Stromatolites are the earliest known form of life on earth. The stromatolites at Hamelin Pool are an example of the earth's evolutionary history.
The stromatolites are accessed by way of an educational boardwalk at Hamelin Bay.
The low tidal flow in Shark Bay has created hypersalination, a level of salt twice that of normal seawater. In these salty pools, stromatolites grow at a rate of less than 1mm per year.
A microorganism, cyanobacteria build up, trapping fine sediment particles from the warm water and binding it together with mucus.
This unusual life form grows to about 60cm tall and look like mushroom-shaped rocky domes.
The discovery of these living fossils was akin to finding a live dinosaur.
We stayed at Hamlin Homestead, one of the best camping areas we have encountered. There was a large kitchen, a wonderful dining area with heavy wooden tables and benches and a large patio BBQ area where happy hour was held every day at 5.00pm.
The shearer quarters, which are used as tourist accommodation out of season.
The kitchen, dining room and BBQ building
Looking toward the amenities block, the best we have ever seen
