"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." RLS
I have remarked elsewhere on this blog that for a long time before the arrival of European settlers and the 1861 ‘formal settlement’ of Tharwa, Aboriginal people had been using this area as a crossing point for the Murrumbidgee River as they made their way up and down from the mountains. Continue reading “Onyong’s Grave”
It is rather refreshing after visiting great cathedrals of Europe or indeed those of larger Australian cities to head out into country Australia and come across little wooden churches, in a popular Carpenter Gothic Style, like St Edmund’s in Tharwa. Continue reading “St Edmunds Anglican Church”
The delightfully named Cuppangabalong Station (station is a term used in Australia to refer to a large farm) began life as a squatters settlement, established by James Wright in early 1840s. In 1855 it was bought by a 39 year old Italian count – Count Leopold Fabius Dietegen Fane De Salis – who developed it into a very successful wool business and stud farm. Continue reading “Cuppangabalong Woolshed”
The De Salis (or Cuppacumbalong) Cemetery is one of a small number of late 19th century private or family cemeteries in the Canberra region. By the end of the century private cemeteries were becoming something of a dying (pardon the pun) breed, originally having been necessary due to the lack of public cemeteries, in particular for pastoral families and their workers on stations in Australia’s interior. Continue reading “The De Salis Cemetery – Fit for a Count”
Having a strong interest in old cemeteries I was keen to visit the De Salis Cemetery – one of a small number of early 19th century private cemeteries in the Canberra region. Continue reading “Tharwa Explorer Walking Track”
The Tharwa Bridge (or rather the original parts there-off which remain after a number of renovations and upgrades in the intervening period) was officially opened with great pomp and ceremony on 27 March 1895 and was the first all weather high-level crossing of the Murrumbidgee River in this area. Continue reading “Tharwa Bridge”
Tharwa is a small village located on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River in the Australia Capital Territory and lies a few kilometres to the south of Canberra, Australia’s capital city and home to The Rambling Wombat! It is typically just passed through, by visitors, en route to Namadgi National Park or Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve (if you choose to come this way to the latter). Continue reading “The Australian Capital Territory’s Oldest Village”
London as a city probably has more landmarks and features instantly recognisable world wide than any other city in the world. While some of these are major buildings and monuments some are items of a rather more mundane nature. Everyone knows about London’s red buses, its black taxis and the Tube. Continue reading “London’s Telephone Boxes – A Dying Breed”
If you have seen my introductory London entry and you have any knowledge of the Knights Templar, even if it be via Dan Brown’s novel, the Da Vinci Code, you will have recognised the main picture there as being the symbol of the Knights Templar – a horse carrying two knights. This symbol is situated atop a column outside the Temple Church. Continue reading “Temple Church and the Knights Templar”
This is a relatively recent and perhaps overdue addition to the many memorials of London.
This memorial/cenotaph to the Women of World War II was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II on 9 July, 2005 some 60 years after the end of World War II. The memorial, dedicated by Baroness Boothroyd, former Speaker of the House of Commons, commemorates the contribution of some 7 million women to the war effort, both in uniform and on the home front. Perhaps not well known, conscription for women began in 1941 and by 1943 nine out of 10 single women aged between 20 and 30 were working in factories, on the land or in the armed forces. Continue reading “Women of World War II Memorial”
The Rambling Wombat 