WILD WEST: Rise of the Shabby Shack

While the sights, smells and sounds of West Australia’s coastal landscape have provided endless fascination during our ‘Wild West’ adventure, just as interesting in many ways are the colourful characters we’ve met along the way.

One of the stand-outs so far are Perth-based Mark and Linda Skinner, who I bumped in to at the Gladstone Scenic Lookout; not far from the Wooramel Roadhouse where I topped up the Everest’s tank and grabbed a fresh apricot danish, and 146km south from the Wintersun Caravan Park in Carnarvon where I spent a very pleasant two nights.

While admiring the endless views of flat surrounding countryside from the hilltop look-out, I couldn’t help noticing the eye-catching trailer being towed behind the Skinner’s Hyundai.

The brother and sister were on their way to Coral Bay with their home-made ‘Shabby Shack’, a rusty old horse float that once carried Linda’s horse before being converted into a ‘family camper’.

“I stripped it out a couple of years ago and thought we can probably do a camper out of this,” Linda proudly explained. “She’s rough but I thought she’s 65 years old, I’m not going to put any more horses in it.”

With the help of Dad, the bare-bones metal interior with single window now features two single wooden bed bases with mattresses, along with an upper ‘loft’ and timber-lidded box for cooking and eating utensils. The Shabby Shack also carries a generator for powering the Engel fridge in the tow vehicle.

“There’s no (internal ventilation), we just open the door,” she told me enthusiastically. “I thought about cooking in there but there’s not enough room for a kitchen and it would get too smokey.”

‘Security’ includes padlocks for the rear door and some rope to hold the front entry door closed when travelling. Other 'mods' include the spray-painted signage, upgraded axles and wheel bearings, and the addition of a side awning, but the Shabby Shack remains a work in progress.

“It’s not finished, we’re going to do some modifications like a drop-down table outside, next to a gas bottle, and put some small fuel cans on the other side,” she said.

Mark Skinner was just as excited about the maiden voyage of the Shabby Shack, which he originally bought for just $3000.

“It’s our first run in this unit,” he explained. “We’ve only ever camped in cars and tents before, so this is our first attempt at a rolling camper.

“We looked at buying a professional one but it was too much money, about $30,000, and I couldn’t afford (a new camper) on my wages.”

“She’s rough, she’s not royalty,” were Linda’s parting words, before I jumped back in the leather-lined $73,9990 Ford Everest Titanium towing the optioned up, $49,540 New Age Wayfinder Adventurer (and thinking for that sort of money I could buy at least 10 Shabby Shacks!)

Back on Highway One, I drive another three hours south before making a detour to Port Gregory via Horrocks, a quiet coastal get-away that was named best West Australian mainland beach for 2018.

Unfortunately, the shoreline on the main beach is discoloured by a thick, mud-like mixture (coral spawn?),  so I throw the beach towel back in the car and keep going to Port Gregory caravan park, via the picturesque and very popular Pink Lake.

Arriving early afternoon, it's glowing a striking lilac-pink hue thanks to the presence of the carotenoid-producing Dunaliella salina algae in Hutt Lagoon.

After taking a few snaps I pull up stumps on a nice grassy site at the peaceful Port Gregory Caravan Park, where I get some unexpected company in the form of a clingy stick insect who seems to have a liking for the Wayfinder’s Dynaproofed canvas.

Never lonely with always a friendly ‘local’ for company along West Australia’s unspoilt Coral Coastline…

Also read:

WILD WEST: Let's go!

WILD WEST: Slides, spikes and sneezes

WILD WEST: Seaside delights

WILD WEST: Cocky emus and colourful coral

WILD WEST: Gusts and grime