HAMELIN STATION RESERVE - STROMATOLITES

This station is a former pastoral station and is one of the newest properties to come under Bush Heritage care.  202,000 hectares is habitat to heaps of vulnerable animal and 115 species of birds.  It also boosts the Shark Bay World Heritage Area to 10% so is very significant to conserving this vital landscape.  17,000 sheep and goats have been relocated so these shearing sheds are no longer in use.  Got our bikes out of their bags for the first time since Derby and pedalled around the station before heading out to see the stromatolites at Hamelin Pool.

"Stromatolites are the first record of life.  They're evidence that bacteria existed 3.5 billion years ago.  The fact that we've got this window of life on Earth billions of years ago, makes Hamelin pretty much the most phenomenal place on the planet."  Remarkably, Hamelin Pool is one of only two places on Earth where marine stromatolites exist and there is nowhere comparable for the sheer number and variety of stromatolites found here at Hamelin.  This was well worth the 10 klm bike ride to view them, plus one does need the exercise!!

This walkway has been built to protect the stromatolites from being damaged unnecessarily.