Jarrahdale Balmoral Trail (11km), Balmoral POW Camp, Western Australia

Jarrahdale Balmoral Trail is a 11km, grade 1 hike located in the Balmoral POW Camp, Western Australia. The hike should take around 3 hrs to complete.

Length: 11km

Duration: 3 hrs

Grade: 1

Style: One Way

Start: Balmoral POW Camp

End: Jarrahdale Road

Location: Balmoral POW Camp

Closest town: Jarrahdale

Western Australia

From state capital: 70kms

Longitude: 116.165462

Latitude: -32.364977

Hike summary

This 11 kilometre rail trail follows a former tramway from the Balmoral POW Camp to Mundlimup Timber Trails. It is part of the Munda Biddi Trail. The trail is easy and accessible to both walkers and mountain bikers.

The Balmoral Trail starts or finishes at the Jarrahdale World War II POW Camp. The trail goes through bushland and some farmland. Along the way the trail passes a log loading ramp and several "shield trees". These shield trees have numbers carved into them and were used by foresters in the 1920s as a grid reference system.nSignage describes its operation and explains the ruins that remain. At one point the rail formation crosses a private farm. Stiles have been provided to allow access across the farm

Route and GPX file

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Tips

Start Point: Balmoral POW camp, Balmoral Road, East of Jarrahdale (70kms or 1 hour from Perth)

End Point: Jarrahdale Road

Region: Balmoral POW Camp, Perth

For more information, a location map and GPS file please visit Trails WA.

Gear you might need

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Location

Getting there

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Let someone know before you go

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About the region

The POW working camp was built in 1944 housing 220 Italian prisoners of war from the Northern African campaign of World War II. The prisoners worked in the forest cutting firewood and lived and worked at the camp. It closed in 1946 at which point prisoners were repatriated to Italy. There is a nice little walk trail through the camp and the different foundations are sign-posted so you can get an idea of how the camp would have functioned.

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Acknowledgement of Country

Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.

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