Page 3 - Caravan World Magazine Lake Ballard Beings
P. 3

    MAKING THE STATUES
What are these, really? According to the artist who conceived and rendered them, they are “Cast alloy of iron, molybdenum, iridium, vanadium and titanium; 51 elements based on 51 inhabitants of Menzies.”
Apparently, many of the citizens were a bit suspicious when Antony Gormley turned up with his full-body scanning machine, asking people to strip naked for him and his machine (an original line, don’t you think?). Yet, upon viewing the statues of themselves, reduced to two- thirds, those same citizens now take great pride in their participation.
Gormley’s artistic intention seems as unfathomable as the surrounding landscape, and many critics wondered what a British artist would know about it anyway; but any caravanner who has driven for days across the vastness of WA will see instantly that he got it right.
           gold towns come and go. A few of this trail’s highlights can be seen on the way to Menzies, 132km north of Kalgoorlie.
A worthwhile, 27km diversion takes you from Broad Arrow to Ora Banda’s historic town and inn. Broad Arrow itself has a historic hotel and a current population of about eight, down from 2400 since its gold rush ended.
From Menzies, you can continue on
the Golden Quest Discovery Trail up the sealed road to Leonora and Laverton, which both have caravan parks and other facilities. Again, there are interesting diversions along the way.
But the highlight of the entire trail
is surely one of the most unique, unexpected, astonishing art exhibits in the world: the statues of Lake Ballard.
GETTING To LAKE BALLArd
The caravanner has several options for taking in this must-see destination. One is to leave the van in Kalgoorlie and do the 374km round trip in a day, and keep in mind that the 108km return trip from Menzies to the lake is unsealed.
Another option is to leave the van at Goongarrie, 90km north of Kalgoorlie and 42km south of Menzies. The campground is at the homestead of a former sheep station, now a conservation reserve. There is bushwalking at Goongarrie, birdwatching and a 4WD track along the old Comet Vale siding – for further details, check at the Department of Conservation office in Kalgoorlie.
A final option is to drive the van to Menzies and leave it at the caravan park in the centre of town. This will give you plenty of time to meet all the statues
at Lake Ballard in the early morning
or late afternoon (the prime viewing times) without having to race to or from Kalgoorlie. The hotel in Menzies serves meals, and if you shout one of the locals a beer, they might tell you how they became immortalised as one of the statues.
MEETING THE sTATUEs
So, with a packed lunch, plenty of water, sun protection and suitable footwear, it is on to Lake Ballard. The wide, unsealed road from Menzies has some corrugation,
dust, floodways, cattle grids and numerous bends that should be taken at an easy speed. There are plenty of signs to indicate the way, and after about an hour, there you are, parking near a posting that advises you about the statues along with a few cautions.
Put on your waterproof shoes, your thermonuclear protection (sunglasses, hat and cream) and a backpack with plenty of water. After a short walk, you’ll be carefully making your way along
the shimmering surface of a salt lake, breaking through the thin, white crust to the mud underneath. The footprints of previous visitors add to the impression
                                   Clockwise from top left: Kalgoorlie has some impressive architecture, courtesy of its gold wealth; the parking area at Lake Ballard; woman on the lake; Cobb & Co coach in Kalgoorlie’s WA Museum.
88 caravanworld.com.au
        











































































   1   2   3   4