Situated out on the arid and virtually treeless Nullarbor Plain (Nullarbor: meaning ‘no trees’), and totally exposed, the irony is that this place is called Forrest, which, in spite of the spelling, conjures up images of abundant trees. Not necessarily images of the stalwart explorer and first Premier of Western Australia, John Forrest, who led an expedition across the barren plain in 1870, and after whom this unique outpost has been named.
Kalgoorlie tracking 090 degrees to Forrest
On a previous occasion the Bazflyers staged through Forrest stopping just long enough to refuel. This time besides refueling, an overnight stop was also added, to sample at least a morsel of the location’s unique history. Nowadays only two people, a married couple, live at Forrest. A far cry from the settlement that it used to be.
Forrest railway station on the Trans Continental Railway
The 478 km section of railway line through Forrest is the longest stretch of dead-straight track in the world.
Nullabor panorama captured at Forrest
Forrest came into being in 1917 as a maintenance depot along the great Trans-Continental Railway connecting Adelaide in the East and Perth on the West Coast. Of particular interest to the Bazflyers was the vital role Forrest subsequently played in the evolution of Australian air transport. The first airplane passenger service across Australia took off in 1929 using three-engine Hercules aircraft, operated by West Australian Airways. The journey with these airplanes between Adelaide and Perth took 16 hours flying time and Forrest, a convenient half way location, became an overnight staging post for passengers and crew. A hanger to accomodate 4 airplanes was built along with hostel accomodation for 14 passengers, crew and ground staff. The original hanger provided shelter for ZK-BAZ but sadly nothing of the former hostel remains.
The original Forrest hanger.
With the advent of faster aircraft, the need for an overnight passenger stop was no longer necessary. However, Forrest continued in its role as a critical refuelling point for civil and military aircraft crossing from one side of the Continent to the other. During WW2 is was a joint RAAF and USAF station. The private owner of today’s Forrest still provides fuel for passing aircraft and overnight hospitality for those who have a nostalgic interest in the past, or indeed just happen to need a bed for the night.
The old Forrest school house provided comfortable Bazflyer accomodation.
Forrest Airport sunset
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