As grey nomad numbers continue to rise, so too it seems does interest in ‘dark tourism’, whereby travellers seek out scenes of gruesome crimes and murders.
In Australia, the deadly deeds of notorious bushrangers such as Ned Kelly are ‘celebrated’, and the human suffering at former penal colonies is recalled for the education – and possibly entertainment – of visitors … including long-term caravanners and motorhomers.
Now, the remote bush location of one of Western Australia’s most sensational murder cases has been officially recognised for its historic significance.
Camel Station, about 150 kilometres south of Mt Magnet, has just been added to the WA heritage register for its association with John ‘Snowy’ Rowles and the so-called ‘Murchison Murders’.
Rowles, an itinerant stockman, was hanged in June 1932 for the murder of New Zealander Louis Carron. He was also suspected of killing labourers James Ryan and George Lloyd.
The case made international headlines when it emerged that his murder method — and, specifically, the perfect way to dispose of the bodies — was taken from campfire discussions with well-known author Arthur Upfield.
According to evidence submitted in court at his trial, Rowles was present when Upfield suggested a victim’s body could be burnt with the body of a big animal. Metal fragments could then be sifted from the ashes and dissolved in acid, while the remaining bone fragments could be pounded into dust and discarded to the wind.
The piles of ashes were found later at the hut at the 183 mile peg of the Rabbit-Proof Fence.
Rowles went to the Fremantle Prison gallows still pleading his innocence.
Heritage Minister David Templeman said the heritage listing “encapsulates the fascinating story of the Murchison Murders, the hard and isolated life of boundary riders on the Rabbit-Proof Fence and the role of camels in WA’s development”.
Camel Station was established in 1908 to breed camels as pack-and-draft animals servicing station outposts. It now comprises the ruins of a 1920s stone residence, wooden structures and timber-lined tank.
* Will you be heading out to Camel Station any time soon? Are you a ‘dark tourist’? Comment below.
This is an excerpt from a book called ” Mukinbudin Memories ” written by Peter Sirr in 2001. The author and myself come from the Mukinbudin district .Mr Sirr wrote about Snowey Rowels. ( I was with a Shell company traveler south of Campion siding one day and we called into a rangers night stop-over camp along the fence and he said ” just over there is where Snowey Rowels burnt that chap he killed”
Campion is only about 40 kms East of Mukinbudin on the Bullfinch rd.
Next time I go out there I will go and have a look.
I have great difficulty in understanding how supposedly normal people can have the ghoulish attraction to Murderers, Bushrangers and the like. There are several monuments to the heroic and brave servicemen who gave their lives for the betterment of civilisation. The are several towns, like Jugiong and Uralla in NSW where there are monuments to the police that were killed by bushrangers, many more to slain police officers in towns throughout Australia. They are the monuments and plaques we visit and take pride for their heroic actions – Not the riff-raff and scum of our history.
You sound on about the level of the things that get in your ceiling. It has nothing to do with ghoulish attraction and I’m sure that there is nothing left there to warrant that accusation any more than visiting Gallipoli.
My Dad was out there in 1928 making tanks and I’m pretty sure that the tank at the Camel Station was made by him.
Dad always referred to the place as ‘The Camel Paddock”.
He told the story of Snowey Rowles all his life as we grew up.
Dad actually shared a campfire with Rowles and remembered him looking at his [Dad’s rifle.]
Yes I’d like to go out there and see the house if I can find where it is.
The reason is this case was built on circumstance based on a story told around a campfire on method of body disposal by a fellow worker later author and a few bone fragments. No DNA testing back then.. So much controversy on the case that no other hangings occurred for the next 20 years. It was the Great Depression era. John came from 3 well to do Swan River Pioneer families, Smith 1834, Edwards 1830 and Strickland 1830