The Travelling Novocastrians: April 2012

Friday, April 27, 2012

OUR TRAVELS to ALBANY via THE STIRLING RANGES WA

23^rd April 2012:-

Travelling to Albany from the north you travel alongside the Stirling Ranges. We visited 'The Lily'.......a replica Dutch Windmill.

24^th April 2012:-

What a surprise the city of Albany is. Albany has a lot of history and more recently a new waterfront marina precinct.

Albany is situated on the Princess Royal Harbour. It has a working port, The Albany Port, where they export riches such as wheat, wood chip, and sand. The coast line surrounding Albany is one of much beauty. There are excellent lookouts giving spectacular views over the city and King George Sound 3.5 klms east of Albany. One of the lookouts is Mount Clarence which is the site of the ANZAC Memorial and where a special dawn service is held every ANZAC DAY. As we were visiting on the 24^th April there was much activity in preparation for tomorrow's dawn service. Albany was the embarkation point for Australian troops in the First World War and for many their last view of the island continent. The first dawn service in Australia was celebrated on this mount in 1923. Another lookout is Princess Royal Fortress, a military fort dating back to 1893. We spent 2 hours venturing around the site and its major museum display areas.

Albany is the oldest European settlement in Western Australia, established in 1826, two years before Perth and has the oldest surviving intact cottage in the state - Patrick Taylor Cottage.

Albany's new Waterfront Marina precinct has a new Entertainment Centre opened on 11 December 2010. The building looks like the sails and a hull of a ship, some say a mini Sydney Opera House! The ANZAC Peace Park is also on the waterfront precinct.

25^th April 2012:-

The day started with a phone call to my darling sister, Isabel, to wish her a very 'Happy Birthday'.

Also it is ANZAC DAY............. A day to remember all those men and women who lost their lives in WW1 and several wars since then.

We went on a sightseeing adventure........... To Frenchman Bay, south of Albany, and on the southern side of a narrow peninsula you come into Torndirrup National park. This National Park has numerous natural attractions and the area is buffeted by some extreme force from the sea. We explored the interesting coastline, visiting The Gap, The Natural Bridge, The Blowholes, Frenchman Bay and the old Whaling Station.

ALBANY WA

STIRLING RANGES and ALBANY WA..........

The Lily......Dutch Windmill

Double click on photo to read information on 'The Lily'

This photo taken from 'The Lily' looking out over the Stirling Range

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ALBANY WA..........................

A map outlining the city of Albany....

it show Albany on Princess Royal Harbour protected by King George Sound

Oldest dwelling in WA....1832

The new Albany Entertainment Centre

Albany Entertainment Centre taken looking back on our way to Frenchman Bay

Anzac Peace Park honours the men and women who gathered in Albany in 1914 before departing to serve in WW1. For the thousands of Australian and New Zealand soldiers who died at Gallipoli, looking back at the shores of Albany was their last sight of Australia before they sailed towards the unknown.

Looking back to the city of Albany's CBD from Anzac Peace Park

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DESERT MOUNTED CORPS MEMORIAL..............

The Avenue of Honour takes you to the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial on Mount Clarence

STATUE.......Desert Mounted Corps Memorial

Information on the STATUE of the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial

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This vessel is a full size replica of the original 'Brig Amity'.

On 25 Dec 1826, the Brig Amity arrived in Princess Royal Harbour. It came in under the command of Major Edmund Lockyer. It came to establish the first European settlement in the western part of the continent, before the Swan River Colony, now Perth, which wasn't established until 1829.

Albany's Old Post Office

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PRINCESS ROYAL FORTRESS MILITARY MUSEUM.................

Gun facing south over King George Sound and The Southern Ocean

Command Centre

Information on the Command Centre

Uhmm..........I very happy with my twin-tub washer!

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Albany from Frenchman Bay Road on our way to Frenchman Bay

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A remote control model aeroplane enthusiast was flying his pride and joy...................

Oh NO!

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THE GAP and NATURAL BRIDGE......................

The granite which forms the Gap and Natural Bridge was created when molten rock rose from deep in the earth's crust.

Waves relentlessly pounded against the coast, eventually tearing away loose blocks of granite to create The Gap and The Natural Bridge.

The Natural Bridge

The Gap

The Blowholes............

The blowholes are enlarged cracklines that are open through to the ocean's surface

The blast of air and spray sounds like a whale exhaling through its blowhole.

We experienced a lot of noise and mist but no spray as such.

The colours and beauty of the surrounding rock is awesome

Australia's last whaling station operated from this site

and until 1978 whales were processed here on this site near Frenchman Bay

Monday, April 23, 2012

Wave Rock near Hyden then south to Lake Grace

Saturday 21^st and Sunday 22^nd April 2012:-

WAVE ROCK......... An amazing granite cliff, 15 metres high and 110 metres long. It's rounded like shape has been caused by weathering and water erosion which has undercut the base and left a rounded overhang.

We climbed and walked the large granite rock as well as walked the 1.7klm loop around the base to Hippos Yawn. Hippos Yawn, an unusual shaped granite boulder was formerly part of the wave rock outcrop. 19klms further east of Hyden we visited Mulka's Cave, one of the most significant Aboriginal rock-art sites in Western Australia. Hand prints make up 69% of the 452 Aboriginal motifs found in this cave and left hands outnumber right hands 2 to 3! Stayed overnight at Pingaring (virtually a wheat silo with a few village residents). We saw two children and two cars!

Next morning travelled a short distance to.......

LAKE GRACE.......... A small town in WA's Wheatbelt South. The most notable aspects of the land are the many natural shallow salt lakes. Lake Grace which is 10klms west of the township is one of Australia's largest inland salt lakes. This small but quaint town has many interesting attractions such as the large Pioneering Women's Mural, Station Masters House (circa 1924) and the Lake Grace Australian Inland Mission Hospital. Our overnight camp was about 20klms south of Lake Grace on our way to The Stirling Range and Albany.

Wave Rock near Hyden and Lake Grace

21st April 2012:-

WAVE ROCK.............

Chris......at Wave Rock

What do you think......a budding surfer!

On top of the large reasonably flat granite outcrop know as Wave Rock

We walked the Wave Rock loop to Hippos Yawn

At 'Hippos Yawn'

Information on the erosion of the granite outcrop....... 'Hippos Yawn'

To enlarge any of the photographs - double click on the photo.

The entrance to Mulka's Cave.....

this cave is one of the most significant Aboriginal rock-art sites in WA.

Aboriginal rock-art........ hand prints are seen on the rock

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22nd April 2012:-

LAKE GRACE.............

The main street of the quaint small town of Lake Grace

This building was originally, The Station Master's House.

Now restored it is the Lake Grace Shire Visitor Information Centre

Many of these beautiful trees lined the main street of Lake Grace.

Lake Grace's Pioneering Women's Mural

The Lake Grace Australian Inland Mission Hospital was established in 1926

by Dr. John Flynn.

This hospital is the only remaining Inland Mission Hospital in WA.

The AIM Hospital is now restored as a Hospital Museum.

In the distance Lake Grace....

this photo taken from a lookout overlooking the lake.

Lake Grace is one of Australia's largest inland salt lakes.

The lake itself is 10klms from the township.

From Cape Le Grand travelling further west through Inlets and Bays

Wednesday 18^th April, 2012:-

We left Cape Le Grand and travelled back to Esperance once again doing the essential domestic duties such as restocking the pantry, banking, refuelling etc.etc. We have spent the last few days visiting beaches, inlets and bays. Our first evening was spent at Quagi Beach then we visited Stokes Inlet and Munglinup Beach where we stayed overnight. The next day we travelled onto Hopetoun, a coastal nickel mining village, 45klms south of Ravensthorpe. We travelled back to Ravensthorpe then turned north and travelled onto Overshot Hill Nature Reserve, staying the night. Next morning Varley and Wave Rock, 4 klms east of Hyden.