The Nullarbor sunrise is, without a doubt, a spectacle like no other. This morning’s crimson blaze reminded us just why we keep coming back to this vast, open space.
After that stunning show, we knew we needed a good cup of coffee, and Penong was the next stop.
Now, we've crossed from Western Australia to South Australia, and back again, more times than we care to count. Yet, we'd somehow never taken the time to pull into the Penong Windmill Museum. This trip, we decided, was going to be different.
What a collection! Penong boasts one of the largest collections of windmills in Australia, and the sheer variety is astounding.
There are windmills big and small, old and slightly less old, each one a testament to the ingenuity required to survive in this sometimes unforgiving landscape. Each mill tells a story of how station owners, farmers, and families were able to make the most of what they had available. Without these icons of rural life, towns like Penong would have been impossible.
We spent a good couple of hours wandering amongst the giants, imagining the stories they could tell. It really gives you a sense of the challenges faced by those who settled this land. And, of course, we couldn’t resist a photo opportunity with one of the more impressive specimens.
It’s not every day you find yourself dwarfed by a windmill! It's safe to say that this will be a must-stop from now on whenever we cross the Nullabor.
