The limestone cliffs are rich with millions of ocean fossils and are home to colonies of bats.

Caves in the area have been continuously occupied for at least 8,000 years[citation needed] and are sacred to the local aboriginal community.

The locality is named for the row of shacks on some low ground near river level downstream of the town of Swan Reach.

Views of the bend in the river are observed from near the road between Swan Reach and Nildottie which runs along the top of the cliffs.

[4] The river turns northwest just past the southeastern end of the row of shacks, passes a lagoon, then makes the sweeping Big Bend to the right through approximately 180 degrees.