Cocklebiddy, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CocklebiddyWestern Australia |
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The Wedgetail Inn, Cocklebiddy, 2017
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 Cocklebiddy
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1879 |
| Postcode(s) | 6443 |
| Area | [convert: needs a number] |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Dundas |
| State electorate(s) | Eyre |
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor |
Cocklebiddy is a tiny community in Western Australia. It is mostly a roadhouse located on the Eyre Highway. This highway crosses the huge Nullarbor Plain.
Cocklebiddy is the third stop you'll find when driving east from Norseman. The roadhouse here is called the Wedgetail Inn. It offers places to stay, like a caravan park and motel rooms. You can also watch satellite TV there.
The community is about 26 kilometers (16 miles) south of Twilight Cove. This is a cool spot on the coast. Cocklebiddy uses a special time zone, which is UTC+8:45. It is also 284 kilometers (176 miles) from Border Village.
Contents
A Look Back: Cocklebiddy's History
Early Days and the Telegraph Station
Cocklebiddy began as a mission station for Aboriginal Australians. Today, only the stone foundations of that station remain.
During World War II, soldiers tried to find fresh water here. They thought there might be a good water source. But they found only a thin layer of fresh water over a lot of salty water.
The Eyre Telegraph Station was built about 49 kilometers (30 miles) south of Cocklebiddy. It was open from 1897 to 1929. This station stayed in good condition because it was so far away from everything. It was also protected from the Southern Ocean.
In 1976, the government turned the area into the Nuytsland Nature Reserve. The old telegraph building became the Eyre Bird Observatory. This observatory opened in 1978. It's a great place for bird watchers. More than 230 types of birds have been seen there! You can even camp there.
Recent Discoveries and Visitors
In the year 2000, a new type of plant was found near Cocklebiddy. It's called Harperia eyreana. This plant is a kind of tussock-like plant. It was discovered about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of the community.
In 2007, the famous Australian comedy duo, Hamish and Andy, visited Cocklebiddy. They are known for their funny radio show.
Exploring Cocklebiddy's Amazing Caves
The area around Cocklebiddy is famous for its caves. The most well-known is Cocklebiddy Cave. It's a very long cave, stretching over 6 kilometers (3.7 miles). Most of this cave is underwater! This means you can only explore it by cave diving.
In August 1983, a team from France set a world record here. They completed the longest cave dive ever. But in October of that same year, an Australian team broke their record. Hugh Morrison from Western Australia dived an extra 280 meters (919 feet) further!
In 1995, another cave diver, Christopher Brown, went 20 meters (66 feet) even further. Later, in 2008, more of the cave was explored. Divers Craig Challen and Richard Harris used special equipment called rebreathers. They mapped and videotaped parts of the cave. You might know Challen and Harris from their amazing work in the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand.
