Hospital of a Prime Minister

 This is 'Clarence House' which was once a private hospital owned by Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page, Doctor and 11th Prime Minister of Australia. He is also Australia's second longest serving Parliamentarian, four days short of 42 years. At 81 he stood for re-election but sunk into a coma and died not knowing he had finally lost his seat.
He was the first chancellor of the University of New England and is remembered by Earle Page College at said University.
His old hospital was turned into flats many years ago and is now quite run down but still very much in original condition.

This is a My World Tuesday Post

Waters Edge

The roots of the Bottlebrush appear like delicate seaweed in the clear mountain water of the Mann River

Valla Footbridge

Valla Beach is a smallish community near Nambucca Heads, its around and hour and a half south from Grafton. I have always loved this footbridge with its twists and turns and ups and downs. It links the Caravan Park to the beach.

This is Jamie, a champion poultry breeder. 

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Late Autumn Frangipani With Sunset

When the frangipani's loose their leaves winter is very close.

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Festival of the Five Senses: Part 3

The great thing about the multicultural festival is that you realise how many different cultures there are in the Clarence Valley and how proud they are of their cultural heritage. The stereotype of rural New South Wales is one of monoculture, the Festival of the Five Senses shows that that is not true.

Festival of the Five Senses: Part 2

Another delightful act at the festival was some traditional Japanese music and dancing.

Festival of the Five Senses

The Multicultural Festival was held on Sunday. Despite terrible weather a good crowd turned up for markets, food stalls and music/dance performances. Here is the fantastic belly-dancing troupe doing their thing.



Shucking Oysters

 

Boogie Boarders

Grafton Show: The Rides

The sideshow rides are a vital part of the show, this is what brings the young people. This is a ride I could never go on, spinning upside down!

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Grafton Show: Alpacas

Shows were formed to exhibit and compare livestock and agricultural produce. This activity is still the heart and soul of the show. An interesting development over the last decade has been the the introduction and huge growth in showing of Alpacas.

This little one is 6 months old and made beautiful sounds as my kids patted her.

Grafton Show: Poultry Competition

A favourite pavilion at the show is the Poultry display/competition. Here are two old fashioned Leghorn roosters. They were not winners but I thought they were fine birds.

Grafton Show: Children's Cooking

A popular feature of all shows are the cooking competitions. This picture highlights the very popular children's category of icing and decorating a Milk Arrowroot biscuit.

Grafton Show: Wood Chopping

Wood chopping is an institution at the Grafton Show. This is Dan Shipman who is a very talented chopper from a family of wood choppers down Glenreagh way.

The Annual Country Show

For nearly 150 years the Grafton Agricultural Society have been putting on their annual Show. It is a typical Australian Country Show with all the elements including cake competitions, poultry displays, wood-chopping, beauty contests and of course the carnival folk (carnies or showies) with their rides and side show alleys.
This is a legendary 'game' from the side show that is a reworked version of the classic 'laughing clown game'. You buy 5 balls and place them in the 'mouth' of the figure and then the ball falls randomly into a slot with a designated number. At the end your total score corresponds to a 'shelf' that you choose a prize from. This activity is loved by small children and romantic couples.
Over the forthcoming week I will be showing more images from this institution that has changed very little from its 19th century roots.

Skywatch Friday Becomes Weekend Reflections

This was my post for Friday so i've recycled into Saturdays post. Don't get upset with Blogger I think it is good when technology fails. I looked at it like Bank Holiday for us all!

To see other Weekend Reflections Post Click Here

Is Robinson Crusoe Living In Wooli?

Old Glen Innes Rd: Wintervale and Farewell

Today is as far as we will travel on the the Old Glen Innes Rd for the time being. Behind the stand of dark pines is Wintervale Station. Later on in the year I will will resume my tour of this historic road and include sights like the vanished township of Newton Boyd, Wytaliba Commune, the Mann River and the Big Hill.

Some have asked this week why 1961 was such a significant year in regards to Dalmorton and this road; In 1961 the new Glen Innes Rd, known as the Gywdir Highway, opened many miles to the north bypassing  this road entirely. This historic road has been slumbering now for 50 years.

Old Glen Innes Rd: Boyd River

Dalmorton is on the Boyd River, some still call it the Little River. There is a lovely National Parks camp ground next to the Boyd about 2-3kms from Dalmorton.

This is the bridge that crosses the Boyd River and is the start (or end) of a well looked after dirt road that links Dalmorton to Tyringham and Ebor on the Grafton to Armidale Rd, it is called the Chaelundi Forest Road. Like Robert Frost in the 'Road Less Travelled' I will leave this path for another day/blog.

Old Glen Innes Rd: Dalmorton Road Tunnel

1n 1866/7 contractors blasted and hand hewed a tunnel through a large rock face near Dalmorton, but the road between Glen Innes and Grafton did not fully open until 1873. Locally the tunnel is referred to as the "convict tunnel" but this is not true, no convict labour was used in its construction.

The tunnel is only wide enough for a car and only small trucks can pass through it.

Dalmorton: Pine Ck Stockmans Hut

Strictly speaking it is not in Dalmorton, but 30 minutes walk away is the Adams Family hut on Pine Creek. It was built in 1943 by a man synonymous with the Dalmorton timber industry, Sid Adams. His son Brian passed away in 1995 and as far as I know, he was the last person to use the hut regularly.
These days National Parks maintain the corrugated iron shed. It is locked up but still contains a bed, table and pots over the fireplace.

All around the hut are hollow logs which were used as kennels for cattle dogs. There are also the typical plants of an isolated hut: lemon, orange and apple trees.

Dalmorton "Old Age"

Another issue in Dalmorton is old age. This old garage is under severe attack by white ants and is destined to tumble down.

Dalmorton Vandalism

No-one lives in Dalmorton anymore and although people pass through all the time, vandalism is a real issue. Over the years a number of buildings have 'burnt down' or been smashed up.

The rear of the 'smashed up' house is festooned with a very old grape vine.

Dalmorton Lock-Up

One of the best preserved buildings in Dalmorton is the Police Cells/Lock Up that were attached to the Police Station and Court House. Mounted Police served Dalmorton from 1881 until 1961. The Police Station was burnt down in 1991.

Dalmorton Butcher Shop

One of the best preserved buildings in Dalmorton is the old butchers shop.

The rear of the shop has the remains of a cool room. Inside the shop the ceiling has hooks where meat must've once hung. I'm not sure when the last sausage was sold in the butchers shop but it was probably before World War 2 and definitely prior to 1961.

Old Glen Innes Rd: Dalmorton Part 1

In 1871 Dalmorton came alive to the sound of the fossickers pick, gold had been discovered and a reef declared!
The town was quickly transformed into a typical gold rush town of slab huts, stables, coolie labourers, noise, gambling, drinking and violence. At its height Dalmorton had around 3,500 inhabitants today it is 0! 
It is a classic ghost town with a couple of buildings still remaining. This week I will will show images from this very remote location on the old road to Glen Innes.
Click on the label to see my previous posts on this classic journey.

May Theme Day: Mailbox

Many Australians live in remote rural locations and often the nearest intersection to a main road becomes a defacto Post Office where country folk can build their mail boxes. 

On the Old Glen Innes Road I came across this tremendous collection of the old and new, conservative and wacky.

On the first day of every month the City Daily Photo community come together and post a photo to a theme. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants