Moving ‘Camp’ Esperance, Western Australia
Here’s another very welcome memoir from OVF’s very own Barry Edge…
Barry Edge writes…
This is a story about my eldest brother’s solution to an official notice saying his ‘Camp’ would be making way for the widening and realignment of the crossroads into the Port of Esperance.
Thomas lived and worked in Kalgoorlie – 391 klms by road due north of Esperance – and the house he bought near the port terminal was used as a ‘Camp’ (as he would call it) for family sabbaticals and a place to stay when doing electrical contract work in and around the coastal town.
Esperance is the southern hemisphere’s gateway to Australia’s principle nickel mining region and following a major upgrade in 2002 is now capable of handling Cape size vessels up to 200,000 tonnes.
Thomas’ ‘Camp’ was directly opposite the port’s main entrance on a corner block that rose gradually from front to back. His house, built at the bottom of the block and close to the street, was to make way for the scheduled widening and realignment of the crossroads into the port, but agreement could not be reached as to how much the Council should reimburse him for his loss of house and land. Eventually Thomas promoted a solution and the Council agreed providing it could be done quickly and without interrupting the road works already in progress.
He did have his doubters that it could be done because not only did the block gradually rise away from the main street front to back, it also sloped towards the side road. But on this occasion the saying ‘Where’s there’s a will there’s a way’ would require a very healthy cheque book.
As you can see from the above photograph success was achieved swiftly and efficiently.
See you later…
Barry Edge
Western Australia
November 4, 2019