One night in Dumbleyung - no oysters.

[GarrettM]

With apologies to the one Murray Head fan who inhabits every internet forum.

We just completed our two week holiday/book sale mission of southern WA. Two nights in Denmark on a farmstay, eight in Esperance, a short layover in Dumbleyung, and finishing with two nights in Balingup to celebrate a mate's 40th.

I wasn't going to do any sort of report, but I thought some people might be interested in Dumbleyung and its unique claim to fame.

So the town was founded in 1907, and lies about 270 kilometres south east of Perth, near Wagin, smack bang in the middle of the Wheatbelt. Only about 200 odd folk live in the joint, and there's not a lot to see.

Except for a full size replica of Donald Campbell's Bluebird K7!!!!


On December 31, 1964, Campbell claimed the world water speed record on Lake Dumbleyung, hitting 444.71kmh. Earlier in the year he set the land speed record, and he's still the only person to set both records in the same year.
Aside from being a wheat centre, the town is essentially a tribute to him.
More Bluebird.



The Community Resource Centre doubles as the Donald Campbell interpretive memorial display.


And outside the centre is a very impressive sculpture of the man himself, made with chicken wire!

 

[GarrettM]

We took a short drive out to Lake Dumbleyung, and the lookout on top of cough Cat Hill. (NB - it seems AFF auto-censors that other word for cat. How bizarre).





The lookout is actually on someone's farm, and the views away from the lake aren't too shabby either.

 

[GarrettM]

Given it was getting on a bit we headed to the only place (literally there is nowhere else) to get a feed, the GODI - Grande Olde' Dumbleyung Inn. hotel, Tavern




Built in 1912 by AJ Tunney, the old girl is showing her age. But she's an impressive building. At the time of construction many people were opposed to the idea of putting the hotel on the southern side of the town due to flooding fears, but Tunney said 'she'll be right mate'.

She was not right. It was flooded less than two years after construction, and several times since. The water damage in some parts is pretty severe.
But she endures!
We had an excellent surf and turf combo for dinner. No pics. It wasn't actually very aesthetically pleasing, but it sure tasted good.
There's also more Campbell stuff in there.
And like all good country pubs, it has the local fishing club's brag board!


And among all the Campbell clippings we found this gem of a story about an old Aunty presenter.


For those inclined to see more (???) of Dumbleyung for themselves, we stayed at the Sugar Shack, a renovated two bedroom cottage built in 1927. Sugar Shack Holiday Cottage - Dumbleyung Accommodation
It was very comfortable, and suitable for kids, with a bunkbed, satellite tv, a nearby playground, and other stuff. Also it's a short walk to the pub.
The one negative is it has no wifi, but as we were only there for the night we weren't too concerned.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Thanks for the trip report on Dumbleyung and The Godi.

Last weekend, Thursday to Tuesday I spent in Western Australia and after spending the weekend in Cervantes, myself and my travel companion drove the 300km each way to visit The Grande Old Dumbleyung Inn.

The Godi now has a new owner had purchased the hotel in August 2017, my travel companion had first met the owner in 2001 so they had kept in touch and when he had purchased the hotel it was always a plan to visit The Godi when he was next visiting WA.

The building has a bit of work to be done, although the roof has recently been replaced.

I sent a link to your trip report to the new owner.

The story of the Bluebird and the water speed record was very interesting and another reason to visit the town.

Not sure if you stopped in Wagin to visit The Giant Ram.

And Dumbleyung is so small it doesn't even appear on the Virgin IFE.

 

[GarrettM]

Thanks for the trip report on Dumbleyung and The Godi.

Last weekend, Thursday to Tuesday I spent in Western Australia and after spending the weekend in Cervantes, myself and my travel companion drove the 300km each way to visit The Grande Old Dumbleyung Inn.

The Godi now has a new owner had purchased the hotel in August 2017, my travel companion had first met the owner in 2001 so they had kept in touch and when he had purchased the hotel it was always a plan to visit The Godi when he was next visiting WA.

The building has a bit of work to be done, although the roof has recently been replaced.

I sent a link to your trip report to the new owner.

The story of the Bluebird and the water speed record was very interesting and another reason to visit the town.

Not sure if you stopped in Wagin to visit The Giant Ram.

And Dumbleyung is so small it doesn't even appear on the Virgin IFE.

View attachment 122785

Righto. Not sure if we met him or not, but if we did he would remember us as the couple with the very small girl, who both ordered steak on Thursday night.

 

[Black Duck]

Dumbleyung - great for a sail when the lake is full. Its still quite high after 2 years so my brother-in-law took his boat for a sail last week. Dinner at the GODi after. Its a classic little wheatbelt town.

 

[serfty]

And among all the Campbell clippings we found this gem of a story about an old Aunty presenter.

Something about that rang a bell, so I did some googling.

Sadly, I found this obiturary - seems quite the colourful life.

Google Groups - Robyn Slater; Television Newsreader (Australia)