Day 114 Friday 2/10/20 Grenfell, sunny 25
I can hear Apostle birds playing outside. Yes, playing. The highlight of any trip north is seeing these little guys chattering and playing in the dust, muttering to themselves and grooming each other.
Elle has a swollen knee so El Prado unhitches and we tour the area in their car. The nearby grain silos have been painted by silo artist Heesco. An entrancing mural of the wealth of this district.
We drive to the eastern end of town to O’Brien’s Hill the site of the original gold mine. A rusted poppet head, whim and mine shafts remain.
Then it’s out of town towards Ben Hall’s cave in the Widdin Range. Remember he was the bush ranger who hung around these parts. We don’t think we’re fit enough for the rocky climb to the cave but El Prado had met some members of the Seaton family (I told you, he talks to everyone) yesterday. He sat on a seat in the Main Street and chatted to all the passers by. Anyway, the Seaton’s suggested that we visit their uncle’s farm out beyond Ben Hall’s cave.
Jim and Bertha Seaton established a farm out here during the depression. Jim Seaton was as canny as any farmer and created fences by collecting unwanted pieces of wire and rewinding them together. He extended the height of his fences with saplings to keep the Roos out. To make used corrugated iron go further he pounded the waves out of it. Jim and Bertha dug their own dams and wells by hand and built their sheds and house from the flattened corrugated iron.
Once more we marvel at the Paterson’s Curse. The locals tell us that the crops are the best since the 1980’s.
Back in town we discover Rosa’s Bakery run by a young Vietnamese couple. We tackle the Pork Rolls with gusto. I visit the art gallery at the Info Centre, the photography is sublime and I vow to send Elle there tomorrow. Yes, we’ve decided to stay in Grenfell another night, just one as there is a three night limit. This is such a likeable town.
NSW and NT have agreed to open up their borders to New Zealand.
Accom: $5.00
Travelling Kms: 0
itchingforhitching 
I love finding living history. I may live half way across the world, but next year my fiancé — with luck by then my wife — and I will be able to go exploring Colorado, USA’s abandoned mining towns. We don’t have my Wrangler anymore, but her Jeep will do just fine for most of those trails. Look forward to your next post.
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Thanks Tobias. This world is a fascinating place enjoy your adventures.
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Great silos, and what an amazing look at the recycling from long, long ago. At least I’m presuming it was long ago as it’s far removed from our throw away society. Paul was born in the wrong era. He’s such a hoarder! He would love to be living in an era that straightened out corrugated iron to make it stretch further. Now he keeps everything just in case, but then he forgets what he has, and buys new anyway.
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My parents found new uses for everything but they lived through the depression. I wonder what lessons will come from Covid?
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Sometimes it is the places that weren’t originally in one’s plans that turn out to be some of the most memorable……
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So true Wendy.
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I like the sound of these make-do-and-mend Seatons, and those silos too. A good day.
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A good day indeed.
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How much of a problem is Paterson’s Curse?
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Peter, you’ve enlightened my breakfast routine. I grew up on a farm in an area where this wasn’t a problem but it was always spoken of and criticised. The name probably should be changed to “Bloody Paterson’s Curse” to be more suitable. On this trip we were surprised to see so much of it but were told that the recent good rains were the result. From what we saw roadsides, old farms that were no longer worked and on the shores of Lake Burrendong it was prolific so it needs management to keep under control. I googled this site and found it to be very informative, enough to make me want to dig out those rubber boots again. https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/Details/102. Oh, and the damned stuff is poisonous to livestock.
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Wow, it is a big problem, and all thanks to Jane Paterson liking the flower it seems. We’ve done some pretty stupid things to our planet over the centuries, and continue to do so. Nature just sits back and waits for the time when we’ve gone so she can sort herself out. Thanks for the link.
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Peter, you’ve opened a can of worms, there seems to be so much about this damned weed on the internet and I can’t help but compare it to the rabbit in this country. And neither could this piece from The Albury Banner of 1905 “Moderation is undoubtedly a magnificent thing. If the rabbit, and the sparrow, and the purple flower aforesaid — as well as the drunkard and the Socialist— recognised the real magnificence of moderation there would be a refreshing diminution of our national troubles”. There you have it Salvation Jane, Rabbits, Socialists throw in Sparrows and Drunks…that’s trouble my friends and that starts with T.😂
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Maybe the answer is to get the steaks on and pour a glass or two of wine. All in moderation of course!
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Cheers!
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These are such beautiful photos!
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Thank you Peter.
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