Elachbutting Rock is the most impressive of all the huge granite outcrops in the Wheatbelt.

It is a large granite monolith that sits in the middle of a pristine nature reserve on the edge of the Wheatbelt, 70 kilometres north-east of Mukinbudin.

Naming of the Rock

The official name for this rock was provided by Surveyor H.S. King in 1889. Of aboriginal derivation its meaning is unknown although ‘that thing standing’ is a possibility. Explorer B.D. Clarkson named it Mount Bucket during his exploration of the area in 1864 – quite possibly a lazy interpretation of the aboriginal name for the feature. Clarkson’s name for the rock didn’t survive and the current difficult-to-pronounce name (one of several English spelling renderings of it) is totally non-marketable for a feature that should be better known.

Compare with Wave Rock – where the savvy marketers in the south-east wheatbelt town of Hyden rejigged the bland ‘Hyden Rock’ to a much more marketable description of what is now a great tourist attraction. And latterly, a crappy salt lake common to anywhere in the Wheatlbelt as ‘Lake Magic’. Maybe some local interest group around Mukinbudin or Westonia will recognise the tourist potential of Elachbutting and nearby granite outcrops, apply more marketable names, and reap the rewards of increased visitation to the area.

Montys Pass

One of the features of Elachbutting is Montys Pass, where a huge chunk of the rock’s outer layer has dislodged and slid down, leaving a 30 metre walk-through tunnel between the rock and the dislodged chunk.

Kings Cave/Echo Cave

At the end of this is Kings Cave, which in reality is a large tafone. Many granite outcrops have tafoni.  Uluru and Kata Tjutu are well known examples. Signage at the rock applies the more descriptive name of Echo Cave. The shape of the tafone is conducive to producing echoes. Recognition of H.S. King and his achievements is sufficiently widespread that renaming of this small feature won’t affect his legacy.

Elachbutting Wave

Fifty metres to the south of Montys Pass is a wave formation that, while it does not quite rival Wave Rock, is still impressive. 

Everlastings

As the track that leads around Elachbutting turns past the northern tip of the rock a field of everlastings is presented to the visitor. A short distance past the wildflowers is Rainbow Wave.

Rainbow Wave

The colourful layers of this part of Elachbutting Rock showcase the unique geology of the granite outcrops of the Wheatbelt. Not really that spectacular but interesting nonetheless.

Campground

There are many great camping spots at the rock.It takes a strong constitution to open the door of the long drop on a hot summer’s day.

Pioneer Well

The dry stone circular well was built by early settlers, year unknown. Water from the rock is subducted into the well. H.S. King noted its existence during his 1889 survey of the area.

Lookout

The lookout on top of the rock is accessible by 4WD and provides fantastic views across farming land, some of which is being ‘alley-farmed’.

 

The reports of the various trips, tours and travels on the Adventures website have a lot of information about place names – their naming and features – toponymy. More information.

 

 

© Kim Epton 2017-2026
607 words written entirely by the author, not AI.
Six photographs.

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