Just before last Christmas, my son-in-law obtained a position with the Melton Shire Council in Victoria so the beginning of December last year saw Carol and Luke packing up and moving down to Melton which is roughly half way between Melbourne and Ballarat. They came back to visit at Christmas and again when Luke graduated from University but naturally I was anxious to visit them, so June saw me heading South from Sydney. Melton is roughly just under a thousand kilometres from home so as my niece and her family lived in Yass, a 3 to 4 hour drive away from here, they invited me to break my journey with them before continuing on the following day.
The last time I saw Emily, was when she and her parents broke their journey here from Yass to Brisbane just before Christmas last year. She was 9 months old then and had just found her feet - this time she was well and truly mobile and into everything ! It was lovely to see her again .... and her parents, too.
The next day saw me on my way again and I couldn't believe my eyes when I turned a corner in Holbrook and saw a submarine in the local park !
It was the HMAS Otway, an Oberon Class submarine which had been commanded by Norman D. Holbrook, VC RAN. The details of the Submarine can be seen in a photo below. As usual, click on the photograph to see a larger version.
After a tea break near the submarine, I continued my journey through several small towns and quite a large one, Albury, before crossing the NSW/Victorian border and bypassing Albury's twin city, Wodonga.
They surrounded us and escorted us to the water where the ducks and moorhens approached at their peril.
We tried to make sure that all of them got at least a few pieces of bread but it wasn't easy.
After a tea break near the submarine, I continued my journey through several small towns and quite a large one, Albury, before crossing the NSW/Victorian border and bypassing Albury's twin city, Wodonga.
Not long after I had left the border behind, I glanced down at the fuel gauge in the car and was horrified to see that the needle was pointing to empty. When I left Yass I knew I had just over half a tank of petrol left and then I had completely forgotten about it. On previous long trips the tank had been filled in the morning and this was enough to take me as far as I needed to go for the day. I continued on for a while hoping for a service station on the side of the motorway but none appeared. I started to panic. Then I saw a signpost ahead pointing to what I thought was a small town and since the driver of a tourist bus in front of me indicated that he was leaving the motorway at this point, I followed him ..... only to find that the 'town' consisted of just a few houses, a train station and a school and that the bus was turning around and heading back towards the main road. Then I saw a signpost pointing to Glenrowan, of Ned Kelly fame, so I headed towards that. 20 minutes later I spotted a service station coming up and breathed a big sigh of relief ..... but then found that all the pumps had been padlocked !
I just stood there looking at them when a lady came walking towards me so I asked her if there was another service station close by and she pointed to around the corner and told me that I would find one the other side of a roundabout. The car took $50 worth of petrol and I now know that on long trips I can drive for 640 kilometres on one tank alone. I swear that for the last 40 kilometres that car was running on fumes only !
The rest of my journey was quite straight forward until I turned onto the Western Freeway on the outskirts of Melbourne to head towards Melton which is on the Western Highway.
I missed the turnoff !
I was looking for the Western Highway when I should have been looking for the Ballarat Road so I stopped and checked the map (again), found a ramp up towards a bridge over the freeway where I turned and headed back until I saw the sign for the Ballarat Road. Then I kept watch for the turnoff to Melton - and all this time there were the most glorious colours in the sky as the sun set.
After stopping and taking this photograph I started off again, found the Melton turnoff and then got lost - again ! I made enquiries at a service station, got back on track and to my relief was able to drive straight to my daughter's home. There are at least 3 or 4 turnoffs to Melton and I had chosen the second one, which had Melton on it, instead of the last.
I certainly slept well that night.
The following day Carol and Luke took me on a tour of their area, showing me the sights and stopping at the local parks where they knew they would find lakes with lots of bird life on them since they knew that one of my favourite photographic subjects was birds.
As soon as we pulled into the car park we had a welcoming committee - a very noisy welcoming committee !
They surrounded us and escorted us to the water where the ducks and moorhens approached at their peril.
We tried to make sure that all of them got at least a few pieces of bread but it wasn't easy.
One of the geese was quite aggressive and wouldn't allow many of the others near him ....
..... but then the bread supply ran out.
They made sure that we didn't have any more bread left by escorting us back to the car and then as another car drew up, there was a rush to see what the newcomers had brought them especially when these people went to the picnic tables under the trees.
Luke had been telling us that he had seen a camel in a paddock so we went looking for it ..... and found it.
From the camel we went to Caroline Springs where there was a large lake with not just geese and ducks but black swans, cormorants, herons and the seagulls, of course, squabbling like mad over the tiniest scrap of food.
..... but then the bread supply ran out.
Latecomers missed out altogether.
They made sure that we didn't have any more bread left by escorting us back to the car and then as another car drew up, there was a rush to see what the newcomers had brought them especially when these people went to the picnic tables under the trees.
Luke had been telling us that he had seen a camel in a paddock so we went looking for it ..... and found it.
From the camel we went to Caroline Springs where there was a large lake with not just geese and ducks but black swans, cormorants, herons and the seagulls, of course, squabbling like mad over the tiniest scrap of food.
The swans were magnificent.
Although she may not have felt he was magnificent enough !
Although she may not have felt he was magnificent enough !
I have been trying to find out about this tag around his neck but I haven't been successful yet.
A Hard Headed Duck, that really is its name .....
..... a Pacific Black Duck being chased away.
I think this was the base of a fountain but as it was turned off, the birds (cormorants, herons and seagulls) were making good use of it.
Pied Cormorants getting a bird's eye view of the area.
The leader of the miners was an Irishman called Peter Lalor, the son of a member of the British House of Commons.
A Hard Headed Duck, that really is its name .....
..... a Pacific Black Duck being chased away.
I think this was the base of a fountain but as it was turned off, the birds (cormorants, herons and seagulls) were making good use of it.
Pied Cormorants getting a bird's eye view of the area.
The following day, Carol and I drove over to Ballarat to have a look around. This is Australia's largest inland city and gold was discovered near here in 1851. In the first year after the discovery, 10,000 miners turned a peaceful country town into the largest settlement in Victoria. For the next 20 years or so gold could be easily found on the surface but after the 1880s it was overshadowed by Melbourne but now it is an important inland city and tourist destination.
Ballarat was also the site of the Eureka Stockade Rebellion when many of the miners rebelled against the cost of the licence the miners needed in order to dig for the gold. They also wanted the right to vote and the right to buy land. This unrest lasted for three years and finally resulted in the all male right to vote in the lower house of the Victorian Parliament. This was the result of the Eureka Stockade which occurred at the end of 1854.
Wikipedia has an interesting article about the Eureka Stockade if you are interested at :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_Stockade
The leader of the miners was an Irishman called Peter Lalor, the son of a member of the British House of Commons.
More information about Peter Lalor can also be found on the widpedia link above. He was elected unopposed to the Victorian Parliament in 1856 and a statue of him stands in the main street of Ballarat.
There are many statues along the main street, Sturt Street. This one pictured below is a memorial to those soldiers who fought in the war in South Africa in 1899 to 1902 - the Boer War. I can't ever remember seeing a memorial to the Boer War Veterans before.
Naturally there was a statue of Queen Victoria but I didn't see one of Prince Albert.
Around the base of this statue were metal friezes showing scenes from Victoria's life - such as being told that she was now the Queen .....
There are many statues along the main street, Sturt Street. This one pictured below is a memorial to those soldiers who fought in the war in South Africa in 1899 to 1902 - the Boer War. I can't ever remember seeing a memorial to the Boer War Veterans before.
Naturally there was a statue of Queen Victoria but I didn't see one of Prince Albert.
Around the base of this statue were metal friezes showing scenes from Victoria's life - such as being told that she was now the Queen .....
..... her coronation
..... signing the Australian Constitution
..... in an open carriage at the time of her Diamond Jubilee.
There were many more statues in Sturt Street and a bandstand which is a memorial to Queen Alexander ..... I found out later that there is another memorial bandstand. The plaque reads : Memorial to the Bandsmen of SS Titanic 1913. This is something I must photograph on my next visit along with shots of other various historic sites.
There are many old Victorian buildings on Sturt Street with verandas and metal lace panels around them which have been converted to shops although the occasional one is still being used as a hotel/pub.
They stretch from way behind the cars in this picture.
Carol and I took the train into the centre of Melboune and then went by tram to the markets. What a fabulous place ! We spent a lot of time there and I for one could have spent a lot more but with lunchtime coming up we reluctantly left there to find a somewhere to eat.
Carol wasn't exactly pleased to be told by a drunk at the markets that she looked like Nicole Kidman - her comment was that he was even more drunk than she thought.
Following lunch we decided to take one of the free bus tours since we didn't have a lot of time left before catching the train.
There were many more statues in Sturt Street and a bandstand which is a memorial to Queen Alexander ..... I found out later that there is another memorial bandstand. The plaque reads : Memorial to the Bandsmen of SS Titanic 1913. This is something I must photograph on my next visit along with shots of other various historic sites.
There are many old Victorian buildings on Sturt Street with verandas and metal lace panels around them which have been converted to shops although the occasional one is still being used as a hotel/pub.
We only looked at the central shopping/business area of Ballarat on this visit which leaves us with a lot more to see on my next trip down south.
A must see on my trip were the Victoria Markets in Melbourne. I had heard a lot about these markets from my sister when she lived down there so since I love markets I had to see them.
They stretch from way behind the cars in this picture.
Carol and I took the train into the centre of Melboune and then went by tram to the markets. What a fabulous place ! We spent a lot of time there and I for one could have spent a lot more but with lunchtime coming up we reluctantly left there to find a somewhere to eat.
Carol wasn't exactly pleased to be told by a drunk at the markets that she looked like Nicole Kidman - her comment was that he was even more drunk than she thought.
Following lunch we decided to take one of the free bus tours since we didn't have a lot of time left before catching the train.
The City has a Melbourne Eye, positioned in the middle of the Dockland area which is being redeveloped but unfortunately it had developed some faults so at the moment no one can see from the Eye.
There is a great rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne - Melbournites jeer at the Coathangar (Sydney Harbour Bridge) New South Welshmen laugh at the Yarra River because the mud floats on top of the water.
A popular meeting place in Melbourne is under the Flinders Street Railway Station clock
The Melbourne Cricket Ground couldn't be missed with its statues of famous sports people surrounding it, such as Sir Donald Bradman, Dennis Lillee, Keith Miller, Betty Cuthbert, Shirley Strickland, etc.
There is a great rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne - Melbournites jeer at the Coathangar (Sydney Harbour Bridge) New South Welshmen laugh at the Yarra River because the mud floats on top of the water.
A popular meeting place in Melbourne is under the Flinders Street Railway Station clock
The Melbourne Cricket Ground couldn't be missed with its statues of famous sports people surrounding it, such as Sir Donald Bradman, Dennis Lillee, Keith Miller, Betty Cuthbert, Shirley Strickland, etc.
The parade of Champions were presented to the people of Australia by Tattersall's and they stand approximately 2 metres tall. Sadly, they have to be protected by security lighting and video surveillance.
I didn't manage to take a lot of photographs on the bus - I missed the Tennis Centre for instance - because of the reflections from the window glass but once again- next time.
Every Friday a shop called the Book Barn is open in Baccus Marsh which is about 10/11 kilometres from Melton so with both Carol and myself being avid readers, this we could not miss ! It was indeed like a barn with so many books on the shelves that in the end I had to drag myself away from it - with about 20 books, though. Altogether, with books I bought at various places, I went home with 50 or so to add to my collection.
I didn't manage to take a lot of photographs on the bus - I missed the Tennis Centre for instance - because of the reflections from the window glass but once again- next time.
Every Friday a shop called the Book Barn is open in Baccus Marsh which is about 10/11 kilometres from Melton so with both Carol and myself being avid readers, this we could not miss ! It was indeed like a barn with so many books on the shelves that in the end I had to drag myself away from it - with about 20 books, though. Altogether, with books I bought at various places, I went home with 50 or so to add to my collection.
Baccus Marsh is also known for its avenue of Elm trees (below) - each of the trees having a name plate on them in memory of local soldiers who died in WWI. Thankfully, the trees are all healthy and haven't been affected by the Elm Tree Disease.
The area is also known for its wineries so naturally I had to take home some samples with me.
I love the names of some of these small places - Yackandandah, Wangaratta, Wodonga, Bungowannah to name but a few.
As I reached Holbrook I noticed that the local Holden car dealer was named Leischke which was the married name of my mother-in-law's aunt. Not exactly a common name so perhaps there is a family connection.
Another place I had noticed on my way down to Melbourne was Gundagai where the dog sits on the tuckerbox according to legend and the song. Unfortunately the site was undergoing renovations so the local tourist shop was closed. A take away shop was open so I bought myself something to eat since it was getting late in the day. While I was sitting in the car before moving off, I saw a wild kangaroo coming out of the bush at the side of the road but by the time I got my camera out it had been frightened off by a car heading back onto the Highway. Oh well ! Next time !
I was still 400/500 kilometres from home, it was raining and getting dark, so decided to stop at the next motel. It had good accommodation, a restaurant (not all of them do) and spacious well kept grounds.
The next morning it was still raining (and how !) so I left early. I had left the rain behind me in the mountains before too long and by the time I was close to home the roads were dry again.
I wonder if there is anything worthwhile eating in here.
Need some help ?
Who are you looking at ?
Hey - I was here first !
Melton is well known for for its connections with the horse racing industry so the only statue in Melton is of - a horse !
The area is also known for its wineries so naturally I had to take home some samples with me.
All too soon the week was up so I packed the car and headed north again.
Over the last few years I have been interested in our family history. My mother-in-law was born in Holbrook (where the submarine is in the park) although at that time, before WWI it was called Germantown. Her grandparents were married in a town called Beechworth which is near the border of Victoria and NSW so I made a short detour to have a look at it and to take some photographs for the Family History file.
I love the names of some of these small places - Yackandandah, Wangaratta, Wodonga, Bungowannah to name but a few.
As I reached Holbrook I noticed that the local Holden car dealer was named Leischke which was the married name of my mother-in-law's aunt. Not exactly a common name so perhaps there is a family connection.
Another place I had noticed on my way down to Melbourne was Gundagai where the dog sits on the tuckerbox according to legend and the song. Unfortunately the site was undergoing renovations so the local tourist shop was closed. A take away shop was open so I bought myself something to eat since it was getting late in the day. While I was sitting in the car before moving off, I saw a wild kangaroo coming out of the bush at the side of the road but by the time I got my camera out it had been frightened off by a car heading back onto the Highway. Oh well ! Next time !
The next morning it was still raining (and how !) so I left early. I had left the rain behind me in the mountains before too long and by the time I was close to home the roads were dry again.
Knowing that there wasn't all that much in the frig I stopped at my local shopping centre to buy milk, bread, etc.
I love the cockatoos but unfortunately cockatoos and wooden decks don't really go together - the cockies have a habit of eating them but these seemed to be more interested in a bag than anything else.
I wonder if there is anything worthwhile eating in here.
Need some help ?
Who are you looking at ?
Hey - I was here first !
I enjoyed my trip very much but this time it was mainly to see Carol and Luke although I did see quite a lot while I was there. Next time I will have to plan it better and see more of the historic sites, in Ballarat for instance, as well as some of the other surrounding areas.
