In her second collection for FulGaz, Dr Kate Leeming grabbed the GoPro and headed home to Western Australia last summer to capture some favourite rides around Northam and the Avon Valley region.
Join Kate as takes us on some great local loops and hidden gems.
You can find these rides under NEW in FulGaz or by searching “Leeming“.
I begin from Throssell Street, following the southern perimeter of Northam before heading along the Avon River to the locality of Spencers Brook and then on to Clackline. Tracking the present Great Eastern Highway, Eadine Road doubles as a section of the Kep Track. The Kep Track follows the first 75km of the CY O'Connor's Golden Pipeline that pipes water from Mundaring Weir (Perth Hills) 569km to the Kalgoorlie goldfields, a feat that was deemed impossible before it was completed in 1902. Kep is a Noongar word for "water".
More InfoThis ride begins from the banks of the Avon River in Toodyay, another historic town settled in 1837, about a year after Northam. The name Toodyay is believed to be derived from an Aboriginal word 'Duidgee' which means 'place of plenty', referring to the richness and fertility of the area and the reliability of the Avon River. I ride along the main street, lined with many heritage buildings and then pick up the Northam-Toodyay Road. The route follows the Avon River with picturesque rolling hills either side of the valley. Just outside Northam, I take a diversion through Avon Yard, a huge grain receival point. The artwork, commissioned a few years ago on the wheat silos, is a real feature. The grain sheds are at least 400 metres long and the external grain stores were all full at the height of a prosperous harvest.
More InfoThis is a nostalgic ride for Kate as it takes in a part of her old school bus route. We leave the Southern Brook precinct and turn onto Southern Brook Road. A couple of kilometres later we turn left and head along the Grass Valley North Road. We eventually turn right on to Clydesdale Road, then along the Great Eastern Highway and back down Yilgarn Avenue, passing the race course, over the Mortlock River and into Northam.
More InfoThis is a favourite for ride for local cyclists, following the course of the Avon River from Northam to historic Katrine, 17km away via this picturesque, quiet tarmac route. Located near a natural ford on the Avon River, half way between Northam and Toodyay, Katrine was gazetted in 1832. The community served travellers between Northam and Toodyay (originally called Newcastle) and had one of the first post offices in Western Australia. The Katrine Church is still in occasional use and the adjacent cemetery is the resting place of several prominent pioneers of the region. This ride crosses the Avon River and continues along the Northam-Toodyay Road for a further 3km.
More InfoAn inspiring circuit through the rolling hills north east of Northam, taking in the Katrine and Irishtown roads to the locality of Irishtown. Turning east on Haddrill Road, you climb the hill where my grandmother and her brothers lost control of their horse and cart on the way to school from their Wongamine farm, a few kilometres away. At 18 km you turn right on to the gravel; McPherson Road and then Chitibin Road. Just after you cross the narrow gauge railway line, there was once the Chitibin grain receival point but, like all of the small sidings, it was taken out of service many years ago. Farmers now use much bigger machinery to harvest and transport the grain to larger receival points, as you will see when I pass a couple of wheat trucks on this ride. The driver of the semi-trailer I encounter on the dirt Chitibin Road, who enshrouded me in dust, later catches me in his ute (pick-up) just outside Northam, stopping to apologise for not slowing down as he passed. Apology accepted I roll back down Doctors' Hill and into town. Northam is home to over 180 heritage-listed buildings, the second-highest number of anywhere in Western Australia (after Fremantle) and many are visible as I pedal along the main street, Fitzgerald Street, past the Post Office and up Gordon Street. Northam is home to over 180 heritage-listed buildings, the second-highest number of anywhere in Western Australia (after Fremantle) and many are visible as I pedal along the main street, Fitzgerald Street, past the Post Office and up Gordon Street.
More InfoA memorable early Christmas morning ride from Northam, around Spencers Brook before climbing up Trimmer Road, a short distance along the Great Eastern Highway and then a turn back towards Northam. To make sure I earned my Christmas lunch, I included a climb up Mount Ommanney, the highest point overlooking Northam, and then back over the river, passing the Northam Flour Mill, a famous landmark, and into town.
More InfoBeginning and ending at the heritage-listed Northam Town Hall, this was a magical ride, initially following the course of the Avon River along the Spencers Brook - York Road. After 20km I turn onto the gravel, gradually ascending on the corrugated Hammersley Siding Road and then some steeper climbs up Waterfall Road. The circuit then tracks along a high ridge on Mokine Road before descending to the asphalt Clackline - Spencers Brook Road and back to Northam. Keep a look out for the kangaroos on Waterfall Road. This is the longest ride in the series. Keep a look out for the kangaroos on Waterfall Road. This is the longest ride in the series.
More InfoI grew up on a wheat and sheep farm in the locality of Southern Brook. This ride climbs east, away from Northam and after crossing the Mortlock River and railway line at Noggojerring, I turn on to the Southern Brook Road, climbing sharply to Centenary Hill, the highest point above Northam. I make a small tour around the Southern Brook locality, including a few kilometres of gravel on McManus Road. The ride ends after I cycle past the community hall and across the precinct to the site where my father went to school - a one roomed, one teacher school. He and his brother had to ride their horses across our home farm and our neighbour’s property to get to school every day, approximately 10km each way.
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