CARNARVAN
Carnarvan is the next centre
travelling south after Exmouth and Coral Bay, and again also after
another long drive. Carnarvan is also the most western major centre in
Australia, and what a nice commercial centre it is. Carnarvan is an
‘oasis’ town with the production of many agricultural products in the
immediate area.
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The town was founded in
1883, initially as a port and supply centre for the surrounding
region, and is the administrative centre for the Shire of Carnarvon,
the town site was officially gazetted on 4 June 1891. It was named
after Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, Under-Secretary of State
for the Colonies.
During the 1960s, NASA set
up a tracking station nearby to support the Gemini and Apollo space
program. The tracking station was closed in the mid 1970s. Only the
foundations of what was an historical site remain. See also OTC
Satellite Earth Station Carnarvon.
Carnarvan is also the closest major
centre to that area in the Indian Ocean where the HMAS Sydney 11 was
sunk with the total loss of life in 1942. The Memorial Avenue in
Carnarvan is a worthy acknowledgement to this awful tragedy. 
The
Hotels in Carnarvan are great old buildings are representative of the
era of the great Aussie Pubs.  _small.JPG) 
The Catholic
and Anglican
Churches are traditional designs.
The Carnarvan War Memorial is located
in the centre of town. 
The Carnarvan Museum is located at the
Indian Ocean Wharf. The Wharf is also an historic structure.   
Carnarvan is one of those places to
allow time to enjoy.
Diary notes  
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