We thought we would stay two nights in Norseman and explore the town we called home for ten years. But changed our minds after seeing just how sad it looks. We will head off in the morning.
The mine (Central Norseman Gold Mine- which has been operational for 80 years) will close finally in less than a month. Most people have moved on. The town is full of empty houses, mining rubbish and empty boarded up shops. It looked very neglected although there were a few good looking things. The Main Street is still as wide as ever but has been planted out with lovely native gardens. So many empty shops. Cassidy's store where I bought all my "haute couture" high fashion, shoes, linen, sewing equipment etc is just an empty building. There is a display if mining equipment (Greg loved that bit) is set in a grove of local native trees and it even has a pond with water lilies.
Up the hill to our first home...empty with a crime scene tape over the back door. Guess that means it has been broken into. The tree we planted has survived to be a huge lemon scented gum. The slime dump across the is still there, still looking like some Egyptian pyramid. Walking into the backyard was a mistake ......ow! ....we spent the next few minutes picking double gees out of our soles.
Then on to our second home which was a brand new transportable. We introduced ourselves and had a look out the back. The family living there are moving away and then it will be empty. Just sad! But some of the original garden we planted is still there; the palm tree.... now rubbing on the house and the white cedar .... now towering over the house and probably dangerous.
Greg had a beer at the Mine Workers Club while I walked the dog and discovered that there are some locals about that we knew all those years ago. The club is so grotty. School still looks smart, it was brand new when I worked there.
So we are off across the Nullarbor tomorrow, not sure where we'll get to.
No comments:
Post a Comment