One place Alan wanted to visit was the old township of Witternoon. We detoured 40km's off the Great Northern Highway and headed towards Witternoon.

Witternoon was were blue asbestos was mined and in it's heyday had 7000 workers and 20000 people lived in the town. The mine was closed down in December 1966 but it took the WA government till February 2008 to declare the town and surrounding area, 470 square kilometres, a contaminated site. In the mid 1990's authorities stopped short of forcibly removing people from the area. They just began the process of removing facilities. Payphone booths still stand with no phones inside them.

In 2007 the town was degazetted and electricity and mail was cut off. There are still three people who live in the town. It is also no longer part of the Shire of Ashburton but the three remaining residents still pay rates. One of the residents is also a shire councillor, even though it's not part of the shire anymore.

There was no town sign up, the first sign you see was a DANGER sign stating "Asbestos in this area. Cancer and lung disease hazard. Respirators and protective clothing are required in this area."

The asbestos tailings were used to build the roads, sports grounds etc. We drove down the streets, which are all disintergrating, what house are standing are deserted with the exception of about three houses.