Castle Rock, Western Australia

Final climb and railings (facing the Stirling Range)

Castle Rock facing south towards Albany

Castle Rock is a tourist attraction in the Porongurup Range in the Great Southern region of Western Australia and is renowned for its fauna and flora. The rock formation was once named "Alfred's Castle" and until 2012 was plagued (see image) as being discovered [citation needed] by Alfred Meadows Gillam. Alfred Meadows Gillam (1836-1940) "established a transport business at Katanning and pioneered the transporting of provisions to Mt. Malcolm and Eastern Goldfields by the turn of the century, using wagons and camel teams before the railway was built".

There is a walk trail to the summit which offers 360 degree views, 570 metres (1,870 ft) above sea level from a lookout known as the Granite Skywalk. The walk also takes in the unusual 'Balancing Rock', a 6-metre-high (20 ft) granite boulder which reportedly weighs around 186 tonnes (410 thousand pounds) yet rests on a base just 1.21 square metres (13.02 sq ft).

The man made Skywalk was refurbish and reopened in 2012. The much needed refurbishment allows for a greater viewing experience and accommodates for more pedestrians to on the main platform. There is a lower platform that is accessible for those that are less able to climb the steep caged ladder.

A winery located on the eastern slopes of the range is named after this landmark.

External links

• Images of Castle Rock - Porongurup Range Archived 22 August 2015 at Wikiwix