at the time of
building the station that the personnel manning the station would need support
services and accommodation so Exmouth was built and both the station and
Exmouth were opened in 1963 – a good year according to Wendy. We were picked up
at camp at 4:30 and taken to the marina where we boarded a vessel for the
Sunset Whale Watching Tour. We were fortunate to see and photograph all the
classic moves; blowing, leaping, breaching and diving so their tail fins is
above the water. We got back to camp around 7:30 for yet another lovely dinner
before retiring early.
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