Description

This free day use area offers nice scenery and walking tracks with an abundant display during wildflower season, good birdwatching and even the occasional echidna. No camping or overnight parking allowed. Nearest toilet facilities in Mingenew - 11km east. History of Depot Hill: In 1846, the Gregory Brothers; Augustus, Frank and Henry passed through the Depot Hill valley whilst searching for new grazing land. While following the Irwin River they came across Coal on the Watershed in what is now known as 'Coalseam Conservation Park'. Two days after leaving a portion of their equipment on a hillside, which they named Depot Hill, the party traced the Irwin River to the sea before continuing to the Northampton area. In 1847 three hundred weights of coal was transported from the 'Coalseam' by cart along the river, where the cart capsized at Depot Hill, after four days of repairing the party was again on its way to Dongara Bay where it then sailed to Fremantle. During World War II the Depot Hill Firing range was built by hand, by the soldiers of the Australian Armed Forces from the eastern states, who trained at Depot Hill before being sent overseas. Only the target trench of the gunnery range remains with its stonework. Also, you might see tank tracks, as well ammunition shells that are still being unearthed on farms over the hill to this day. Mingenew was a large army area after Darwin and Broome were bombed, but only untrained soldiers early in the WWII used this range. You can view the remnants of the firing range along the walking trail.