Sketches of Coolart
Coolart Homestead, Somers, Vic Continue reading Sketches of Coolart
Category: Vic
The Briars, the Balcombe’s & Bonaparte
Feb 2024, Mt Martha, Vic On Balcombe Creek (Tichin-Gorourke as known by the Bunurong people) in Mt Martha, the property was settled in 1840 by Captain James Reid, the first house built was a thatched slab dwelling. The property came … Continue reading The Briars, the Balcombe’s & Bonaparte
“Good onya luv, all the best”
Jan 2024, Kunyung Rd, Mt Eliza, Mornington Peninsula, Vic The Moondah Gatehouse came up in conversation the other day whilst having coffee with friends and I thought it may be worthy of a sketch for my current project on local landmarks. Little did I know it would send me down a ‘rabbit hole’ of memories, so please bear with me. For those unfamiliar with Australian aviation history, I’d better start at the beginning. Sir Reginald Myles Ansett KBE (1909 – 1981) began his transportation career by providing a car and later bus service in the Western District of Victoria. Eventually, … Continue reading “Good onya luv, all the best”
Polly Woodside
Jan 2024, Melbourne, Vic Built in Belfast in 1885, Polly Woodside is an iron-hulled 3-masted barque constructed for carrying up to 110 tons of cargo. 678 tons. She is 230ft (70m) in length with a mast height of 108ft (33m). … Continue reading Polly Woodside
Raising the Rattler Pole – The Last of the Connies
Jan 2024, Melbourne, Vic On the corner of Spencer & Flinders Streets in Melbourne, you’ll find this full-sized replica of the last W Class tram that was built at the Preston Tram Works for service in Bourke Street, in 1956. The work of David Michael Bell, it is a poignant reminder of another era. Melbourne is proud of its tram history and so too is the city of Bendigo which has a tram workshop that repairs and restores heritage trams to their former glory for customers worldwide. And the ‘Connies’, well that’s what we used to call the conductors. https://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/raising-the-rattler-pole … Continue reading Raising the Rattler Pole – The Last of the Connies
Villa Parma
Hepburn Springs, Vic The Daylesford, Hepburn Springs region has a proud Swiss Italian heritage thanks to the immigrants who came to the region in the latter part of the 19th Century in search of a better life. Built in 1864 Villa Parma, now part of the Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel, is a tangible reminder of those times. Continue reading Villa Parma
Where Life Really is a Beach
Carrum, Vic, Jan 2024 Situated at the head of Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is blessed with safe sandy swimming beaches. On the eastern shore, beaches stretch south almost uninterrupted from Port Melbourne to Portsea. That’s a little over 100kms of … Continue reading Where Life Really is a Beach
When Plans Go Astray
Melbourne, Summer 2024 We tend not to go away over the summer holiday season as it is a busy time for families. Though we do like to spend our Christmas in country towns. This year, however, commitments and crazy weather have thrown every plan to the wind. We had hoped to spend Xmas up in the goldfields area around St Arnaud with our mate VeeWee but had to cancel our booking. When Xmas came around, we breathed a sigh of relief as the weather worsened, and St Arnaud flooded. It certainly was miserable weather and not suited to being in … Continue reading When Plans Go Astray
Coolart Homestead
Jan 2024, Somers, Vic At Somers on the Western Port side of the Mornington Peninsula sits a grand old home. Built in 1896 for the Grimwade family it was the crowning glory of their 2000acre cattle stud. Around 1977, the … Continue reading Coolart Homestead
A White Christmas?
Christmas Eve 2023 Yesterday, I trudged along the beach grateful that I’d brought along the sunglasses as the sand at McCrae was blindingly white and soft, hence the trudging. It was easier to kick off the shoes and have a … Continue reading A White Christmas?
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