Inspired by my recent walk around Yerrabi Pond at Gungahlin I decided to go for another autumnal walk – this time around Lake Ginninderra at Belconnen, in the northwest of the city. Continue reading “A Walk Around Lake Ginninderra”
An Autumnal Walk Around Yerrabi Pond
This review focuses on a walk around Yerrabi Pond, in the northwestern part of Canberra.
When a capital city for Australia was being selected back in the early 1900s one of the key selection criteria was the availability of a year round water supply. The resultant border for the Australian Capital Territory (a significant part of which is taken up by the city of Canberra) was carefully selected and follows numerous ridges and hilltops to bring a sufficient water catchment area within the control of the then Commonwealth Government. Continue reading “An Autumnal Walk Around Yerrabi Pond”
Koalas in the Australian National Botanic Gardens
On hearing that there were koalas (albeit of the ceramic variety) in my local botanical gardens and being in need of a walk one glorious autumn morning I decided to go and have a look. Continue reading “Koalas in the Australian National Botanic Gardens”
Palmerville Heritage Park – Imagine the History
Strolling down the main red gravel avenue within Palmerville Heritage Park my mind wandered back one hundred and fifty years. I was imagining a Victorian couple out for a Sunday promanade along the pathway lined with gorgeous elms and poplars. It had that feel, notwithstanding the very un-British temperature when I visited – somewhere in the mid thirties (centigrade). Continue reading “Palmerville Heritage Park – Imagine the History”
The Straight Line Border Walk
As I write this review borders, border security and cross border trade are very topical issues in many parts of the world. So much so that it got me wondering about the border between the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the state of New South Wales (NSW), here in Australia. I needed to know if we, in the ACT, were safe from the evils of NSW! Continue reading “The Straight Line Border Walk”
Fine Public Buildings and a Gaol Museum in Cooma
With the discovery of gold at nearby Kiandra in 1859 and a resultant gold rush starting in 1860 – short-lived though it was – Cooma rapidly expanded from a minor settlement. Between 1851 and 1911 the population grew from 47 to 2,330. Continue reading “Fine Public Buildings and a Gaol Museum in Cooma”
The Cooma Cenotaph and Corey Memorial Plaque and Diorama
The Cenotaph, a grey granite obelisk, was unveiled on ANZAC day in 1926 to commemorate soldiers from the town and district lost in World War I. Due to a cost overrun, the memorial cost £1,050, there was insufficient funds remaining in the kitty to have the names of the missing soldiers inscribed on the obelisk. Almost half of the £1,050 was contributed by spectators at the Memorial’s opening. Continue reading “The Cooma Cenotaph and Corey Memorial Plaque and Diorama”
Let’s do the Time Walk in Cooma!
Ok, it’s the Time Walk and not the Time Warp but the name did remind me of Rocky Horror!
The Time Walk is a very interesting and rather unique presentation of the history of Cooma and the Monaro District from Aboriginal times to the present day, though with a concentration on the last two hundred years. Continue reading “Let’s do the Time Walk in Cooma!”
International Controversy in Cooma – The Avenue of Flags
In 1949 Australia embarked on one of its biggest ever infrastructure construction projects, the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme which between 1949 and 1974 saw the construction of sixteen major dams, seven power stations, a pumping station, and 225 kilometres (140 mi) of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts in the Snowy Mountains (New South Wales). Continue reading “International Controversy in Cooma – The Avenue of Flags”
The Man from Snowy River Statue
This 1961 sculpture, by South Australia born sculptor Ian McKay, is a tribute to Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson (1864 – 1941), famous Australia bush poet, journalist and author who was particularly famous for this ballads and poems which, I feel, presented a rather romantic view of rural and outback Australian life. Continue reading “The Man from Snowy River Statue”
The Rambling Wombat 