Point Samson and Cossack

After leaving Marble Bar we made our way a bit further south, stopping first at a bush camp at Yule River (where we awoke to the sight of about a dozen cattle grazing right outside the van. The Labs were a bit excited); and then a few nights at Point Samson, just north of Karratha. We're on Ngarluma country.

Point Samson was first established in the early 1900s as a pastoral port, and to service large vessels that couldn't be accommodated at the nearby port of Cossack (Bajinhurrba). The original jetty was nearly 1900 feet long but much of it was destroyed by a cyclone in 1925. What remained was in use until 1989, when it was damaged beyond repair by Cyclone Orson, and later burned down in 1991. There's a new viewing platform where the ill-fated jetty once stood. Point Samson is mostly a holiday and recreational village now, with some excellent fishing spots.

A bit further down the road is the "ghost town" of Cossack. Cossack was originally named Tien Tsin after the vessel that landed the first settlers to the area in 1863. The town's name was changed to Cossack in 1871 after the vessel that brought WA's first governor, Sir Frederick Weld, to the area.

Cossack thrived in the late 1800s, and was a pearling before the luggers moved further north to Broome. It was also a hub for the Pilbara gold rush, and a major port for pastoralists. But the new jetty at Point Samson and a decline in gold prospecting in the area led to the town's demise. By 1950 all residents had moved away and it's buildings crumbled. It wasn't until 1976 that a committee was formed to restore some of the town's beautiful bluestone buildings.

Today there's a small museum and a coffee shop in the old Customs House. We didn't see any ghosts, but enjoyed a wander around some of the restored buildings, including the old lock up, where the Labs had a taste of what it would be like to spend some time in the "big house". I did have a passing thought about leaving the door closed while I dangled a line in the water. But those eyes are hard to resist.

Here's an assortment of photos. Enjoy.