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

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, 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

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, 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

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

We often travel to the mid north of South Australia to visit family in Clare and Peterborough. We have a number of alternative routes we can take to get there, all of them going through various parts of the wine growing region of the Barossa Valley. Between the towns of Angaston and Nuriootpa is a small historic cottage now occupied by the Barossa Quilt and Craft shop (see photo below). My wife regularly likes to stop for a short break and look at what they have in stock. Meanwhile I admire their lovely rose garden out the front of the cottage.

A few months ago I was passing the cottage by myself, but actually stopped, turned around and went back to take photos of the rose bushes in full bloom. It was an intoxicating blend of colour and perfume in the bright summer sunshine. I just had to share it with my readers.

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

Angaston, Barossa Valley, South Australia

When travelling to Clare in the mid north of South Australia we often drive through the lovely town of Angaston. This delightful mecca for tourists and locals alike is in the wine region of the Barossa Valley. On a recent drive through I stopped to take a few photos rather than just drive straight through.

Angaston, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Angaston, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Angaston, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Tribute to Clydesdale horses, Angaston, South Australia

When travelling from home through the famous wine region of the Barossa Valley here in South Australia we regularly go through the old town of Angaston. This region was settled by German settlers escaping religious persecution in their home lands and included my forebears in their number.

We often stop in the park at the western end of the main street to have a break or a cuppa and sometimes even lunch. The bakery in the main street is also a favourite stopover place. The park has a wonderful tribute to the Clydesdale Horses which provided essential help for the local farmers and businesses in the early days. I’ve featured this statute in the photos on this post. At the bottom of the post you can read more about these wonderful animals from the plaque next to the statue (click to enlarge).

Tribute to Clydesdale horses, Angaston, South Australia

Tribute to Clydesdale horses, Angaston, South Australia

Tribute to Clydesdale horses, Angaston, South Australia (click to enlarge)

Inneston Lake, Yorke Peninsula

During our recent short holiday on Yorke Peninsula we visited the Innes National Park. It had been many years since our last visit to this scenic and rugged part of the South Australian coast. In the middle of the national park is the historic town of Inneston. The village was once the home to over 150 people and was a bustling, industrious town.

The town was established in 1913 to house the miners working in the nearby gypsum mines and production factory. Many of the local salt lakes were rich in the mineral which was transported mainly to Adelaide via Stenhouse Bay. In the state capital city it was used primarily in the building trade.

After the mine closed the town rapidly deteriorated as people moved away. In more recent times some of the original buildings have been restored and are used as accommodation in the national park.

You can read more about the history of this town on the Flinders Ranges Research site here.

Part of historic Inneston, Yorke Peninsula

Part of historic Inneston, Yorke Peninsula

Part of historic Inneston, Yorke Peninsula

Stenhouse Bay jetty, Yorke Peninsula

Stenhouse Bay on the southern end of Yorke Peninsula in South Australia was once a thriving port. It was established in 1913 when gypsum was mined in nearby Inneston. The rock, once treated, was used in the building industry as plaster of paris and cement. Many older homes in Adelaide have plaster ceilings made from gypsum mined in this area. The mining works closed in 1972 and many of the houses in Stenhouse Bay and Inneston were demolished. Some still remain and are used by the national park rangers, either for staff accommodation or  for hire for tourists. I’ll show some photos of them in a few days.

Stenhouse Bay jetty, Yorke Peninsula