Coastal vegetation, Robe, South Australia

While we were at Robe in the south east region of South Australia for a holiday recently, my wife asked me to take a series of photos of the coastal vegetation.

Click on the photo to enlarge the image.

Coastal vegetation, Robe, South Australia

Coastal vegetation, Robe, South Australia

Coastal vegetation, Robe, South Australia

Coastal vegetation, Robe, South Australia

Coastal vegetation, Robe, South Australia

Coastal vegetation, Robe, South Australia

Coastline south of Robe, South Australia

On our last afternoon in Robe on our recent holiday we went for a drive along the coast south of the town. There are a number of rough tracks from the main road leading towards the coast. From time to time one gets a glimpse of the beach and the waves, like in the photo above.

Along the main road the traveller also encounters a series of lakes. Some of these are salt lakes and others contain fresh water. The lakes vary in size from the area of a tennis court through to some that are many kilometres around the perimeter. Most are very shallow.

Old Man Lake, south of Robe, South Australia

These lakes are part of the Little Dip Conservation Park. Camping and picnics are allowed in designated areas near some of the lakes and beaches. We stopped at Old Man Lake for a short picnic. Some home made biscuits and a cup of tea was very welcome. We were entertained by some Superb Blue Wrens and Red Browed Finches hopping around us as we had our picnic. Unfortunately none of them came close enough for a photo. By then the shadows were making it too dark for good photography. (Click on the names of the birds to see photos taken elsewhere.)

Old Man Lake, south of Robe, South Australia

Even though the light was failing as we finished our picnic, I managed several good photos of the reflections on the still water of the lake.

Road to Beacon Hill, Robe, South Australia

One day I decided to go on an extended walk through some of the nearby bushland. My immediate target was the lookout called Beacon Hill. This slight hill overlooks the whole town and gives extensive views to the east and south over nearby farming areas as well as Long Beach to the north. It took me about an hour of solid walking to get to the top from the cottage we were renting. It was easy going along a road leading to the top.

The view from Beacon Hill, Robe, South Australia

The view from the top was not as good as I had hoped because of the overcast conditions. I had not only untaken the walk for the exercise but also to go birding. I also hoped to get some photos of birds not normally seen here at home. The walk was good exercise taking over three hours, but the birding was quiet and the photos disappointing. This is just a good excuse to return another day.

Pub Lake, Robe, South Australia

After leaving the lookout on Beacon Hill I followed a well marked bush track east through some dense bushland. The vegetation was beautiful but the birding was quiet. I eventually made my way out to the main road and followed this back to Pub Lake.

Matthew Flinders Monument, Robe, South Australia

Near the Lake Butler Boat Haven in Robe there is a very special monument. This commemorates the time when explorer Matthew Flinders passed by this point while exploring the coastline of South Australia in 1802.

The photo below shows the plaque in more detail. (Click in the photo to enlarge the image).

Matthew Flinders Monument, Robe, South Australia

Across the road from this monument is another special plaque. It commemorates the landing of thousands of Chinese immigrants who passed through the port of Robe on their way overland from Robe to the Victorian gold-fields in the 1850s.

Chinese Memorial, Robe, South Australia

Lake Butler Boat Haven, Robe, South Australia

Robe has been a fisherman’s mecca since the early days of settlement. On my recent visit I came across the memorial that has been erected honoring those who have been lost at sea pursuing either their passion for fishing, or while trying to make a living from the sea.

The design is an interesting one. Look carefully and you will see that the memorial in shaped like the hulls of several different kinds of boats. There is a plaque explaining the significance of the different hull shapes.

Fishermen's Memorial, Robe, South Australia

Lake Butler Boat Haven, Robe, South Australia

In the early days of Robe the fishing industry flourished. One of the problems the industry faced was the wild winter weather. At first they moored the boats out in the bay, but this sometimes proved disastrous during storms. The next solution was to drag the fishing craft over the sand hills to Lake Butler, a natural lake within a few minutes walk of the main street. Here the boats were safe from the ravages of winter storms.

Lake Butler Boat Haven, Robe, South Australia

In 1964 a two metre deep channel was dug to allow the fleet to enter a safe haven year round. There are now many cray fishing and recreational fishing boats moored regularly in this artificial harbour. When I visited recently many of the boats were actually out of the water undergoing annual maintenance work. Some of these can be seen in the distance in the photo above.

Lake Butler Boat Haven, Robe, South Australia

Some of the boats are available for charter for visiting anglers.

Customs House, Robe, South Australia

The old Customs House in Robe, south-east South Australia, was built in 1863. It was in use for 25 years in the early days of the port. During the gold rush era in Victoria many thousands of Chinese immigrants passed through this port. They were avoiding the heavy taxes imposed by the Victorian government of the day. They then employed guides to lead them overland to the Victorian gold fields.

Customs House, Robe, South Australia

The Customs House was also the office of the Harbour Master and Receiver of Wrecks for the South Eastern coast as far as the Victorian border. It is now used as a Nautical Museum.

Old building in Robe, South Australia

Over recent days I have been writing about some of the historic buildings of Robe in the south east region of South Australia. Today I share two more of those lovely old homes in the streets of this delightful seaside town. It amazes me that most of these old buildings are not only being currently used, but that they are in exceptionally good condition.

Old building in Robe, South Australia

Old houses in Robe, South Australia

While on our holiday in Robe in the south east region of South Australia recently, I enjoyed wandering around the streets looking at some of the old buildings. Many of these historic homes and shops and other buildings were built in the early days of the settlement of the town. This was in the 1840s and 50s.

Old building in Robe, South Australia

Many of these lovely old buildings are still in use today. Some of them are still being used as shops, others are being used as homes. Many have been renovated inside to include many modern conveniences, but from the outside they appear very much as they were when built. Those that have been extended have mostly been done in such a way that the new section blends in perfectly with the original.

Old buildings in Robe, South Australia

One lovely tiny cottage I neglected to photograph. The roof on the front section actually featured wooden shingles. The newer back section had an iron roof.

The old Robe Hotel and Guichen Bay

The town of Robe in the south eastern region of South Australia has many historic buildings. Most of these have been well preserved and are still in use today. One of these buildings is the lovely old Robe Hotel shown in the photo above. It is still very much in active use as a hotel.

Another hotel, the Caledonian, is just a few minutes walk away. I don’t have a photo of that hotel but it has a unique character of its own. One evening during our stay we had a delightful dinner there.

Old houses in Robe, South Australia

Also found throughout the town are many historic houses. These date back to the early days of settlement in the town during the 1840s. Some of these are still occupied as homes for the local people. Many others have been converted into holiday homes, homes providing bed and breakfast for visitors or serve as holiday apartments.