Archive for the 'Historic places' Category

Scenes of Mannum and the Murray River, South Australia

Murray River, Mannum, South Australia

Mannum is a small river town less than a half hour drive from my home. It is on the banks of the Murray River and has a long history dating back to the paddle steamer era in the late 1800s when Mannum was an important river trade port. The local museum bears testimony to this important element of South Australia’s history.

We enjoy our visits and love relaxing in Mary Ann Reserve where these photos were taken.

Silver Gull and the Murray River, Mannum, South Australia

Murray River, Mannum, South Australia

The Murray River at Mannum, South Australia

Murray River, Mannum, South Australia

The river town of Mannum is less than a half hour drive from our home in Murray Bridge. This popular tourist town is quiet with a good range of facilities including an excellent caravan park and several hotels. The picnic area at Mary Ann Reserve on the banks of the river is a popular spot. It is also where several touring boats moor, including those which provide meals, short trips of the river and longer week long cruises.

An excellent Tourist Information Centre which features the historic nature of the old Mannum River Port which was in its heyday in the paddle steamer era of the late 1800s.

Murray River, Mannum, South Australia

Silver Gulls and the Murray River, Mannum, South Australia

Sydney Great Steam Train Expo 2011

Sydney Great Steam Train Expo, Central Station

On the first weekend of our stay in Sydney earlier this year our daughter in law arranged for tickets to the Sydney Great Steam Train Expo. Apart from being able to look through some very historic carriages our tickets included a 75 minute steam train ride through the suburbs of Sydney. It was a wonderful trip and enjoyed by all the family, especially my 2.5 year old grandson. (He plays almost daily with his own train set.)

Over the coming week or so I will be showing the photos taken that morning. I won’t bore you with my writing; I’ll just let you enjoy the photos.

Sydney Great Steam Train Expo, Central Station

Central Station, Sydney

The statue of Curio at Marrabel

Life size statue of Curio at Marrabel, South Australia

I’m not into the world of rodeos and buck-jumpers, but I do admire the one-and-a-half life size statue of the famous Australian horse Curio shown in the photos on this post. This wonderful piece of art work stands at the northern end of the main street of the little town of Marrabel in the mid north of South Australia. We often pass by this statue on our way to visit our daughter in Clare.

Curio was evidently a buck jumping horse to be reckoned with, one that unseated every attempt at riding her for eight years. No rider could stay seated on the horse for more than 3 seconds until a famous day in 1953 when Alan Woods successfully rode her for ten seconds. He is also featured as part of the statue which is based on a photo taken during the famous ride.

The tiny town of Marrabel holds a well attended rodeo every October and has done so since 1935.

You can read more information on the sign shown below (click to enlarge) or on an article on the Marrabel Rodeo website.

Sign about the horse Curio at Marrabel, South Australia (click to enlarge)

Life size statue of Curio at Marrabel, South Australia

Life size statue of Curio at Marrabel, South Australia

Rose garden, Barossa Quilt and Craft Cottage

Rose garden, Barossa Quilt and Craft Cottage, Nuriootpa, South Australia

The Barossa Quilt and Craft Cottage between Angaston and Nuriootpa is a mecca for people interested in craft, especially quilting, My wife and daughter like to stop and browse through their stock when we pass by on our way to the mid north, or coming home to Murray Bridge.

I like looking in this historic cottage too, but I also enjoy the wonderful rose garden between the road and the cottage. Yesterday I showed some photos taken there last summer. Today I want to share a few more photos of the magnificent blooms.

Rose garden, Barossa Quilt and Craft Cottage, Nuriootpa, South Australia

Rose garden, Barossa Quilt and Craft Cottage, Nuriootpa, South Australia

Rose garden, Barossa Quilt and Craft Cottage, Nuriootpa, South Australia