Katoomba

Echo Point

On Sunday 27 November, we went with the Travel Club for a trip in the double-decker Blue Mountains Explorer Bus to the tourist town of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains.  

Katoomba is 102 kilometres from Sydney and our journey started from the RSL Club in our home town of Penrith at the foot of the Blue Mountains.  From here it is a gradual ascent, via the Great Western Highway, passing through pretty Mountains townships, until we reached Katoomba, one of the highest towns in the Mountains.  It is 1017 metres above sea level and the air is fresh and much cooler than down on the Plains.   The name Katoomba is a Gundungurra Aboriginal word meaning "falling water".

We stopped at Echo Point and spent some time there, having a look around this fabulous place.   We had a good view of the iconic Three Sisters, located on the boundary of the Blue Mountains National Park.    Everyone who comes to visit Echo Point wants to take a photo or a selfie with the Three Sisters in the background.  We were no exception!  There are several viewing platforms at different levels where you can get good views.  We chose the Prince of Wales viewing platform with a great  view of the Three Sisters and the surrounding Valley. It was a clear day and the vast panoramic view over the Jamison Valley was stunning!  In the distance we could see Mt. Solitary.

The Blue Mountains is really a dissected plateau carved in sandstone bedrock.  This landscape was formed over 200 million years ago by land erosion during the Triassic Period.  It is hard to imagine this area was once covered by sea water!  

The Lookout area at Echo Point is well designed for the many tourists that visit, with paths and ramps for easy access.  Echo Point is also the starting point for many great walks, including the giant stairway that leads you down almost 1,000 steps to the valley floor below.  There is also a walk to the Ruined Castle which follows a route once used by shale and coal miners.  We called in at the Visitor Information Centre and had a look around its well-stocked shop with some good souvenirs and merchandise for sale.  

After a delicious lunch at Katoomba RSL Club we re-joined the bus for a drive along Cliff Drive passing Scenic World where the Skyway, Scenic Railway and Cableway are all available for a thrilling ride into the Valley.  The Scenic Railway is the steepest incline railway in the world and is a heartstopping drop down a cliff face to the valley below where there is an elevated boardwalk through the rain forest at the bottom of the valley.  However, there was no time to-day to experience these thrilling rides!

We continued down to the Katoomba Cascades where we stopped, as some people on the bus wanted to do the walk.  We waited in the Park at the top of the Cascades for these people to do the walk and then we all boarded the bus again for the scenic journey along Cliff Drive.  We stopped at Cahill's Lookout to view the breathtaking view over the Megalong Valley including Boar's Head Rock and Narrow Neck Peninsula.  The Narrow Neck Peninsula separates the Megalong Valley from the Jamison Valley.  

It was then time to re-join the bus for the return journey home, after an enjoyable day spent visiting some of our favourite places in our beloved Blue Mountains.

This is a view of the Three Sisters taken from the approach walk to the Prince of Wales Viewing Platform.  They are three tall unusual sandstone rock formations, that look like pillars, standing in the land of the Gundungurra and Darug people, the traditional custodians of this land.

A view of the escarpment at Echo Point.  This is one of my favourite views and I love to see the sandstone escarpment sparkle when the sun shines on it!

Looking through the trees along Prince Henry Cliff Walk to the escarpment that forms a boundary on one side of the Jamison Valley.

The view over the Megalong Valley from Narrow Neck Lookout
The Narrow Neck Plateau is an eroded remnant of a sandstone layer at an elevation of 1000 metres above sea level which divides the Jamison and Megalong Valleys.  The Great Dividing Range is in the far distance.

Acknowledgments

1.  Wikipedia

2.  NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

3.  Sydney Uncovered 2022.

4.  aussietowns.com.au

Castlereagh

Castlereagh Conference Centre

On Monday 12 September we visited the Castlereagh Conference Centre in the historic Castlereagh area.  We drove to the end of Old Castlereagh Road and passed the Sydney International Regatta Centre, where the 2000 Sydney Olympics rowing events took place.  We came to a lake and a circular area for cars to turn around and go back, but we noticed a road continuing on with a signpost denoting the way to the Castlereagh Conference Centre.  There is a great deal of dredging and quarrying work being carried out on these rich alluvial river flats in connection with the Penrith Lakes Scheme which is making a huge impact on this historical area.  It is hard to see where the township is meant to be, but we did come to a flat section of the road with buildings on either side and we stopped here to investigate further.

On one side of the road is the Castlereagh Conference Centre incorporating some historical buildings including an old Methodist Church which is now the Castlereagh Uniting Church.  

This Church was built in 1847 and replaced an earlier Church which was the first Methodist Church in Australia.  It bears an inscription "Erected in the place of the First Wesleyan Chapel in Australia built by John Lees 1817".  The Uniting Church uses the Church and it is also used for weddings held in the Conference Centre.  It appears to be in good condition.  We could not go inside, but we peeped through the windows.  There is a graveyard at the side of the Church containing some old headstones dating back to Colonial times.

Castlereagh Church

Bell Tower

Vertical Sundial

School and War Memorial

Schoolmaster's Cottage

Behind the Church is a Bell Tower.   It looks like an old historical building, but it is actually fairly new and was opened on 24 June, 2001.  There are eight bells in the belfry and some of them were donated by the Kiama Anglican Church who were no longer using their bells.  There is a team of bell ringers who ring the bells on various occasions and it must be magical to hear the bells ringing out across the Penrith Lakes.  

On the outside North wall of the Bell Tower we noticed a vertical sundial called The Sacred Acre with a clock face and a quote attributed to John Wesley inscribed thereon:-   "Do all the good you can in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can."  

We picked up some brochures on the verandah outside the office for the Conference Centre advising the Centre was perfect for retreats, workshops or training days, only 4 minutes from Penrith but a world away in time and tranquility!  There is a meeting room with seating up to 80 people and air-conditioned twin bed accommodation up to 48 people with dining in the historic Sunday School House (1864).  There is also a Wedding Package including a ceremony in the Church with a minister or outside with a celebrant in the grounds and use of the garden and grounds with overnight guest accommodation.

On the other side of the road is the old Upper Castlereagh Public School, in poor condition and looking neglected with windows boarded over.  It was built by James Evans in 1878/9 and it is on the NSW State Heritage Register.  The roof is steeply pitched in corrugated iron and rusting.  It is a simple rectangular hall with attached side entry porch, typical of rural public schools of the period.  It is Gothic Revival in form and detailing with a Tudor arched entrance.  It was hard to see the porch as it was hidden behind the overgrown garden.

In the grounds of the school and closer to the road is a simple obelisk War Memorial honouring the men from Upper Castlereagh who served during WW1.  There are names on the Memorial, but the writing is very faint to read.  There is an inscription, barely legible, at the base of the Memorial - "Erected in honour of the above residents who enlisted from Castlereagth Upper for active service in the Great War 1914 - 1918."

Next-door to the School is the Schoolmaster's Residence which is a simple Victorian brick cottage with a hipped corrugated iron roof and front verandah.  It is surrounded by a garden, completely overgrown, but I did notice some nice original shrubs and plants amongst the weeds. The residence appears to be inhabited by a caretaker for the heritage precinct on both sides of the road.  In fact, we saw a man walking along the road and heading towards the cottage and he may well have been the caretaker.  We saw him walk through the front gate into the residence.  

We were excited to discover this wonderful historical area, so close to our home and decided to come back another day and take more photos.  On the way back we saw a little family of swans on the Lake, two black swans and three little white cygnets. Hopefully, we will discover more bird life on the Lakes, when we come back!

Acknowledgments

1.  Penrith City local history site. (information about Castlereagh Methodist Church)

2.  You Tube - Castlereagh Bell Tower  (information about Bell Tower)

3.  Wikipedia (information about Upper Castlereagh Public School)

 

South Australia

Victor Harbor and McLaren Vale 

After our wonderful day spent in the Barossa Valley, Di from Ambler Touring, arrived at our hotel the next morning, after brfeakfast, ready to take the six of us out for another day of touring.   Mary decided not to come and to have a day shopping in Adelaide.  Ernest sat up front next to the driver, Fred and Pam were in the middle and Ken and I were in the back.  Di said we had a big day ahead with our first stop at Victor Harbor.  I was pleased we were going there as Victor Harbor is one of my favourite spots in South Australia. I have happy memories of visiting Granite Island in the horse-driven tram across the Causeway to the island.  

We travelled South from Adelaide, using the Southern Expressway to enter the lush rolling wine country of the Fleurieu Peninsula.  We passed through McLaren Vale and Di said we would be calling in again at McLaren Vale, on the way back, to have lunch at a cafe there.

Causeway, Victor Harbor

As we entered the precinct around Victor Harbor, Di drove us to a lookout overlooking the panorama of Encounter Bay where we could get a glimpse of Granite Island.  

We then drove down to the township where there were roadworks taking place and I could see there were also road disruptions on the Causeway. 

There was no sign of the tram and I think the horses were having a holiday while the roadworks were in place.  

Di dropped us off at the Causeway Cafe where we had our morning coffee.  It was very cold and windy outside, so we were glad to sit inside where there was a slow combustion stove heating the interior.  

Paddle Steamer "Challenger"

We did not stay long in Victor Harbor and our next stop was Goolwa Wharf.  

Goolwa is a historic river port where the River Murray and the Southern Ocean meet.  It is a popular holiday destination.  There were boats at the wharf ready to take cruises on the Murray, even an old Paddle steamer.  

From the Wharf precinct we had a good view of the Hindmarsh Island Bridge, a controversial construction built in the 1990's which involved a clash with the local indigenous people over it being sacred cultural land where "secret women's business" supposedly took place. 

Tintara Winery

As it was time for lunch, Di was anxious to get back on the road for our lunch stop in McLaren Vale.  This charming town is in the heart of wine growing country and surrounded by more than one hundred vineyards and wineries.  

After lunch Di drove us to the Hardy Tintara Winery for a cellar door tasting and a walk around the grounds and the Almond Train next-door. This is an old 1920's train carriage which now seems to be a Japanese Kitchen cafe, but it was closed.

d'Arenberg Cube

Di then drove us to the d'Arenberg Winery and vineyard home to the unique d'Arenberg Cube.  This is a building, shaped like a Rubik's Cube, with five levels, carefully designed to entice and excite the senses with many tactile experiences.  We did not go inside as there was quite a lot of walking involved, but I am sure it would have been an amazing experience and the views from the top breathtaking.  There is also a Cellar door on the fifth floor. 

There was an exhibition of Salvadore Dali sculptures and also a sculpture retrospective in the grounds of the vineyard by artist Greg Johns titled "A Road less travelled"

Our time in the McLaren Vale was coming to an end and Di drove us back to our hotel in Adelaide after a very enjoyable day with many and varied experiences.  Di had done a good job of catering to our particular interests.  Fred and Pam were happy to visit the cellar doors and sample the wine tastings at the various wineries.  Mary was interested in buying gourmet food as in Maggie Beer's shop in the Barossa Valley the day before.  Ernest is keen on photographyand so are Ken and I, so the d'Arenberg Cube and sculptures in the d'Arenberg Vineyard was a great opportunity to take some interesting and unusual photos.

Salvadore Dali sculpture

Acknowledgements

1.  Alexandrina.sa.gov.au (information about Goolwa)

2.  darenberg.com.au (information about d'Arenberg Cube and Winery.

South Australia

 Barossa Valley

After our fabulous cruise down the Murray River on the Proud Mary, our small group of six neighbours arrived back in Adelaide on 27 June, 2022 to spend three nights in the Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets.  The next day we were picked up at our hotel by Di of Ambler Touring for a private chaffeur driven tour to the Barossa Valley, a wine-producing area northeast from Adelaide.  This was part of a two-day personalised itinerary prepared especially for our group.

The Whispering Wall

Our first stop was at the Whispering Wall which is located in the Barossa Reservoir Reserve built between 1899 and 1903.  It is known for its unique acoustic effects.  Words whispered at the far end can be clearly heard at the other end more than 100 metres away.  We had some fun testing this out.    

Our next stop was in the town of Tanunda, which was first settled by German immigrants in the 1840's.  Here we stopped at the Chateau Tanunda Winery for a cellar door wine tasting and afterwards a morning coffee in the coffee shop in the Chateau.

In Maggie's Kitchen

We then continued on to Mengler Hill in the Barossa Ranges to get a sweeping panoramic view over the whole Barossa Valley and also saw the weird and wonderful sculptures made of  local marble and granite in the Sculpture Park scattered around on the hill around the lookout.

We then continued on to Nuriootpa to visit Maggie Beer's Farm Shop and Pheasant farm.  The shop was warm inside with a slow combustion fire in the centre.    At one end of the shop was Maggie's kitchen where she filmed her TV show with Simon the chef.  The kitchen was homely and inviting with the stovetop set up for photo opportunities where people could pretend they were cooking in Maggie Beer's kitchen!  Di took our photo in the kitchen for a bit of fun! 

We  then wandered outside to see the Lake, the cooking school and dining room and also the various farm animals including peacocks.

Di then drove us to Angaston, a charming tree-lined historic town.  This town was settled predominantly by Cornish miners and other settlers from Britain.  We had lunch in a local restaurant and afterwards Ken and I wandered around the town and local Park taking photos.   

Zion Lutheran Church

One building that caught our attention was the Zion Lutheran Church, looking quite magnificent, constructed with bluestone walls and soapstone quoins and surrounds.

We then drove down Seppeltsfield Road in Seppeltsfield.  This is an avenue of Canary Island Date Palms, five kilometres long, planted by the 

Seppeltsfield workers during the Great Depression.  Over 2000 palms now line the sides of the Road and other roads in the Estate.  In fact, there are palms everywhere in Seppeltsfield!

Seppeltsfield Winery

Seppeltsfield Winery dates back to 1851 and is considered a National treasure which helped shape Australia's wine industry.  It was started by German immigrants, Joseph and Johanna Seppelt.  Over 400 acres surround the Estate which combines ancient vineyards, historical buildings, majestic gardens and priceless architecture.  

Canary Island Date Palms

 The Seppeltsfield Estate is a destination experience with cellar door tastings and the Jam Factory which is a unique hub for craft and design.  It is located within the 1850 stables building and provides studio space for professional artists working in a variety of media, including knife making, jewellery, millinery, glass and leather.  There are also artisan shops and workshops.  We looked in at the millinery shop and the knife making shop as well as looking at the ceramic exhibition.  

We also had a look in Vasse Virgin housed in one of the historic buildings and saw products made from olive oil including a range of skin-care products.  There is also a gourmet food room in this building showcasing a range of olive oils and food products and there is also a workshop attached. 

We were quite tired after our walk around the Seppeltsfeld Estate as there is a lot of walking involved between the different buildings and around the gardens.  

Di then drove us back to our hotel in Adelaide and arranged to pick us up in the morning for the second day of our itinerary, a journey to Victor Harbor and McLaren Vale.

Acknowledgements

1.  SA Gov.au (information about Whispering Wall)

2.  Ultimate Winery Experiences.com.au (information about Seppletsfield)

3.  Wikipedia

 

South Australia

Cruise on the Murray River

On 24 June, 2022 we flew from Sydney to Adelaide to board the Proud Mary in Murray Bridge, South Australia for a two night discovery cruise down the Murray River.  

The Proud Mary carries a maximum of 36 passengers and on our cruise we had 32 on board.  Ken and I had a comfortable river view cabin with en-suite and access to the outside deck on level 1.  This deck is at water level and we had to walk along the length of the deck to climb the two flights of stairs, at the aft of the boat, to reach the lounge and dining area on the upper deck.  It was very cold as we walked along this deck to return to our cabin at night.  However, once back in our cabin, the air-conditioner kept the temperature nice and warm.

The Murray River is the fourth longest river in the world.  It meanders for 2,500 kilometres starting in the Snowy Mountains in NSW, twisting and turning along the Victorian border and finally into South Australia where it reaches its end in the Lakes and Coorong region.  There is spectacular landscape along the way with towering sandstone cliffs, hidden lagoons, waterfalls and sandy beaches.  At about 130 million years old, this region is also steeped in Aboriginal history and culture.  We stopped at some scenic mooring locationswhere we could disembark and take a little walk through the iconic Australian bush.  We also explored the backwaters in a flat-bottom boat, the M.V. Pelican, to see the wildlife and birdlife.  However, being winter there was not that much birdlife to see.  I did not go out in the boat but chose instead to explore the bushland and reeds along the river banks.

Our meals were in the dining room, where we indulged in some memorable culinary delights from the kitchen and, at the same time, we could view the passing river bank scenery.  There were comfortable Chesterfield lounges where we could rest after our meal and enjoy a drink from the bar.  We also congregated in this area during the day, as it was too cold to sit out on the decks. 

The Proud Mary tied up at Mannum.

The Proud Mary was built in 1982 and its design resembles that of the paddle steamers that provided transport along the Murray River during the 1800's.

Here is the Proud Mary tied up at Teal Flat.  We could exit the boat here to explore the bushland and foreshore.

Here is the M.V. Pelican, a 12 person flat bottomed boat, with passengers aboard, for an Eco cruise of the backwaters to see the wildlife and birdlife of the river.  Ken is sitting up the front wearing a red beanie.

This substantial and attractive house is in River Lane below the cliff at Mannum and is called "Leonaville" built in 1883 by Gottlieb Wilhelm Schuetze, a private developer, as his own home.

This breathtaking view of the yellow sandstone cliffs and reflections in the river was part of the scenery along the way to Mannum.

While we were in Mannum, we joined a group from the boat to do an organised coach tour to the Reedy Creek Gorge where we were meant to do a bush walk to see the waterfalls.  However, we were advised there was not much water falling and the track was very rough in places so our coach driver gave us a little scenic tour around the region instead.

He took us first to a lookout overlooking the township and areas around Mannum.  We saw the Mannum car ferry crossing the river with a load of vehicles ready to continue their journeys on the other side of the river.  

After leaving the lookout we saw the Mannum to Adelaide water pipeline, being the first major pipeline built from the River Murray to carry water to Adelaide.  The road followed this pipeline for a while and at Apamurra we saw some mural artwork on the sides of the pipe, similar to what can be seen on some wheat silos.  He also drove us to Tepko,  near Palmer where we saw the five span rail bridge on Reedy Creek on the line put in from Monarto South to Sedan in 1919.

We were in an area surrounded by the Adelaide Hills.  The ground in this region is very stony and he explained it is from a time when the ocean covered this area and remnants of coral and sea bed debris and the skeletal remains of ocean creatures can be found as fossils in the area.  Water and soakage have stained the strata a yellow beige colour.

We then returned to the Proud Mary for our final journey back to Murray Bridge.  Here we said goodbye to the Captain and crew and were then driven, by bus, to our hotel in Adelaide. 

  

Our three day cruise on the Proud Mary was a wonderful experience, which we enjoyed very much, and one we consider to be a fantastic lifelong memory.

1.  A view of the pipeline taken from the front 

window of the bus.

2.  The railway bridge over Reedy Creek

at Tepko.

Acknowledgements

1.  Australian Tours and Cruises. 

2.  River Murray Heritage Survey DC Mannum 1984. 

3.  Proud Mary.com.au

4.  Wikipedia

5.  Geological Society of SA.  Primary Industries and Resources South Australia.

 

 

Newcastle

Newcastle Harbour Lunch Cruise

Last Sunday we had a day out with the Travel Club and did a bus trip up to Newcastle.  The day was grey and overcast when we left Penrith and it soon became wet and drizzling with rain as we journeyed on the M4, M7 and M1 freeways up the Coast to Newcastle.  Newcastle is 192.9 kms north from Penrith and it takes approximately 2 hours and 19 minutes to get there by road.

After driving for over an hour we crossed the twin cantilever bridge at Mooney Mooney Creek in the Brisbane Water National Park on the Central Coast.   We had morning tea in the nearby Deerubbin Reserve which is situated on a peninsula jutting out into the Hawkesbury River.  Luckily, there was a break in the rain and we were able to enjoy our morning tea stop, under cover, in a picnic shelter in this popular spot.  However, it soon started to rain again and we hurried back into the bus to continue on our way to Newcastle.  

We arrived at Lee Wharf in Honeysuckle Drive where we boarded our Nova cruise boat to take us on a two hour luncheon cruise on Newcastle Harbour, one of Australia's most diverse regional ports. 

Once we were all safely aboard, we left the wharf and cruised down passing Newcastle's renewed picturesque foreshore precinct which is an eleven hectare regional level park bordering the harbour.  We passed Fort Scratchley, the Convict Lumberyard site and Customs House.  Most of the park sits on reclaimed land previously used for mining, shipping, harbour activities, power supply, bond storage and rail marshalling yards.  They are planting trees along the foreshore to create more usable shade.  There are also mature Norfolk Island pines, each measuring 5 to 9 metres in height.  There are plans to plant more native trees throughout the Foreshore precinct.  I noticed many cafes along the foreshore including a bold banner with the words "How's the Serenity" which I assumed was the name of a cafe.

We saw the port's coal loading facilities and many big ships up close.  We also noticed the many little tug boats busily chugging along the water, ready to guide the big ships in or out of the Harbour.  There were also some sailing yachts on the harbour.

Newcastle Harbour is a dangerous port to enter and has been responsible for shipwrecks.  All ships must be guided in and out by a pilot.  

We journeyed as far as the mouth of the Kooragang wetlands which is an area containing fifteen  kilometres of boardwalks, cycleways and walking tracks through floodplain forest where people can experience the natural wild habitat of the area, listening to the birds and frogs and spotting spiders, insects and other wildlife.    

We indulged in a freshly prepared buffet lunch of fresh prawns, sliced ham and barbecued chicken together with a choice of fresh salads and afterwards there was cheesecake or mudcake with strawberries and cream for dessert followed by a serve yourself tea or coffee. 

The weather did not improve and it became hard to see anything through the foggy windows of the boat.  Because it was pouring with rain, we were not able to go upstairs on top of the boat which would have been an ideal vantage spot to take photos. 

However, despite the inclement weather, we enjoyed our boat cruise on Newcastle Harbour and the fabulous lunch we indulged in with our friends from the Travel Club. 

The journey home was down the Pacific Highway, passing through many townships on the Central Coast.  This was intended to be a scenic trip but as it was still raining most of these townships were just a blurry image through fogged-up windows!  However, they were well familiar to us and it was nice to once again be travelling through this beautiful and familiar area.    

The twin cantilever bridge over the Mooney Mooney Creek at Brisbane Water 

This is Newcastle's Foreshore Precinct.  Many mature trees are being planted along the waterfront to create shade.

The Port of Newcastle is the world's largest coal export Port.  However, Newcastle is now diversifying away from coal

A busy little tug boat on Newcastle Harbour.  

Nobby's Lighthouse erected in 1858 on Nobby's Head is a highly visible landmark loved by all Novocastrians.

Acknowledgements

1.  Visit Newcastle.com.au (for information about Newcastle Harbour)

2.  Nova Cruises.com.au (information about lunch cruise)

3.  Newcastle stands on the traditional lands of the Awabakal and Worimi people.

Parramatta

Parramatta Park, Parramatta

Last Saturday we attended a family celebration at Lachlan Restaurant in the grounds of Old Government House in Parramatta Park.  This Restaurant, set within the grounds of the most important National Trust House in Australia, is a great place for special celebrations.  We sat at a table on the long vine covered verandah and enjoyed a delicious lunch overlooking the sandstone courtyards and low English hedges at the back of the old house.   

We took a walk after lunch to view some of the various historic landmarks in the Park.  The Park is over 160 years' old and was gazetted as a public park in 1858.  The Darug people were the traditional owners of the land before it was a park.  The present parklands comprise 85 hectares and straddles the Parramatta River on the western edge of the Central Business District.  It is a beautiful recreational space and a great place for the local Parramatta community to gather.  There are wide open spaces for picnics and play areas for games while there are gardens, waterways, remnant bushland and paths for walking and admiring the idyllic beauty of the parklands.  There is also an amphitheatre where concerts and music festivals are held.

Old Government House is the oldest surviving public building in Australia.  It is a two storey Georgian House built in 1799 and completed in 1818.  Little of an original sandstone cottage built in 1790 remains and what we see to-day are the later additions.   It was the country residence of the first ten Governors of New South Wales and the permanent home of Governor Lachlan Macquarie and Mrs. Macquarie.  This elegant Georgian House was built by convicts and is heritage listed

The Boer War Memorial was erected in 1904 to commemorate Australia's involvement in its first overseas military engagement.  The first of Australia's troops to arrive in Africa in 1899 to take part in the Boer War came from the Lancer Barracks, Parramatta.  There are two Georgian cannons standing alongside the Memorial   The Memorial comprises four fluted sandstone Doric columns bearing entablature blocks and cornice all standing on a sandstone base and paved area surrounded by a wrought iron fence.  There is a nine-pound field gun mounted on top of the structure.

The Bath House was completed in 1823 for Governor Brisbane.  It was designed by two colonial architects, Francis Greenway and Standish Harris.It contains archaeological remains related to a pumping system which brought water to the building from the Parramatta River and heated it as well.  

These gates (on the right) stand at the entrance to Old Government House.  We walked along the driveway taking a peek inside the entrance foyer of the house.  On this occasion we did not have time to do a tour of the house.

Old Government House is an elegant Georgian House overlooking the Parramatta River.  It is heritage listed and owned by the National Trust.  It contains furniture, textiles and homewares from the time of the Governors.  It is open again to the public from Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm.

The Boer War Memorial stands in a prominent position on the ridgeline in the Park looking towards the CBD.    It is a comparatively rare Memorial to the Boer War which was the first overseas engagement of troops representing a federated Australia.  A symbolic broken column stands within the four Doric columns.  

The Governor's Bath House was built in 1823 for Governor Brisbane as he wanted a private place  to have warm baths to assist in the treatment of his war wounds.  He served under the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular War of 1812.  In 1886 the Bath House was converted into a Pavilion, as it stands today.

The high rise skyline of Parramatta.

I took this photo from Old Government House looking down the Park towards the CBD of Parramatta where there are many high rise buildings being erected.

The City of Parramatta is forging ahead in its development and the boundaries of the CBD are being expanded.   It is currently a construction hotspot with major infrastructure projects taking place.  The heights of residential and commercial buildings are being increased to enable the construction of an estimated 12,000 new dwellings over the next 40 years.  

It has changed a lot since we left the district twenty years ago.  

Acknowledgments

1.  council@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au (information about development of Parramatta)

2.  warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au (information about Memorial)

3.  National Trust NSW (information about Old Government House)

4.  parrapark.com.au (information about Bath House)

Bathurst

 Bathurst

On Sunday we joined the Travel Club for a much anticipated coach tour to Bathurst.  The weather was disappointing and rained for most of the day.  This was our first long trip since the intervention of Covid and the first trip for the Travel Club in two years, since the pandemic began.  It was therefore a big disappointment that the windows in the bus were fogged up for most of the trip and the journey up the Blue Mountains was in heavy fog and little better when we drove down the Victoria Pass to the Western plains beyond.  However, it was nice to be out and about again and exploring a bit more of New South Wales.

It is a few years since we were last in Bathurst, but it was nice to be back again and see that everything looked much the same.  Not much has changed in the main street, but probably a little more development has taken place around the railway area and around the Rail Museum where we were headed.  The Museum is housed in an extension of the Railway Institute building which also holds a scale model of the Main West railway from Tarana to Bathurst during the 1950's and 1960's and is complete with operating model trains.   

Bathurst is a railway town and the completion of the railway between Sydney and Bathurst over mountainous country in 1876, was hailed as a marvel of engineering and opened up trade in the developing colony of New South Wales.  

The Bathurst Railway Station is a heritage listed High Victorian Gothic building built in 1876.  It has Dutch gables topped with finials, bay windows and a cast iron verandah.   There is still a regular daily train service to Bathurst.

Locomotive 5112 is on display outside the Railway Station.  It was driven by Ben Chifley, when he was an engine driver, before becoming Prime Minister from 1945 to 1949.  Ben Chifley was born in Bathurst and did courses at the Bathurst Railway Institute.  

The Station Master's Residence is a grand two-storey brick house built around 1876 in the Gothic Revival style.  

The slate roof has been restored which will help it to survive for many more years.

Cambria Terrace.  This lovely old row of Terrace houses is in Havannah Street.  It was built prior to 1882, after the Gold Rush days.  

I like the wrought iron balustrades on the upstairs balconies.

War Memorial Carillon with memorial to Surveyor Evans in foreground.  I took this photo under cover from the rain across the road looking into King's Parade.  

The Carillon has 35 bells and was built in 1933 as a memorial to the men of Bathurst and surrounding District who served in the First World War.   I think there are plaques honouring other wars.  The doors around the base lead to an interior featuring an eternal flame.  However, I am not sure whether this flame is still in existence.

St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church.  This Gothic red brick church was built in 1872.  It was designed by Sydney architect Thomas Rowe and built by James Douglas.  

It was too wet to get any closer to this church so I took the photo standing under an awning on the other side of the street.

We had lunch at Jack Duggans Irish Pub in George Street where I had a traditional Irish Stew which was simply delicious.  Ken had Fried Liver and Bacon with onion gravy, which he couldn't resist, as it was a favourite meal when he lived in Liverpool in the UK many years' ago. 

After lunch, we had a short time to wander around taking photographs of historical buildings.  I would have liked to visit All Saints Anglican Cathedral, but there was no time as we had to leave on the bus for the journey home. 

We had a great day, despite the terrible weather. 

Acknowledgements

1.  Wikipedia (information about Ben Chifley)

2.  NSW War Memorial Register (information about Carillon)

3.  The Experience Heritage Bathurst brochures series produced by National Trust Bathurst.

Emu Plains

 Emu Hall, Emu Plains

After the deluge of rain in recent weeks, the sun finally made an appearance last Thursday.  It was too good an opportunity to miss, so we decided to go and check out our local Nepean River to see if its level had subsided.   There has been widespread flooding of areas around Penrith caused by the Warragamba Dam overflowing into the swollen Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers,  flooding the low lying land along the river banks.  

We drove in our car to Memorial Avenue and parked near the beginning of the walk to the Yandhai Crossing which is the footbridge over the river.  There is a lot of building work going on around this area due to the new Log Cabin Hotel being rebuilt on the banks of the River.  We safely negotiated the construction site and reached the entrance to the bridge where we noted that the level of the river was pretty much back to normal.  There was evidence of damage to the banks of the river with a lot of vegetation debris hanging around and piles of dirt and mud.  The river itself looked very muddy.

It was a nice, sunny afternoon and very hot as we walked over the bridge.  We noticed that Emu Hall, which is now a Restaurant on the Emu Plains side of the bridge, seemed to have new car parks surrounding it, so we decided to investigate further.   When we reached the other side of the river we left the bridge and walked down a path that led to the grand entrance gates to Emu Hall.  We walked through the entrance and and took a stroll around the gardens and grounds of the building.  Emu Hall is now much more accessible with plenty of parking for visitors.  There is also a cafe, bar, beer garden as well as the Restaurant.

We decided to pop in for a cool drink and were shown to a table on the verandah.  It was lovely sitting there in the shade, enjoying our drink.

Billionaire, Arthur Laundy is spending $35 millon redeveloping the Log Cabin Hotel.  The old Log Cabin Hotel was destroyed by fire several years' ago.  

There will be indoor and outdoor bars and dining areas overlooking the Nepean River.  It will be a feature of the Great River Walk.

The Yandhai Crossing, a footbridge over the Nepean River.  This is a popular bridge and there are many alcoves and lookouts along the way to gaze out over the river.

I love the modern architecture of the bridge and how it is a complete contrast to the old Victoria Bridge alongside it.

The Nepean River is very muddy after the recent flooding of the river.  We could see lots of damage to the river banks and uprooted trees and loose branches strewn in the water.  However, the water level now seems back to normal.

Historic Emu Hall, gaily festooned with fairy lights for night dining.  

This historic homestead has been refurbished into a modern 21st century setting while maintaining its remarkable features, including cast-iron lacework and large French windows and doors that open onto a beautiful garden.

We sat out on this side verandah sipping our cool  Iced Chocolates.  The verandah was the ideal shady place to sit on a hot afternoon.  It was very pleasant.

We looked in at some of the beautiful original indoor rooms which are now dining areas, furnished with modern decor. 

Here is the Victoria Bridge built in 1862-1867 which carries two lanes of the Great Western Highway and alongside it is a later bridge built in 1907 to carry the western railway line up and over the Blue Mountains.  

The M4 Motorway bridge further down the River is now the main arterial road up the Mountains.

Acknowledgments

1.  realcommercial.com.au article by Lisa Allen (information about Log Cabin Hotel).

2.  emuhall.com.au (information about Emu Hall)

3.  Wikipedia (information about Victoria Bridge).

Glenbrook

 Art Exhibition in the Community Hall

On Sunday we drove up to Glenbrook in the lower Blue Mountains to visit The Nepean Art Society's Summer Exhibition in the local Community Hall.  This Exhibition is popular with the local community and also collectors, as there are many gift items as well as paintings for sale.  The Nepean Art Society was formed in 1967 by a small group of local artists and continues to be a vibrant Society today with over 150 members.

Glenbrook is located 63 kilometres west of Sydney at an elevation of 163 metres and has a population of over 5,000 people. Glenbrook is over the Nepean River and at the top of Lapstone Hill.  It is a lovely little township, conveniently located just off the Great Western Highway, with many trendy cafes and boutiques along its main street.  There is also an entrance road, through the township, into the Blue Mountains National Park.

 

Along the Highway, before entering the town, there is a great Visitor Information Centre. 🠊 

It also stocks maps, books and a good range of gift ideas.  The staff are very helpful and they were able to give me information regarding the closure of the road in the Blue Mountains National Park due to floooding of the causeway during recent rain.  We are hoping to explore this region soon.

🠈 The Community Hall, where the art exhibition took place, is behind this stone wall.  The Glenbrook Cinema is also here, alongside the Community Hall.  

The wall announces that Glenbrook is the gateway to the Blue Mountains.

This oil painting is titled "Silverton". 🠊

Silverton is a small town in the far west of New South Wales and 26 kilometres north-west of Broken Hill.  

Silverton has attracted artists, photographers and cinematographers for many years due to its stunning landscape and superb light.  

Silverton thrived back in the late 1800's during the Gold rush days.

🠈"On the Murray (Barham NSW)".  Barham is a small town on the banks of the Murray River.  It  is a pretty town surrounded by rich river flats.

From the early 1870's timber cutters began to set up camps and log the River Red Gums that grow in the surrounding forests.  Koondrook, on the Victorian side, developed more quickly than Barham and soon became the centre of a large forest industry with the timber being used to build boats and paddle steamers.

 

One of my favourite birds is the Pelican and I think this is a lovely painting of a Pelican.🠊

I have seen Pelicans in the Nepean and Hawkesbury regions.  They are large water birds characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before swallowing.  Their plumage is mostly white.

 

🠈"A view from Streeton Lookout" at Freeman's Reach, New South Wales overlooking the Hawkesbury River with views from the edge of the escarpmnt over the Richmond Lowlands and looking towards the Blue Mountains.

This is a popular spot where local artists gather to paint or sketch the landscape from this historic location.

The lookout is named after Sir Arthur Streeton (1867 - 1943).  Sir Arthur visited the Hawkesbury in 1896 and it was here that he painted some of Australia's most famous paintings.

We have an oil painting called Hawkesbury River which we purchased in recent years and it looks very much like this painting.  I wouldn't be surprised if it was painted from this same lookout. 

These are just a small selection of the many outstanding paintings at the Exhibition that took my fancy.  Despite the rain over the 3 days of the Exhibition I believe it was their most successful Exhibition ever with sales of  oils, water colours, pastels, acryllics, pen and ink, paper toille, sculptures and gift cards.

Acknowledgments

1.  Silverton destination brokenhill.com.au

2.  Wikipedia (information about Barham)

3.  Australian Bird Life (information about Pelicans)

4.  Hawkesbury People and Places (information about Streeton Lookout)

5.  Nepean Art Society Facebook page.