WANDERING AT COOLART WETLANDS (Australia)

WANDERING AT COOLART WETLANDS

(Somers, Victoria Australia)

By Frances Harris

I’ve been planning to visit this place for some time. Finally, today found this fascinating piece of history and wonderful walking tracks and delightful wetlands. Photos on the wall show that Coolart was a functioning farm estate occupied by a families. It must have been a wonderful place for children to grow up.

Just before the entrance, I said ‘hello,’ to these curious cows on the estate.

This is the welcome centre at the end of the car park. I was hoping to see some wattle trees in bloom, but looking around it didn’t seem likely. The weather was beautiful and surprisingly warm. Entry is free here.

The garden was like a page taken out of the 1800’s. There are plenty of places to sit and take in the scenery.

I was expecting to see a small cottage, so when I got my first glimpse of a manor house it took my breath away.

This is a closer view of the Coolart, mansion.

 The winter rose garden with pergola supports constructed of stones.

The front entrance.

This could be a sitting room. Only three rooms are open to the public. The building is still being renovated.

This room was so true to the late 1800’s, I felt the family had just stepped out for a while.

I love to look at antiques and found this one very interesting.

This was another example of a beautiful antique.

 I went out the back past the veranda and found this typical garden of little snow drops. It was just beautiful.

 I found the pathway to the horse stables.

These original stables are in good condition. They could be used today.

Further down the back I along a path to the wetlands.

Walking path to the wetlands

I took this photo from inside a bird hide of Ibis enjoying the sun.

Here is a line of dated horse drawn farm machinery. (The late 1800’s)

 This is the family orchard.

There are lots of wonderful little pathways.

 At the beginning of my walk I found another smaller wetland.

This is an example of one of the many walking tracks. There are markers in case people get lost.

I walked for quite a while, keeping my approximate position by following the sun.

 This stream was a nice surprise along the way. It was interesting that it smelt like salt water.

This pathway seemed to be covered with fine sand.

This was a wonderful surprise.

I took this path on the way back to the mansion.

On my way back I noticed the golden wattle had come out during the day.

My journey was finished, so it was time to move on.

I went past the veranda and back to the car. What a lovely experience.



ROAMING ON ST KILDA BEACH (Australia)

ROAMING ON ST KILDA BEACH

(Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)

By Frances Harris

I woke up this morning and after peeping thought the curtains of my bedroom, I saw a wide expanse of blue sky, dotted with little white clouds here and there. Well, there was only one thing left for me to do and that was to jump out of bed, eat a hearty - break all the rules - breakfast, only just this once, then look for an enjoyable place to walk. Recently it’s been a long drizzly fortnight of chilly winds and bleak days.  My spirits could do with a boost of bright sunshine and lovely views. My favourite walks are sentimental ones, that include history and perhaps some enjoyable memories to call on.  

Thinking for a while, I realised there was one place that stood out above the rest. I decided to head for St Kilda Beach on Port Phillip Bay. So if you like, and you need a little pep in your step, you might like to join me and explore the sights.



Anyone would feel good after seeing this sunny face greeting them at the entrance of Luna Park, where generations of people remember taking their siblings, children or grandchildren for a day out. Others would have their own fond childhood memories of riding the scenic railway and other features. I recall being a hesitant child wondering why so many people were happy to be eaten up by this big scary monster, and nobody seemed too worried about it. I feared that once I went in there, I would never come out alive. It took some bribery and coaxing from my family before I would join the others and go in. I remember feeling like Alice in wonderland once I was inside.  

Luna Park has been around since the 1930’s. Over the years some rides have been removed and replaced by others. I stood on the corner across the road while taking photos, and enjoyed watching the excited expressions on the faces of children standing in line to go in, and their engaged parents.  

Then I walked up the hill, heading in the direction of The Esplanade on the beach. As I roamed I imagined earlier days, when crinoline ladies with parasols and top hatted gentlemen paraded stiffly up and down here in the late 1800’s, or relaxed on the benches.  In my thoughts I could almost hear the clip-clop of horses pulling heavy coaches, sulkies and buggies along the roads. I looked around and noticed a few interesting remnants of Australia’s colonial past scattered here and there.  

From an earlier patriarchal society, there are still statues and busts of wealthy citizens, but rarely is there one of a woman.  Looking up I saw the clock tower and at its base staring blankly into the distance, is the face of an important man of the day. Exactly why he was important, I’m not sure, except that he was – A good Public Servant.  On my way I wondered what those thousands of people back then would have been thinking as they looked up at the clock. Would their thoughts be very different to ours today?

This is the clock tower, standing large on the way to The Esplanade.

The Bust of Carlo Catani staring out from the base of the clock tower. He was said to be - A great Public Servant.

On the other side of the road I liked the look of this building.

How things have changed. For nearly a century or more, the Australian flag has proudly fluttered on the flag pole above this building, which was once the St Kilda salt water baths. Back then; it would have been counted as treachery to take it down. The flag you see here I think advertises a business in the building complex.

Sail boats at St Kilda beach.

View of the road under the bridge. In the distance is the clock tower from where I walked.

While looking out from the bridge at the beautiful scenery, I could feel the endorphins kicking in. I remember taking in a few breaths of clean beach air.

Waiting down below, on the lawn by the water, was someone I seem to have grown up with. Captain Cook was in every history book during my education years. He has gone out of favour a bit, since it was established his claim to have been the first captain to discover Australia was about five hundred to one thousand years too late. It seems the Dutch, Spanish and Chinese were way ahead of him.

If you look for a water fountain suitable for polite society in colonial days, this is what you’ll find. It even has a little Viking ship balanced on top.

Here is another reminder of finer days - The Royal Melbourne Yacht Club.

This photo is a closer look at St Kilda Pier. After strolling around for a while, enjoying every moment, I was ready to find a quiet place to reflect and have an iced chocolate, with the cream mound on top. Calories out - replaced by calories in; that’s the way I like it.



ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS - CRANBOURNE (Australia)

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS - CRANBOURNE

By Frances Harris

Yesterday my son and I went to the Cranbourne Botanical Gardens, established in 1970. After checking the GPS monitor for directions, we took the fastest and most efficient route. The result was that we ended up behind the gardens at the depot facing a pair of locked gates. After travelling another seven kilometres more and using some common sense, we found the main entrance. A bit of background reading made me realize there are a lot more features to the garden than one would think. Established in the heart of the bushlands is the Australian Garden, where you can find an impressive and extensive show case of Australian flora, and fauna comes with it as a bonus. We took a pile of photos hoping to find the right ones to place on this page. We saw a lot of beautiful birds, but they were too fast for the cameras, teasing us every step of the way. In the past I have seen bandicoots creep out of the bush, but they are very timid and difficult to photograph.

 

This is the entrance to the gardens. Once you are through the gates, you feel you have entered a pristine part of natural Australian bushland. Cranbourne is to the south east of Melbourne. Entry is free.

This lovely tree stands just outside the gates, but was too good to miss a photo.

This  is one of the many starting points visitors you can fan out onto a chosen walking track.

Wandering along without a care in the world,the walk goes on and on. Here I felt like I ws Alice in Wonderland.

This is a magnificent view from the lookout. You can see the Dandenong ranges from here.

We see the path to the lookout. It’s a great chance to burn some calories if you are fit and keen enough.

This is rejuvenating bushland after the fires went through.

You see one of many different and exciting views of the Australian garden.

This is one of many paths you can follow. There is a wide choice of bush settings to see.

It’s hard to get lost in the garden. You can find plenty of signs to follow.

  

There is no shortage of water features and interesting paths to stroll along.

Banksia is out in bloom in June.

More beautiful flowers people find on their meanderings.

This bush was just coming into flower. It should be beautiful when it reaches its peak.

Finally, if you are feeling hungry or thirsty, it’s easy to find your way back to the cafeteria.

Last stop is a well-earned rest. You can buy a drink and a cake, or have a meal if you need one. This is the end of a beautiful day trip. I’m sure to be back next spring when everything explodes into flower.