Vol. XXII 

 1923 



] WHTTLOCK. Trip to fortescuc Rkrr 259 



A Trip to the Fortescue River and Hamersley 

 Ranges, North- West Australia 



Bv F. LAWSOX WHITl.OCK, K.A.O.U., Tudor, 

 ria Albany. W.A. 



The F"ortescue River and Hamersley Ranges are intimately 

 connected. Both run in the same direction — roughly E.N.E. 

 to W.N.W. — and, generally si)eaking, in parallel courses some 

 twenty miles a])art. The ranges, however, have considerable 

 extensions to the southward, where they are connected with 

 other, at present unnamed, ranges. Still further to the south 

 lies Mt. Bruce, 4,024 feet, the highest point in Western Aus- 

 tralia. Mt. Bruce lies immediately to the east of a large tribu- 

 tary of the Fortescue River, known as the Lyons River, or 

 Southern Branch. The length of the true Hamersley Ranges 

 is about 150 miles. The course of the Fortescue River, where 

 it is recognisable as a ri\er bed, is about 200 miles. The 

 ranges proper have a width of from twelve to twenty miles. 

 They rise abruptly from a ])lateau elevated about 1,400 feet 

 above sea level. All their northern sloi)es drain int(j the 

 Fortescue River. One of the highest mounts of the Ranges is 

 Mt. Pyrton, 2,727 feet. 



In June, 1922, it was arranged that I should pay a visit to 

 the Fortescue River and the Hamersley Ranges on behalf of 

 Mr. H. L. White, of I'.elltrees, New Sf)uth Wales, who financed 

 the trip. 



Of course, in a i)eriod of a few months it would not be 

 possible to do more than run over such an extensive area of 

 country, and with small chances of observing rare or secretive 

 forms of bird-life. It was decided, therefore, that 1 should 

 make for the most convenient point accessible from Roebourne. 

 Outside the north-west, it is always difficult to obtain reliable 

 information as to the character of any part of the country, 

 and also as to the presence of drinkable water, unless one is 

 lucky enough to run across someone who has actually lived 

 in the area to be visited. 



Lately, Mill Stream Station has been much before the i)ublic 

 eye in connection with cotton growing in the north-west, and 

 the description in the press of the magnificent pools of water 

 found in the Fortescue River, which passes through the run, 

 decided me to make my headquarters there. 



I left Fremantle by the S.S. Muideroo, on July 16th last, 

 and arrived at Point Samson some six days later. The voyage 

 was calm and uneventful. The only birds met with of special 

 interest being a few examples of the \\1iite-headed Fulmar 



