Today, as far as the eye can see, from one side of the lake edge to the horizon on the other, the area appears mostly as one large indistinguishable haze. Bushfire weather and smokey polluted air, hover over what simply looks like drought stricken farmland.
Boat houses sitting desolate and incongruent amongst the barren land that they stretch over, the scene at first sight, seems totally incomprehensible. Planning to pay another visit to Lake Wendouree, the initial confrontational images coursing the parade leave you convinced that you're simply lost; somehow having managed to take a wrong turn.
HISTORY of LakeWendouree:
View Point
In 1874, the Esplanade (View Point) was developed as a promenade. Quarry holes were fenced and a 300ft long pier was constructed. When completed in 1881, the jetty on the peninsula afforded the best vantage point around the Lake. With panoramic views to distant lake shores, the timber boardwalk became a favourite spot to promenade. In 1957 the old jetty was removed and the promontory was sown with grass. There are many photographs of View Point because it was a busy place near the steamer landings and that yacht races began from here.
Lake View Hotel
The Lake View Hotel was established in 1875. It is the only hotel remaining of a total of 13 hotels previously on Wendouree Parade.
1869 Drought
In the drought year of 1869, the lake bed was cleared by burning the reeds and the bed itself was deepened. A causeway for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles was built right across the Lake from Macarthur Street on the eastern shore to the Gardens. The northern section was a wildlife reserve and the southern section was for water sports. When the rains came again the embankment disintegrated but the remains of it can still be seen from the air.
"A multimillion dollar plan to save Ballarat's LakeWendouree may be too late to stop it drying completely. An emergency allocation of water and a plea to local farmers to donate water are among the desperate measures being enacted." Posted 03 March 2006. Vic Drought Exposes Cache of Firearms January 4, 2007
CONGRATULATIONS: Huge Congratulations to Chezza !!!!! (and yes, even her rellies) for the party, the red, entertainment, and guessing the correct answer to another "What The?" competition!!! Well done!
Thanks also to all the other party animals too each and every one - such as Caz who bought the rice crackers and guacamole! For previous information, see What The? competition posted 16/01/07.
Picture for "What The?" competition was actually a closeup of a tiny square taken from the picture posted (above, top of article).
FOOTNOTE: If planning a visit to LakeWendouree, Ballarat & Surrounds, don't hesitate to find "Gold Nugget Bakery" on Sturt Street for lunch. I think it may have been an ex-Red Rooster building, so still has the remaining drive-through, but sells beautifully prepared, tasty and delicious salad rolls, moist cakes, great coffee, impeccable indoor service and is very very clean - housing shelves of annual awards and presentations that they've won. It also seems that hunting for a late lunch or place to eat on a weekday you may find most of the cafes around the city centre closed already, so this little tip may hold you in good steed.
For the late afternoon, cafe al fresco, bar drink, or (much later..night life), I wouldn't leave without visiting the renowned View Hotel Bar, on Wendouree Promenade. Again, impeccable service, food, great decor and views; and most probably 'the' happening place to be facing the atmospheric promenade of the lake. The water has currently disappeared, but the ambience hasn't!
Fremantle, Cappuccino Strip, WA Fighting prelude to a showcase strip.
"Visitors, enjoying the carefree, cosmopolitan vibes and atmosophere of Frematle's Cappuccino Strip might be surprised to learn that not so long ago it was a place where you would never walk alone, especially after dark. The precise spot which later generated a spread of pavement tables and chairs beneath their colourful canopy of umbrellas was one of the not-so-nice places to be". It seems that in 1977 one shop owner, however, helped to turn this situation around. His pizza shop had become a frequent haunt for working men, who tended towards a little betting on the outcome of playing cards, and also hoodlums after dark. "It was a tough town and a dangerous place in those days". When Nunzio, the night manager of Papa Luigi's, heard on the grapevine that a Fremantle gang had planned to come to the cafe at night, being a little prepared he somehow managed to stop the fight, and invited them instead, to return the next night and do it officially. After a little more talk they eventually accepted and went away. What he had in mind and which is exactly what happened, was a boxing match. With the help from the welfare group (Nunzio also knew many of the parents of these kids), he roughly formed four pillars in the shape of a boxing ring, in the basement (via a secret trapdoor) of his shop. Huge changes followed in the ensuing years leading up to and following America's Cup defence in 1987. The Strip has apparently continued to reinvent itself many times, but I loved it! The atmosphere on a summer night was perfect, neither snobbish, nor too eclectic. It has many elements one might recognise of Lygon, or Brunswick St in Melbourne and though multicultural, it feels, pleasurably, more reminiscent of the French Quarter of New Orleans. The current safer atmosphere is very evident by the visible police presence of today (See More>>) I lapped it up, enjoying the perfect dish (service, and comfort) at the heated outside dining of PizzaBellaRoma. Admired the youth, and their poise, and the fashion - the numerous cocktail dresses and strappy shoes. Then feeling somewhat relaxed, safe and adventurous, I strolled some of the side streets and found a real treasure. A cafe, with an ill-suited and quirky name of "Xray", that I absolutely adored. Inside, there is a step-up lounge area, with wall to wall of books, available for all customers to browse, read, and dicuss over an expresso. At the front (outside) dining area of the cafe, there was a small group lost in their own impromptu music on accoustic guitars. For me, that night and memory summed up the ambience and atmosphere of 'the' place to be, on a balmy summer night in Fremantle. A place I didnt hesitate to return.
A steam dummy or dummy engine, was a steam engine enclosed in a wooden box structure made to resemble a railroad passenger coach.
Steam dummies had some popularity in the first decades of railroading in the U.S., from the 1830s but passed from favor after the Civil War.
It was thought that the more familiar appearance of a coach presented by a steam dummy, as compared to a conventional engine, would be less likely to frighten horses when these trains had to operate in city streets. Later it was believed that it was actually the noise and motion of the operating gear of a steam engine that frightened horses, rather than the unfamiliar outlines of a steam engine.
Photos by me.
Origin of term: The term Doodlebug is a word of uncertain origin. Most likely it is used in a number of unrelated ways, often as a nickname applied to diminutive types, such as small airplanes or cars. However, in the railcar usage of the term it may have been derived from the phrase "doodling through town" that may have been applied to reference the function of the coaches themselves. Then there's a.....
Hoodlebug was a nickname used for small passenger trains or trolley cars that provided commuter service in parts of America. The name usually applies to such service in rural areas between towns or from towns to factories or mines before the advent of bus service. Hoodlebugs were also used for school students before the widespread use of school buses.
It appears this is a local vernacular term limited to mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states. Its etymology is uncertain, but it may be a variation of doodlebug, a railroad term for certain types of small, self-propelled cars.
Vehicles that provided similar rail service in parts of the western United States were often referred to as Galloping Geese. However, most galloping geese were converted street vehicles while most hoodlebugs were converted trolleys.
Portland Cable Trams was established with the view to laying light rail over footpaths to carry refurbished cable trams, as both an outlet for rail and heritage enthusiasts and a tourist venture. The tram which currently runs today (and every day except Christmas Day) has carried over 30,000 passengers along the scenic route from HentyPark to the RSL Memorial Lookout. Volunteer drivers and conductors provide a commentary about Portland's significant past and present day buildings, Harbour and sights.
(For full details re "What The?" competition, read on...)
New Norcia Art Gallery & Museum - "Robbed and Restored".
Photo by me.
In 1986, robbers attacked New Norcia's collection of European Religious Art. Twenty-six paintings were cut from their frames and others were badly damaged in the daring daylight robbery. All but one were recovered and returned, but in a devastated state. The one painting that wasnt recovered - was discovered to have been kicked into pieces, frame destroyed, found in a Perth hotel room, subsequently, because it could not fit into the back of the robbers getaway van.
Twenty years later, the Benedictine Community of New Norica celebrates the restoration of one of the largest collections of post-Renaissance religious art in Australia.
The exhibition runs until 31 December at the New Norcia Museum and Art Gallery, WA. New Norcia - Australia's only monastic town.
One of the 27 (yes twenty-seven) buildings you can visit.
Text (right) reads:
"Branding Irons Registered in 1854. Used to brand wool bales. The triangle represents the Holy Trinity, in which honour the monastery and Church at New Norcia were dedicated. Please see branding iron symbols on the hand made tools.
BM7 was used to brand horses, cattle and calves. The letters BM represent Benedictine Mission and the number 7 was chosen because of its special significance e.g. seven days of creation, seven sacraments". New Norcia Museum, New Norcia, WA.
Well I got there. Perth, WA. 3 hour plane trip (that was surprisingly uneventful, smooth, and, seemingly a shorter experience than I expected it to feel like). Maybe it was the egg and bacon muffin with the layers of butter; a food ingredient I usually completely avoid. (Not due to calories, but because my stomach simply disallows this - full stop. It's all grown up and got its own mind now!) Yep - unexpected bonus - made me immediately sleepy. Couldnt control myself. For one who is an incredibly light sleeper; who would normally wake up at the sneaking footfalls of a fly - I actually fell into an embarrassing nanny nap for most of the flight there. But what a travelling tip! Note to self : "Eat similar fatty substance before return trip back home!". I had loads of fun, being the ultimate tourist, and loads of camera 'play-time'. Yipee! .....Of course, I did, (dufus me) still manage to get myself sunburnt being the little white bunny that I am. Went out and bought me one of those large (damn near Mexican sized) wicker hats too. Some pics you can even spot me in the long 'Melbourne' style pants, in an attempt to avoid the burn, but, at night - found the white ring band underneath my watch spot positively glowing, and, discovered the two new fashion accessories I'd acquired - triangle wedged brown marks, from the openings of my summer styled sandals. ha ha.
Ooops did I mention that I got stopped at the point of just boarding the plane? They pulled me aside regarding one of my personal luggage bags just prior to boarding and said that the bag that I'd selected to carry with me had a corkscrew in it - an item not allowed within personal baggage on planes. I, of course, denied that this was the case. They insisted it was in my bag. I again denied it, I mean after, all - I packed the bag myself. I opened the bag, and firmly showed them that this was indeed just my precious camera equipment and accessories. They said well the xray showed a corkscrew and there was one in there. I parried that this may in fact be the battery charger, it has a pointy type end which you can recharge in the cigarette lighter point in a car. They, disagreed - firmly. I opened the bag and welcomed them to hunt around and take it all out. The whole thing was getting very hairy. There was no way I just wanted this tossed aside with my other luggage. Nothing was packed or padded, more than, simply being placed loosely in the bag, with the intentions of only 'moi' being able to touch it. Was damn well feeling like a suspected terrorist at this stage. Much unpacking and showing them all items - the man, indeed found a corkscrew in my bag. Short seconds after the stunned and surprised look on my face, it changed to one of recognition. Ahhh... still in its cellophane wrapper. I remember that. Must've tossed it in that bag awhile ago, whilst on my way to a picnic. Mmmm...oops - apologies for his patience. He got to keep the unopened brand new corkscrew and I was allowed on my way with camera bag firmly in hand. Phew!
