Gibraltar Rock (Western Australia)

Gibraltar Rock is a granite outcrop in the Porongurup National Park, south of Perth, in Western Australia. From the rock, which is 2,100 feet (640 metres) high, Albany and the Great Southern Ocean can be seen. Since the 1970s, the Rock, along with some other local peaks, has become a popular venue for rock climbers.

Gibraltar Rock
Gibraltar Rock, Porongurups
Highest point
Elevation2,100 ft (640 m)
Coordinates34°40′13″S 117°51′19″E 
Geography
Parent rangePorongurups Range

Location

Gibraltar Rock is 355 kilometres (221 mi) south of Perth, Western Australia.[1] The rock is located in the Porongorups Range, which has thirteen total named peaks including Twin Peaks, The Devils Slide, Nancy Peak, Castle Rock, and Elephant Rock.[2][3] From the peak of the rock, Albany and the Great Southern Ocean can be seen.[4] Road access to the rock is from Bolganup Road and Scenic Drive.[5]

Features

Gibraltar Rock is 2,100 feet (640 m) tall,[6] and is part of a range that sits at 660 metres (2,170 ft) high.[3] The rock is made of rough granite.[5] Its appearance has been compared to the Rock of Gibraltar.[3]

In the early 1990s, the Rock was yielding small amounts of gold to the "dollying" process.[2] It shares characteristics with other terrain in the area which was successfully mined in the late 1800s.[7] The lack of water in the area made more successful mining of the rock difficult in the early part of the twentieth century.[8] As of 1962, the average annual rainfall in the area was roughly 32 inches (810 mm) per year.[6]

Gibraltar Rock has been described as "an enormous hunk of rough granite that provides the longest and most serious slab climbing in WA".[9] The first organised climb by the Climbers Association of Western Australia was done in 1974.[9] One of the faces of the rock is called Dockyard Wall. It was originally graded 17 crux climb. Two climbing bolts were added to this route in 1992.[10] Other routes up the mountain include Second Anniversary Waltz,[5] Crime of Passion, Dinosaur, Apes Den, Illusions of Grandeur,[11] Possum, Apesway,[12] Main Street, Sucked in Ben, Moorish Steps, Europa Point,[13] Rooster Carnage, Joint Venture, and Zeppelin.[14]

Background

In 1928, an exhibition of the watercolor works of C. S. Bardwell Clarke was held at the artist's studio, Sheffield House, Perth. The exhibition included a work featuring Gibraltar Rock.[15] A winery is named after the rock.[16]

See also

References

Citations

  1. "Map of Gibraltar Rock in Western Australia – Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia". Bonzle.com. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  2. "The mining industry". The Daily News. Perth: National Library of Australia. 28 September 1910. p. 5 Edition: SECOND EDITION. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  3. "The whimsical wildflowers of the Porongurups". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 6 May 1981. p. 76. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  4. "The Porongorups". Albany Advertiser. WA: National Library of Australia. 15 October 1930. p. 3. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  5. Gledhill 2006, p. 19.
  6. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia. 1962. p. 18. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  7. "NORTH-WEST MINERAL FIELDS". South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 13 June 1900. p. 6. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  8. "MINING AND STOCKS AND SHARES". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 5 June 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  9. Gledhill 2006, p. 1.
  10. Gledhill 2006, p. 2.
  11. Gledhill 2006, p. 20.
  12. Gledhill 2006, p. 21.
  13. Gledhill 2006, p. 22.
  14. Gledhill 2006, p. 23.
  15. "WATER – COLOR EXHIBITION". The Daily News. Perth: National Library of Australia. 22 November 1928. p. 6 Edition: HOME FINAL EDITION. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  16. Lawther, James (16 February 2007). "Australia's Great Southern | Wine Articles | People & Places". decanter.com. Retrieved 29 October 2012.

Sources

  • Gledhill, Neil (April 2006). Porongurups Rock Climbing Guide (PDF). Western Australia: Climbers Association of Western Australia. p. 19.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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