buildings – Mick & Sue's Aussie Adventure

March 13, 2021

Chiltern VIC

The cowboy comes charging out of the gate holding on to the unhappy bull, and my first sight of this sends my adrenalin pumping. What power and brute energy! The cowboys are worse off for this ride. They line up and try their luck to stay on, but no one scores a point at this event in Chiltern.

Cowboys riding bulls at Chiltern Rodeo VIC

Next the cowboys try to ride an untamed horse. They buck and jump, twisting this way and that, trying to shake off the cowboy. It’s no wonder a local medical clinic is one of the sponsors. Some are slow to stand up or they crawl out of the arena.

Cowboys riding horses at Chiltern Rodeo VIC

The women show off some very good skills on quarter horses, lassoing calves, and running a short obstacle course. They look awesome at speed, as their hats fly off.

Another cowboy bites the dust at Chiltern Rodeo VIC

I have never seen so many cowboy hats in one place at one time. This is a whole lifestyle that people choose to live every day. The rodeo event had been on the previous day in another town nearby. We’ve seen enough and leave early not wanting to get caught up in the crush of cars trying to leave the rough paddock at the racecourse.

Despite the fact that I went along to learn how to use my DSLR camera prior to taking this trip, I found that my skills and knowledge fall short when trying to capture great images at an event like this rodeo. Complicating factors are the fast action, heads and bodies of spectators getting in the way, the fading light at dusk, other obstacles such as large amplifier speaker boxes, and the necessary fence. My automatic focus kept catching the things closer than my subject. Everything happened so fast and I was just one of a few thousand spectators keen to see the action. My iPhone managed to capture a few good videos that I posted online. So, I was juggling cameras in search of that elusive shot, that I didn’t get this time.

Back at the caravan park we are camped next to a lovely town lake where ducks live. It looks calm, but we can hear the constant drone of traffic from the Hume Freeway nearby, and the train line is in between and trains thunder past regularly. It is the long weekend, and we have an unpowered site as the caravan park is full. Many Melburnians are escaping the city after a year of lockdown.

The Tuan Track is nearby and winds through the forest. This bushland is quite boring and dry. The walk is exercise for us and we enjoy the solitude. Like wobble-headed dashboard dogs we look up and down, watching for koalas in the trees and snakes on the ground, but see none of either.

Is this the last telephone box found in Chiltern VIC

Chiltern town is pretty with heritage buildings lining a quaint main street. We enjoy an excellent chicken parmigiana at the Telegraph Hotel. The local market is in the park on Sunday, but it is small and uninteresting.

On Monday, the caravan park empties. We move on to our next spot the following day.

March 19, 2020March 19, 2020

Cue WA

Clouds cluster and the sunlight vanishes. The two-story building stands empty and alone in a stony field. The front façade made of grey stone veiled under a patina of red dust. White wooden front doors that once welcomed members to this lodge, now closed forever.

Eight darkened windows arranged in perfect symmetry aside an elaborate portico that extends to the roof and is donned with a tower-like cap. French doors once opened onto a small verandah above. Decorative white painted iron filigree now rusting with neglect. Red dusty corrugated iron covers the faded green roof and other external walls.

I ignore the call of the crows as I reach for my camera. Through the lens, a blur; was that a movement behind the upper window? I lower the camera and look to check; nothing. The crows cry out. I take two photographs and turn. Suddenly I feel the flap and puff of feathers against my face as the crow swoops. I look up and the second crow swoops aiming for my face below my hat. I dash along the empty street with hands above my head to ward off the black spirits as they pursue me. I need no further convincing. This is just one of several haunted houses in this once prosperous gold-mining town of Cue.

Gold was discovered here in 1892 and the town was named after Tom Cue who registered the claim. Like other towns in the goldfields region of Western Australia, Cue was a hive of activity during the early 1900’s. Nowadays the town still operates despite a main street of empty shops. Large mining concerns operate in this area and road trains barrel back and forth through town all day and night not slowing to the 60 kilometre limit. Some of these long-wheelers have five trailers attached.

Tourists like us also visit especially during the cooler months of the year. The main attractions are gold-fossicking, aboriginal rock art, heritage buildings, and the wildflower season. At the moment it also has a secondary attribute as a remote recluse during this COVID-19 pandemic.

January 23, 2020January 27, 2020

Not Belfast

Port Fairy is the prettiest town in Victoria in my opinion. Originally named Belfast in a sentimental link to ‘home’, the Irish and English influences of the early settlers are still obvious.

The original old buildings and quaint cottages are still in active use and lovingly looked after. The Caledonian Inn was the first licensed pub in Victoria and is still enjoyed by locals and visitors. The many cottages have lovely gardens with roses flourishing in the volcanic soil.

Situated at the mouth of the Moyne River a rich culture of fishing and sailing abounds. Griffiths Island was once a key location for the whaling industry and whales still visit the bays midyear. The lighthouse is situated out on Griffiths Island where the migratory Mutton birds congregate. The walk out to the lighthouse is a must-do activity when visiting the town.

We lived and worked here from 2010 until 2013 and we built a house here in keeping with the local style. Recently we dropped in and are glad to know that the new owners are very happy with the house, location, and lifestyle.

At nearby Tower Hill a mother emu bailed us up on a trail nervous about protecting her young emu. We walked around the extinct volcano which was identified as a National Park in 1892. The ‘Last Volcano’ sits within the lakes and inner hills and was last active in 5000 BC. We saw emu and one baby emu, koalas and one baby koala, and wallabies.

Even in mid-January you need a coat and beanie here, as it is often cold, windy, rainy and grey and our stay was no different. It is a relief from the hot dry summer with bushfires, but not so great for the summer holiday campers. Feeling brave we donned our wetsuits and snorkels then plunged into the cold water to see what lives in the rocky ledge along the edge of Griffiths Island. There are lots of fish to see amongst the garden of kelp. It was a lovely experience and I hope the first of many on this trip.

January 18, 2020January 18, 2020

The Golden Triangle

The bell struck ten times sounding out across the town and I turned to locate the source. There atop the post office was the bell tower. It filled me with happiness because I love that sound, and contrary to the sentiments of Mark Twain who visited Maryborough and stated that he did not like bells, I think there is a huge lack of town bells across Australia.

Maryborough sits inside The Golden Triangle where gold was found in the 1850’s and since. The heritage buildings of the town are evidence of a rich past. So, while I walked around the town taking photographs of the architecture, Mick went out onto the scrubby goldfields in search of a nugget.

Nearby Talbot is where some of Mick’s ancestors made and lost their fortune through their pursuit of gold and celebratory drinks afterward. At one point they owned three houses in the town. I guess that the gold fever must be in his genes. These days though detectors are used which many presume can find the nuggets still hidden.

Old architectural buildings have a charm that is attractive. I think it resides in the grandeur, symmetry, muted colours of natural materials, sculptured artistic details, elegant signage, columns and frames. They bring an interesting profile to the skyline.

I enjoyed looking at the old buildings: The Central Goldfields Shire Offices was formerly The School of Mines; the original Public Library sadly now houses some other boring organization; the local swimming pool has a lovely Art Deco entrance; the football ground stadium at Princes Park is another grand building; the Post Office sits proudly on the hill well placed for the town bell; and gorgeous old pubs sit on the street corners adorned with nymphs and sculptures.

The Maryborough Railway Station stands out as a major place of interest and has an interesting history. Its grandeur seemingly misplaced for a small country town was supposedly meant to be built in Maryborough Queensland. This myth persists despite efforts from locals to dispute this. It is a beautiful building and worth a visit. It is a functioning railway station with daily train trips.

Victoria Lake sits beside the football ground and swimming pool at Princes Park. Our caravan site was just alongside the lake where birds, ducks, waterfowl, one neurotic swan, and turtles live. Each day I walked the circuit trying to spot the turtle noses as they peaked up from the water.

The hot days and smoke haze were broken by a thunderstorm with impressive lightning and much needed rain, especially to the bushfires in other parts of the state.

Mick joined in with the Maryborough Park Run group and I did Yoga with Adriene in the caravan and walked around the lake.