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
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
Cranbourne, Vic, Jan 2024 Just 50Kms southeast of Melbourne, the Royal Botanic Gardens have transformed scrublands and what was a sand mine into a most unusual garden. The Gardens opened back in 2012 and although I visited several times back then I haven’t been there since. Until last week, that is. I’d like to say that the Gardens have truly grown into their own skin. They’ve matured beautifully. The garden consists of 300 hectares of natural bushland and a large stunningly landscaped garden showcasing the uniqueness and variety of our native plants. The day I chose to visit was particularly … Continue reading Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
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
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
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
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
Looking back on a few of those priceless moments from 2023 Grenfell, NSW: Woody walks over to Spannerman coffee shop and returns with a cappuccino instead of a long black. He’s blowing steam out his ears when a car zooms … Continue reading It’s the Journey that’s Priceless
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?
Day 9 Saturday 2/12/2023 Heathcote to Home, drizzly 15˚ With the weather being so unpredictable and a few upcoming appointments it’s not worth doing any free camping after the muster. It starts spitting with rain by Tooborac and on the radio, they are talking about poor road conditions around Melbourne. The spits become misty drizzle and fog all the way home. The freeways are busy so we take Beach Road which certainly isn’t scenic today. Unlike the trip up it’s a slow drive home. At least we get the van unpacked before the heavens open again. I really didn’t need … Continue reading Ho Ho Heathcote – Unsettled Weather
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