Swale Drain & Wildflowers Walk Trails

You will find numerous tracks, trails and firebreaks to walk through the two bush blocks.

In the reserve locally known as the Railway Dam Reserve there exists 390 metres of Swales (drains which have a gentle fall and are constructed without banks to be un-obtrusive in the immediate environment). These are thought to have been hand built around 1911-12 as that is when the railway line was continued to Kojonup and Boyup Brook became a watering stop for trains.

The sides are granite slabs and the base is concrete and they have stood up to the test of time to a remarkable degree being over 100 years old. Along their length silt traps have been incorporated and a large one exists at the mouth of the dam. The Railway dam looks to be a perfect square in the style of what is commonly called a ‘turkey nest’ dam. All sides are fully concreted and very steep. Water was gravitated to the Water tanks at the Railway Station and even today can be still gravitated to the two dams in the town-site for use in low rainfall years.

Both the dam and the swales can be accessed from the Bi-centennial Walk Trail just after leaving the end of William Street but no entry to the dam should be attempted as it is steep sided and dangerous. Good viewing can be experienced from outside the fence.

Be aware that there are nippy insects and prickly plants as well as possible active reptiles (in season) in the bush.

THE PICKING OR REMOVAL OF WILDFLOWERS IS PROHIBITED.