​Greetings fellow Foxies,
 I love climbing and understanding rocks (my wife thinks that there is mountain goat in my ancestry).
In the process of producing a Boyagin Rock brochure I climbed over and around it and compared it with our other great rock tourist destination, Yilliminning Rock. Both are inselbergs that outcrop from underlying granite basement rock that welled up when two older slabs of continental rock crashed into each other about two thousand seven hundred million (2,700,000,000) years ago. At the time volcanos erupted and a huge alpine mountain range similar to today’s Himalayas was formed. Over great time this bit of rock joined with others to form Australia and the supercontinent Gondwana, that joined more to form the global supercontinent Pangea, that then split up (greatly simplified). Very slowly the mountain range weathered and washed away.
Another mind-blowing statistic is that Yilliminning and Boyagin rocks were once part of magma chambers 5 to 7 kilometres below the ground surface. These have been exposed over eons as the overlying material was removed.
 
In the agricultural area, features like ridges, cracks and waterways tend to follow straight lines that may suddenly change from one direction to another. Our soils and the depth to crystalline bedrock are shallower than many other parts of the world. Surface features often reflect faults, intrusions and other changes in the mainly granite basement. Lines frequently trend northwest- south east, northeast -southwest, east-west, and north-south.
 
There are distinct differences between the two rocks.
Yilliminning Rock is more typical as a large granite dome arising from a gently undulating landscape.

​The Boyagin landscape is much hillier, and the rock itself is more variable. It is one of two adjoining large rocks project from the eastern side of a lateritic upland plain.
In the early morning, variations in the texture of Boyagin Rock granite can be seen in strange shapes where there has been uneven weathering of the rock. Look closely and you can see lines and mini ‘craters’ and lumpy spots on the otherwise smooth granite. 

​A look on a map shows that uplands and rivers in the Brookton area commonly trend north-south up to beyond the Avon Valley.

​An explanation goes back about 95 million years when India was once attached to, but slowly separating from WA. Brookton and surrounds were part of a plain with west-flowing rivers carrying sediment
into a rift valley that is now the Swan Coastal Plain (Perth – Bunbury etc.)
 
83 million years ago India finally separated from western WA and drifted north to crash into Asia.
With the weight of the Indian block removed, a line east of the Darling Fault from about Carnamah to the south coast bulged upwards to create the Darling Range. The land rose about 250 metres and was accompanied by other parallel downward and upward folds in the ground to its east.
 
These changes in slope completely blocked the old east-west flowing rivers and the blocked water ran down a new valley south from Dalwallinu (Mortlock North branch), and North from Pingelly (Avon South branch) into the Swan River.
The newly created Boyagin Creek then exposed Boyagin Rock.
​General north- south river systems and lines of ridges in the Darling Range can be seen on the before and after diagrams

​When I investigated the southwest base of Boyagin Rock I was surprised to see what looks like a quite recent north west-south east fault in the granite that had been exposed in a creek. 

As it turns out, generally east of Brookton is a localised earth movement hotspot in the southwest seismic zone (remember the Meckering earthquake?).
The Darling Range may also still be slowly rising so the old rocks may still be rocking. Of course the Wagyl also had a part to play.
 Click this link for a visual exploration of the rock.
Next time you climb Boyagin Rock take a good look around and be grateful for this true rock of ages.

​Greetings fellow Foxies,
 
This reserve near Tarwonga is not named on any map. The reserve is named after Michael Quinn, one of the pioneering pastoralists in the district, and whose name is preserved in the adjoining Quinn’s Pool.
It is a great area for wildflowers, bushwalking and birds because of so many pristine and varied land and vegetation types, including lovely riverside flats that have mostly been cleared for agriculture. It also contains part of an old bullock wagon trail from Wagin to Williams via camping spots at pools on the way.
About half was surveyed and fenced for agriculture but luckily not cleared. A small block was subsequently designated as a mallet reserve.
Now for the bad news. Most of the entry tracks and some internal ones cross waterways that are too deep and boggy for all but experienced four-wheel drive owners. I found a way in from Tarwonga Road, but one needs to drive on to a fairly steep road cutting to enter. OK if you have confidence and a car like my 2WD-ute that can handle the odd scratch from track-side vegetation. I also take an extra jack and recovery tracks in case I get bogged. Mobile phone reception is poor on the flats. It is a long walk to neighbouring farms, and 27kms to Narrogin.
There is a lot more to see that can be managed in one trip. I really enjoyed the frequent changes in landscape, views and vegetation while wandering through the bush. Numbers below indicate my favourite spots so far. Definitely returning next spring.

​Area 1 can be accessed by a short walk through sheoak woodland to clear “islands” of shallow granite.
This is a delightful area in August/September. I found blue fairy orchids, lemon scented sun orchids growing amongst wetland plants and everlastings.

Area 2 comprises the granite outcrops and mallet ridges further up on the crest of the hill. Walking up to it from area 1 can be a challenge due to dense regrowth of Acacia celastrifolia (great flowers in August). If you are tempted to drive directly up from the eastern boundary, there is a creek crossing that I won’t attempt in my ute in winter. Either walk up the firebreak or take a circuitous route from the (hidden) entrance on a road cutting bank further down.The walk in from the firebreak is a bit challenging via mallet ridges and dense growth, but it is worth it. I also found feral pig diggings on red soil here below a line of granite that marked an ancient fault line

​Area 3 is a long sandy gravel slope that adjoins area 2, with low breakaways on its southern and eastern edges. This is species-rich kwongan scrub with diverse new growth from a recent fire. Nice view from here, and interesting plants.

​ Area 4 is a waterway with shallow rocky soil nestled below mallet breakaways. The track up to it is eroded and a bit rough. Vegetation here is very attractive Calothamnus quadrifidus scrub dotted with Grevillea pinnatifida and Isopogon dubious shrubs. It is a lovely spot to wander around and explore

​Area 5 comprises gentle slopes and flats surrounding the two major waterways. This varies from orchid-rich shrubby sheoak and wandoo woodland, open wandoo woodland on sandy duplex soils to sand over gravel over clay open kwongan with patches of mallee. Pleasant country to have a picnic and walk around looking for orchids

For more photos of this reserve click this Google photos link

​The location is 19kms from Narrogin on the Tarwonga Road. Driving south, soon after passing the Highbury West Road intersection, the next uncleared land is Highbury B block. Look for the Telstra sign and turn left onto a track on the top of a rise. The trail leads further into a Telstra tower (note, it is easy to get lost if you try to follow any side trails.)
Stop by the large granite rock on the right (‘Telstra spot’). 

​The landscape and soils at the Telstra spot are unusual in having varying depths of grey gritty sand over grey clay with granite outcrops. The gnarled jarrah trees near shallow clay and rock are very unusual and there is a lovely range of shrubs around the rock including August flowering blue hakea (Hakea lehmanniana).
​The slope on the north side of the track has an attractive range of vegetation ranging from winter-wet low kwongan scrub on shallow sand over grey clay with larger plants and sheoak woodland where the sand is deeper. Good orchid country. Dotted in amongst this are lichen-rich low granite outcrops with rock pools and a beautiful but tiny red bladderwort (redcaps Utricularia menziesii) that I haven’t seen elsewhere in the Narrogin district

The slope on the north side of the track has an attractive range of vegetation ranging from winter-wet low kwongan scrub on shallow sand over grey clay with larger plants and sheoak woodland where the sand is deeper. Good orchid country. Dotted in amongst this are lichen-rich low granite outcrops with rock pools and a beautiful but tiny red bladderwort (redcoats Utricularia menziesii) that I haven’t seen elsewhere in the Narrogin district.
There is an illegal trail bike track provided for you to walk on. Be sure to smile for Parks and Wildlife hidden cameras that may be installed to catch trail bikers and illegal woodcutters

​To get to the ‘Forestry Road spot’ drive further down Tarwonga Road on the southern edge of the reserve and turn into Forestry Road. The Forestry road turnoff is easy to miss as it looks more like a fire access track. Park near the corner as there can be deep and boggy pools further down.
This is a water gaining spot with a wonderful show of orchids and other wildflowers in October. Of note is the tall late October flowering heart leaf poison Gastrolobium bilobum. This is the only spot in the district that I have found this poison, but it was more common in early settlement days because it was common in granite soil country that was favoured grazing country for early settlers. The lovely Pustkuchen ruin near here was abandoned because there was  such a huge germination of this poison after a wildfire on the land that the owners abandoned the farm.
Look carefully on the eastern edge of the poison to find silky blue orchids, Cyanicula sericea, purple pansy orchids Diuris longifolia, and a few little kangaroo paws Anigozanthus bicolour.
The mixed display of everlastings and other spring flowers is delightful
 
For more images click individual images in this Google photos album

​Greetings fellow Foxies,
Malyalling reserve is an attractive 52-hectare bush reserve that was a hub of activity for surrounding residents in the early 20th century. Read about this at the information bay on the corner of Kirk Rock and Wickepin-Yealering roads.

The School
A short track on the south side of Kirk Rock Road leads to a plaque commemorating the first one-teacher Malyalling School from 1910 to 1925. These schools were dotted all over the agricultural areas where an intrepid teacher taught all primary grades of children in fairly primitive conditions. Student numbers were often low to the extent that underage children were enrolled to meet the minimum number required.
The image below is particularly significant for my wife Aileen, as the teacher is Sir Fred Chaney who went on to become the minister for the navy in the Fraser federal government at the time of the Voyager disaster. The Chaney’s were also Aileen’s childhood neighbours in Kensington, and she has fond memories of playing with Freddy (AO), Michael (AO), and Rick Chaney. 
​A quaint school garden of introduced Sparaxis bulbs with rock borders remains.
When these schools closed due to lack of pupils they were carted off to another spot. I met a disgruntled grey nomad at Malyalling who was sick of going out to historic WA sites, only to find a plaque on a rock (can’t blame her).

​The Rock
The adjoining low granite rock has a nice covering of lichens and native plants, and gives a view of farm land to the south. Granite sun orchids and tiny little laughing leek orchids flower there in spring. Surrounding York gum-jam woodland is infested with wild oats (probably brought in by horses ridden by school kids and families attending events), but you can find fringed mantis orchids and donkey orchids around the base of the rock. Please take care to avoid lichens on the rock, particularly when they are dry and brittle

​The sports ground
A hub for local sport from 1920 to 1960,it is covered in regrowth. After much hunting around I found the football shed and tennis net support posts, the oval, and cricket pitch,
The largely intact morning tea shed was unfortunately littered from an evening drinking session by a fire.

​Bushwalking, bird watching and wildflower opportunities
There are some lovely areas of bush in the reserve. A highlight is the York gum woodland patch containing spring flowering blood spider orchids and stark white orchids, and orchid rich bushland on the other side of the road where I found an ant orchid. Splendid open salmon gum- wandoo forest on the south east area is a good bird watching and bushwalking area. Lots of orchids in the jam sandy woodland too. I found a really unusual morel fungus there.
 
A flora survey of Malyalling and Rich Road reserves can be downloaded below

​Overall
The average tourist, arriving here without information will be disappointed, but with on-site interpretive panels and a brochure, it would be a nice spot for them.
Good bushwalking country particularly on the eastern end.