Adelaide Hills to Ballarat - March (& a day or two of April) 2019

Thursday 21 March 2019

Already I have been slack about updating what happened, and even after a week, the memory has faded somewhat.  

However, photographs help and it was a very misty morning with the Landcruiser and Caravan amongst the apple and pear trees.

The caravan set up in the mist below Gnome Cottage and Ric's carport.








As best I can remember, Ann went to work leaving Ric & I to potter around and do a shopping trip into Mount Barker.    Later in the afternoon we had another excursion to the local wetlands where I took a number of photos of Ric on his bike with different movements and focus to illustrate an article on perception that Ric had been working on.

 On Friday morning I took a ride out to Tara Hills with Ann, who had a few errands to do.

 Tara Hills was beautiful as ever, but very dry at this time of year.  Late on Friday afternoon I went down to Adelaide with Ric and Ann to attend the Lifeflow AGM.  As Executive Officer, Ann had a report to give.  Whilst the meeting was being set up, Ric & I visited Lyrian (Ric & Ann's Daughter) and Husband Josh, who live nearby.

The AGM was interesting, rather different to many I attended on behalf of the Australian Shareholders Association and conducted very professionally.  It was followed by a light supper.

After the meeting we had a pose behind the gong

Saturday 23 March 2019

Mid morning we set off for an outing to Langhorne Creek, to the North of Lake Alexandrina.  Yet another great South Australian wine region within a short drive from the Adelaide Hills.  First stop was the historic Bleasdale Vinyards, where we tasted a few of the wines and enjoyed a wander through the old pressing area and amongst the wooden storage vats.  Out the back was the much more modern stainless steel handling and storage equipment.

A short drive away was Lake Breeze Winery which has a great selection of wines, very pleasant restaurant and beautiful grounds.  We had another (limited) tasting followed by an excellent browsing platter lunch and a good coffee.  Yet another winery to add to PJ's collection of mailing lists.

Final winery for the day was Bremerton, whose Selkirk Shiraz I was already familiar with.  The Winery is family run with two of the Wilson Sisters well established as Winemaker and Marketing Manager.  Lovely restored old Cellar Door with a nice restaurant, small shop and a wide variety of wines available.  Another tough day on the road, fortunately with Ann driving Ric & I home.

Sunday was low key (I think) and the weather changed with a strong cold front (first for this Autumn) passing through.  Not much rain, but strong winds and significantly colder.  While Ric and Ann caught up on a few jobs, I did a small shopping trip to Mount Barker to stock up on a few staples for my journey to Victoria.

Monday 25 March 2019

Mid morning I set off along the South East Freeway via Murray Bridge, Tailem Bend and all, through to Bordertown where I had a break from driving and a coffee.  The border into Victoria was marked only by a sign, with no fresh fruit or veg quarantine station, or even bins.  Obviously not a problem going this way away from the Riverlands.  I had thought about getting as far as Horsham without too long a drive, but after consulting Wikicamps decided to camp overnight at the Recreation Ground in Dimboola.  

 Quite a large area provided by the Community for 24 hour RV overnight stays.  I found a nice quiet spot on the edge of a wooded area with a large flat clearing and set up camp.

After dark, I noticed a lot of light outside the caravan and was surprised to find a number of CFA trucks with lights flashing squirting water in the open area.  They were in the middle of a local Brigade exercise to practise with a new 9000 litre truck with sophisticated remote controlled spray nozzle mounted in front of the cab.  Very impressive machine, but I worry about many new fire truck features losing their manual ease of use and reliability.

On Tuesday morning I continued the journey through Horsham, where I stopped for a shop at the local Aldi supermarket.  Mid afternoon I arrived in Ballarat and checked in at the Big4 Goldfields Caravan Park.  A relatively small but well run and spotlessly maintained caravan park located within walking distance of the City and Sovereign Hill.  The park was recommended to be by Hugh Robertson and was also reasonably priced.  I had booked in for a week, to explore the area and settle down the touring pace.

Wednesday 27 March 2019

After farting around most of the morning, catching up with email and other accumulated "paperwork" I walked into the City and visited the Tourist Information Centre, which is located in the impressive Town Hall on Sturt Street.

 A very knowledgeable young lady gave me a whole heap of useful information, which should keep me more than occupied for my stay in the City.

First stop was the Art Gallery, which also has an excellent Cafe, where I had a light lunch and coffee.

The Gallery is in a very beautiful Victorian Building in historic Lydiard Street.  It has an impressive eclectic collection, which was currently supplemented by a large travelling exhibition of original Picasso drawings and etchings. 










Photography is not allowed in the Gallery, but I did manage the shot below of the grand entrance area at the top of the stairway to the first floor.  I was later told, that this area featured in one of the "Doctor Blake" episodes.

Many large rooms with all sorts and periods of artwork, including some modern visual arts.

 There are many fine Victorian buildings along Lydiard Street,

 





including the Old Colonists Hall,

 the Mining Exhange and

the Old Ballarat Gaol, which is now part of the local University.

Nearby Sturt Street also has many impressive buildings and multiple statues spaced along the wide main street.  Some similarities to Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie in Western Australia, but much grander and better preserved.  All built on the wealth of rich gold deposits.


On Thursday, another beautiful Autumn day,  I caught up with washing, reading and had a lazy day, but managed to organise my next stay in Bendigo, including a planned catch up with Hugh and Maureen Robertson, to be followed with a return visit to Yellingbo to look after Geoff and Sandra's farm whilst they go on school holidays with their boys.  I don't think I managed to get outside the caravan park, but there is always tomorrow.....


Friday 29 March 2019


I had another drive around the area, exploring what I might see in more detail, plus another walk around the City.  I came across Saint Patricks Catholic Cathedral and noticed that the old fences were adorned with thousands of ribbons. 

Some Google research showed me that this was called the Loud Fence and the ribbons had been put in place as a memorial to the many victims and survivors of extensive childhood sexual abuse by the Clergy in Ballarat area.

In amongst the wonderful Victorian buildings, many of which had been restored, there were still plenty of ugly modern substitutes.  Many of these were major Bank branches with the NAB pictured, but also the Commonwealth and Bendigo Banks' well represented.




On Saturday, which ended up a very cold and drizzly day by contrast, I visited the site of the Eureka Stockade and a museum on the site, called the Eureka Centre.  It had a number of audio visual displays and the original preserved Eureka Stockage flag.

Unfortunately, apart from the flag, I found most of the displays rather "flat" and didn't catch my attention like some of the other attractions I was to visit over the next few days.






During the afternoon I drove the shores of Lake Wendouree to have a look at the Botanical Gardens and the Tramways Museum.

There are a number of trams that have been restored by volunteers and run on a short section of remaining track along the side of the lake. 

The trams run on weekends and public holidays and are a great tourist attraction.  The Tramways Museum and workshop has a number of trams in various stages of restoration and repair.






The nearby Botanical Gardens are very impressive, with beautiful displays, pergolas and a magnificent conservatory next to The Prime Ministers Avenue.

The main entrance gate is a pretty impressive statement.

 











Interior of the Statuary Pavilion.  Very formal.
















The Robert Clark Conservatory is a striking structure.  Currently home for a large Begonia (& other) exhibition.








Beautiful floral displays.

 What a great space.







 

 Next door is Lake Wendouree, which is quite large as you can see.  Big enough for a Yacht Club,

a number of boathouses, and

surrounded by many grand residences of another era.








Sunday 31 March 2019

Turned out to be a pretty bleak sort of day.  Drizzly and cold.  On the recommendation of Hugh and Maureen I had booked a "Doctor Blake Tour" in the afternoon.  Based on visiting a number of sites used in filming the Australian TV Series, The Doctor Blake Mysteries.  The tour is run by an elderly couple, Ian and Bev, who are very knowledgeable, have all manner of information and pictures combined with much enthusiasm.  Ian even dresses in a manner similar to Lucien Blake.  I am kicking myself for not taking a photo of them, but somehow I lost the plot.  The tour ran for nearly 3 hours visiting many sites around the City and on this day I was the only customer.  I was surprised that they would run it for one person and hope they get many days with closer to their six allocated spots.  For $50 it was great value.  Highly recommended if you find yourself in Ballarat and are a Doctor Blake fan.  Just Google Doctor Blake Tours.

One of the locations visited was the old East Ballarat Fire Station near Bakery Hill, which featured in an episode murder mystery.

Inside the historic station was a stunning Dodge Fire Engine which had been lovingly restored by the CFA Volunteers.

Monday 1 April 2019

My final day in Ballarat and April Fools Day.  I changed the battery in the caravan smoke alarm and made a note in the calendar to change out the back up batteries in the two smoke alarms in the house at Folly Farm when I return from this "Odyssey".

It turned into a beautiful sunny calm Autumn day to visit nearby Sovereign Hill, a large family tourist attraction located in an early gold diggings area and including a couple of underground mines.  I had thought it might be a bit "touristy" for me, but ended up being impressed by both the scale and how professionally it is executed and run.  Another visit highly recommended if you get to Ballarat.  It is also run as a not for profit, with a number of paid and volunteer jobs for the local community.

There are a number of organised activities each day, along with a few tours and others that cost a little extra, but are well worth the effort.  I included a visit down the main (tourist) gold mine and a circuit around the streets on a Cobb & Co coach drawn by four Clydesdales.  I really enjoyed myself and did a lot of walking up and down the hilly location during the day.  There are a number of excellent food outlets, including period bakeries, restaurant, pubs and a modern cafe with large picnic area and playground for families.  There were quite a lot of school groups there on the day.

One of the early activities (well for me anyway) was a group of "Redcoats" marching the streets, then loading and firing their muskets in a salute.  Attracted quite a crowd as you can see.

The town it quite extensive with all sorts of businesses and shops.

A choice of bakeries, one still using a wood fired oven.

The two large boilers that power the steam engines in the foundry and mine surface buildings are also fired with local timber.

The steam powered lifting machine at the mine surface.

 The Clydesdale team pulling the coach were well trained and attracted plenty of attention, especially from school groups.

A ride through town in the coach was quite a highlight for me.

I think the coach driver had an excellent job, particularly on a sunny Autumn day.

A large wheelwright and coach manufacturing factory on site.

A nice tack room and collection in the wheelwrights factory.

The overhead pulley system powering the various machines was quite amazing.

Further down the hill was the Red Hill Gold mine which also included subsurface tours.

A creek flows through the site where many schoolkids were put to work panning for gold.

To finish off, a view of the town from part way up the main goldmine structure. Just a few photographs here from far too many taken on the day.

Next door is The Gold Museum, which has many displays of the area and an impressive view out over the surrounding countryside.  The visit cost is included in the Sovereign Hill day ticket (which is also valid for a second consecutive day).

Sir Henry Bolte, a former long serving Premier of Victoria and local Ballarat boy stands guard outside the Museum.

Inside the Museum are many interesting and varied exhibits.  Again well worthwhile as part of a big day out.

Sovereign hill also puts on night time sight & sounds experience shows, but I had had enough as the afternoon came to an end.

On Monday (2nd April), I packed up and took a leisurely drive North through Daylesford and Castelmaine to Bendigo, where I was due to meet up with old friends Hugh and Maureen Robertson, who were on their way North from a recent trip to Tasmania, heading for a "Tag along Tour" starting in Lightning Ridge in early May.

That would seem a good spot to draw breath and publish again for those regular readers who have been waiting patiently to see if the blog would ever return......