Bilya Rock - WA

Bilya Rock is an 18 hectare Government Reserve. It is situated 5km west of the Gutha turnoff, on the main Morawa-Mullewa Highway, and is approximately 30km north of Morawa.Bilya Rock is a large granite outcrop, surrounded by bushland which makes it an enjoyable place for a bush walk, or picnic, in the winter and spring. The origin of the name is not known, but is possibly derived from Aboriginal language, as are many district names.A cairn is standing on Bilya Rock. The cairn is reputed to have been placed there by John Forrest, as a trigonometrical survey point, in the 1870’s. In 1871 John Forrest was appointed as a Government surveyor for the Victoria District. His name, and a date were carved in a york gum pole atop of the cairn, and many residents of the Gutha district still remember seeing this pole before the white ants demolished it after the 1940’s.