John Forrest Lookout

During an 1897 expedition, Australian explorer Sir John Forrest established his survey point on the top of a hill later named John Forrest Lookout. This lookout forms part of the Damperwah Hills, which Forrest discovered and named during his 1869 search of the explorer, Ludwig Leichhardt.

While the search failed to find Leichhardt, Forrest did report that his compass had been affected by the presence of minerals in the ground, and he suggested that the government send geologists to examine the area – fitting now, as the region reputation as an iron ore province grows.

The lookout allows a 360° panoramic view of surrounding station country. To the north of the John Forrest Lookout is the Damperwah State Farm, opened in the 1920s by the Department of Agriculture to experiment with different strains of wheat. Picnic facilities and toilets are located at the base on the hill.

Please note: the walk to the lookout is 750m uphill.

About Sir John Forrest

Sir John Forrest was an Australian explorer, the first Premier of Western Australia and a cabinet minister in Australia’s first Federal Parliament.

As a young man, John Forrest won fame as an explorer by leading three expeditions into the interior of Western Australia. He was appointed Surveyor General and in 1890 became the first Premier of Western Australia, its only premier as a self-governing colony.

Forrest’s premiership gave the state ten years of stable administration during a period of rapid development and demographic change. He pursued a policy of large-scale public works and extensive land settlement, and he helped to ensure that Western Australia joined the federation of Australian states.

After federation, he moved to federal politics, where he was at various times postmaster-general, Minister for Defence, Minister for Home Affairs, Treasurer and acting Prime Minister.