Gibb River Road History

The Gibb River Road was known as the "Mt House road" up until 1962. The old Mt House road originally went through Windjana Gorge, Carpenter's Gap, Whisky Crossing and Wombarella. It then travelled onto Mac Creek where the new Gibb River Road crosses today. From here the old Mt House road went up to the Fletcher River then turned off onto Duncan Yards and then down to Old Mt Hart Station. From here it continued onto Stumpy's 1st homestead and then past Mt Broome and Mt Ord then down to Rifle Creek. It went through Imintji (which used to be known as Saddler Springs) and then through to Egon Bore (Mt House).

On this old road it used to take 1 month to travel by wagon for supplies from Mt House to Derby.

This old road was handmade - using pick and shovel large rocks and boulders were moved to create 'windrows' on either side of the track. This track was wide enough for a bullock wagon to pass through. In some sections of the old road the wind rows were built up to a metre in height, and where the road cut through the sides of hills the rocks in the windrows were piled high to try and help stop rock slides and erosion. A lot of hard work went into making this old road passable, and into maintaining it.

Main roads came along in 1961 to upgrade 'the Mt House Road'. They had a camp at the Fletcher Crossing called '#1 Camp'. The new road they formed followed the old road to The Fletcher River. But they took the new road through the hills to Inglis Gap (instead of following the old Mt House road further west and along the Fletcher River and through to old Mt Hart station).

In 1962 the road was opened up through Inglis Gap and main roads made their 2nd camp here.

The road was then taken as far as Dog Chain Creek and main roads set up their third camp across the creek on the left hand side of the road.

Main roads then did the road up through Marsh Fly Glen to their next camp, and as far as Glenroy Meatworks.

In 1963 the first Freezer truck of beef travelled to Glenroy meatworks along this new road.

Main roads then extended the road through to Gibb River and Kurungie. The Mt House Road was renamed to the 'Gibb River Road'. A few years later the road was extended as far as Ellenbrae Station.

Information generously supplied by Sam Lovell who worked as a Kimberley Stockmen for many years all through this country. He remembers and can still find the path of the old Mt House road today. This old road is now overgrown with native grasses, saplings and termite mounds. It is hardly recognisable in sections. Sam knew the stations along the length of the old road - he knew the people that lived and worked there, and their stories. Sam worked for Main roads in the 1960's to help build the new Gibb River Road.