An online visitor's guide to Western Australia's parks, reserves and other recreation areas.
Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve 
Hamelin Pool boardwalk Photo - WA Tourism Commission
Location:Western Australia
Introduction:
Hamelin Pool is one of only two places in the world with living marine stromatolites, or "living fossils". It also has the distinction of being Western Australia's only marine nature reserve.
About
Location
The main visitor attraction in Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve is the Hamelin Pool boardwalk, which is 105 kilometres from Denham or 35 kilometres from the Overlander Roadhouse.
What's special?
Hamelin Pool is home to the most diverse and abundant examples of living marine stromatolites, or "living fossils", in the world. These creatures are monuments to life on Earth over 3500 million years ago; a time when no other complex creatures were present on the planet. It also has the distinction of being Western Australia's only marine nature reserve.
Getting there and getting around
To visit Hamelin Pool, drive 27 km along the sealed road from the North West Coastal Highway and turn right at the signs to the Old Telegraph Station (another 5 km). From there it's a short walk along a formed walking track to reach the boardwalk and view the stromatolites.
Enjoying the park
Stromatolites are the number one attraction at Hamelin Pool and a visit to the boardwalk to view them is a must.
Boolagoorda Walk: This 1.4 km loop track links the Old Telegraph Station with the stromatolite boardwalk, passing the old shell block quarry, a grave and remains of the old telegraph line on the way. Information signs explain the significance of these features.
Shell Block Quarry: A shell species known as the Hamelin cockle is so prolific in Hamelin Pool that the shells have become compacted into a solid mass that can be cut into blocks. Some Shark Bay buildings, such as the old Pearler Restaurant and St Andrew's Church in Denham, were built from this material and the quarry site can be seen along the Boolagoorda Walk.
Looking after the reserve
. When viewing the stromatolites please stay on the boardwalk to protect these delicate structures. Swimming is not permitted at Hamelin Pool.
. Know marine park zone boundaries and permitted activities (see the downloadable park brochure for further information).
. Dispose of litter thoughtfully.
. To protect fragile seagrass communities, please anchor in sand and don't cross seagrass banks at low tide if boating in the marine nature reserve.
Natural environment
Stromatolites are able to exist in the marine nature reserve because Hamelin Pool's water is twice as saline as normal seawater and seagrasses and many other forms of life (that would normally outcompete stromatolites) cannot survive there. They look like rocky lumps strewn in the shallows but are actually built by living organisms too small for the human eye to see. Within the structures are communities of diverse inhabitants with population densities of 3000 million individuals per square metre! The organisms use sediment and organic material to build stromatolites up to 1.5 metres high - up to 10 million times their size. Because they grow very slowly, a metre-high stromatolite could be about 2000 years old.
When the Shark Bay stromatolites were discovered by geologist Phillip Playford in 1956, they were the first growing examples ever recorded of structures found fossilised in very old rocks that had puzzled geologists for more than a century. The living microbes that built the stromatolites are similar to those found in 3500 million year old rocks, which are the earliest record of life on Earth.
Find out more about the formation of Hamelin Pool and its stromatolites .
Culture and history
Long before the stromatolites were discovered, Hamelin Pool was an important transport and communication hub. Built in 1884, the Hamelin Pool Telegraph Station became an important link in the telegraph line between Perth and Roebourne. Originally named Flint Cliff Telegraph Station after a local landmark, it played a vital role in WA's communication system until the advent of new technology in the late 1950s.
Also known as Flagpole Landing in the early 1900s, Hamelin Pool was an important transport terminus and the landing point for cargo vessels bringing in supplies and taking out wool from surrounding stations. There were no roads in those days so wool was hauled by horse and cart out to small vessels close to shore for transport to Perth. The wheel tracks from these carts can still be seen today in the algal mats near the boardwalk!
A small museum displays relics from the days when the telegraph station was operational. Along the Boolagoorda Walk are historic features relating to the telegraph station era such as remnants of the old telegraph line and an historic grave site.
Guided activities
A small private museum featuring relics from the days when the site was a repeater station on the Old Telegraph Line can be visited on tours run by the telegraph station staff. There is also a stromatolite display explaining the significance of these formations. A small entrance fee applies.
Gallery
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Hamelin Pool boardwalk Photo - WA Tourism Commission -
Hamelin Pool boardwalk -
Hamelin Pool stromatolites at low tide Photo - Bob Burne -
Marine stromatolites -
Boardwalk -
Stromatolites
Videos on YouTube
*Disclaimer: The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) makes the material on this website available on the understanding that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use. The material at this site may include views or recommendations of third parties, which do not necessarily reflect the views of DEC or the State of WA or indicate its commitment to a particular course of action.
More Information
Region: MidwestWhere is it: 105 kilometres from Denham or 35 kilometres from the Overlander Roadhouse.
Travelling time: The reserve is about an hour's drive from Denham and 30 minutes from the Overlander Roadhouse.
Access: The 1270 square kilometre Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve includes all land and water below the high tide mark including the stromatolites and boardwalk. The adjacent Hamelin Pool Telegraph Station and all its facilities are part of a privately run business. Fees apply for camping there.
Best season: The best time to visit is between June and October, when winds are generally lightest and temperatures average in the mid-20s. Temperatures can be extremely hot in the summer months.
What to see and do: Walk the stromatolite boardwalk and learn about the beginnings of life on Earth. The visitor site is adjacent to the historic Hamelin Pool Telegraph Station, which is now a museum, caravan park and cafe.
Camping: You may stay overnight at Hamelin Pool in the privately operated campground at the Old Telegraph Station. Toilets, showers, water and kiosk facilities are available for people using the campground.
Facilities: The marine nature reserve is a day use area only. At the adjacent Hamelin Pool Telegraph Station there are tearooms, a campground and an interesting museum. Food, souvenirs and other merchandise can be purchased there. There is no fuel or motel accommodation. A full range of facilities and accommodation are available at Denham and Monkey Mia.
Extra facilities:
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YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3-M9TxWtJg
