Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

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Whwoz
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Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#1

Post: # 53087Unread post Whwoz
Sun Aug 29, 2021 6:53 am

I was going to add this to the other thread, but rather than make it confusing I decided to separate it out. This will be about our travels around the state from the 5/7/21 to the 10/7/21. During this time we went to three zoos/animal sanctuaries, spent an hour on the oldest working paddle steamer in the world, went through a maritime museum, travelled the Great Ocean Road, which was a project designed to not only open up the West coast of Victoria, but to provide employment for World War 1 returned soldiers. In pre-covid times, one had to be careful due to the number of tourists, especially from Asia, who would fly in, hire a car and drive it, mostly on the wrong side of the road.

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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#2

Post: # 53088Unread post Whwoz
Sun Aug 29, 2021 7:01 am

First stop was Echuca, and old port on the River Murray, now only active as a tourist port. Echuca is roughly 3 hours drive north of Melbourne and used to serve the wool industry in our early days, with the paddlesteamers collecting the wool bales from the various stations and inland ports and shipping them to Echuca for shipment to Melbourne and export from there by bullock dray. Our paddlesteamers were sidewheelers with a fixed shaft between the two wheels. Turning around was achieved by swinging the nose of the steamer towards the bank, cutting power to the wheels and allowing the current of the river to draw the stern around. Depth of the Murray at Echuca at normal water levels is roughly 12 to 15 feet.

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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#3

Post: # 53089Unread post Whwoz
Sun Aug 29, 2021 7:22 am

From around Echuca, note: the old port is now a tourist precinct separated out, but still a part of the town.
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#4

Post: # 53090Unread post Whwoz
Sun Aug 29, 2021 7:30 am

Some of the Paddlesteamers. We went on the PS Adelaide, the PS EmmyLou and PS Pevensky stared in the TV Mini Series "All the Rivers Run" if anyone has seen it.
PS Adelaide (2).JPG
PS Canberra (9).JPG
PS EmmyLou (1).JPG
PS Pevensky (1).JPG
Paddlesteamer Barge.JPG
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#5

Post: # 53139Unread post worth1
Sun Aug 29, 2021 9:16 pm

Love the photos.
Worth
25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas.

You can't argue with a closed mind.
You might as well be arguing with a cat.

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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#6

Post: # 53140Unread post Whwoz
Sun Aug 29, 2021 10:29 pm

Lots more to come, as time and internet here permit. Includes working steam powered saw mill

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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#7

Post: # 53158Unread post Whwoz
Mon Aug 30, 2021 7:48 am

Some more from around the Port of Echuca
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One of two clydesdale teams doing the rounds, you got a run through the old port and the main street for your money. Shops in background with paddlesteamer names are ticket offices.
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A few of the old steam powered saw mill, not positioned very well from a photography view point. All appeared to be fully functional, just not used for cutting timber
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#8

Post: # 53160Unread post Whwoz
Mon Aug 30, 2021 8:04 am

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The old wharf has been much reduced in length, apparently only about 1/3rd its original length now and still an impressive structure
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Flood gauge on the wharf, top mark is the 1870 flood which was 38.5 feet above normal river level. These big floods covered vast areas and often the paddlesteamers would straighten the river course out, occasionally leaving the high and dry if the skipper misjudged the water depth. Tales of steamers stuck tens of miles from any water are based on fact, as are tales of steamers down the main streets of some towns along the river.
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You walked under the wharf to board the steamers
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One of the Old traction engines on the wharf
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#9

Post: # 53161Unread post Whwoz
Mon Aug 30, 2021 8:18 am

An old tyre shrinker, from the days of metal rims
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And this info relates to the pump next to the tyre shrinker
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And for those curious, we were actually in NSW even before we boarded the steamers
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Due to Covid, the whole area was relatively quite, even though all Victorians who could escape during the school holidays did so, paddlesteamers and house boats tied up to all docks and then some.
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Loading derrick
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Map of the Murray-Darling basin, covers about1/6th of Australia
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#10

Post: # 53408Unread post Whwoz
Sat Sep 04, 2021 5:27 am

Some more from on the PS Adelaide

The steering on these Paddle steamers is operated by deck level chains. One had to be a bit careful where one stood so as not to impede steering
Chain Operated rudder.JPG
PS Adelaide Boiler Assembly.JPG
PS Adelaide Boiler (1).JPG
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PS Adelaide Boiler (2).JPG
Loading the boiler was one of the favored jobs one the cold day we were there, however not so popular on a typical 40C summers day.
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PS Adelaide Wheel.JPG
Due to a lack of hand rails, we were not allowed up to the pilothouse, however one of the fellows had no problems taking a few shots for me up there

I think we were doing a bit more than regulation speed too
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#11

Post: # 53409Unread post Whwoz
Sat Sep 04, 2021 5:36 am

There is a slipway for servicing the steamers on the NSW side of the boarder, set up to take two steamers at a time
Slipway.JPG
Slipway (1).JPG
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A bit of riverbank erosion does occur, the trees eventually fall into the river creating snags for the local fish population to enjoy
River Red Gum Showing Erosion.JPG
Houseboating is a popular pastime on the Murray, one does not realize how popular until you see all the boats tied up. They come in a range of sizes
Houseboat.JPG
Houseboat Alley.JPG
Houseboat Alley (2).JPG
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#12

Post: # 53410Unread post Whwoz
Sat Sep 04, 2021 5:42 am

And a few more from around town before we head on
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the little Corellas were flying about making a bit of noise, one almost reached for the earplugs...
Pacific Black Ducks.JPG
Loading derrick above PS Adelaide.JPG
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#13

Post: # 53417Unread post Whwoz
Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:51 am

Next stop on the travels was Kyabram Fauna Park, a privately run park on 55ha (135 Ac) of run down land that incorporates waste water treatment for the township of Kyabram, helps to conserve some of the native plants and is involved in native animal species recovery programs. Before getting to the park, we observed the local water tank, which is on the Water tank Art trail. In some places it was not easy to get a good shot, due to safety mesh around the tank.
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#14

Post: # 53418Unread post Whwoz
Sat Sep 04, 2021 10:03 am

Lets start with Reptiles

Black Headed Monitor Lizard
Black Headed Monitor.JPG
Blotched Blue Tongue,or the Alpine blue tongue, the largest of the blue tongues and this one is a fair beast.
Blotched Blue Tongue lizard (1).JPG
Blotched Blue Tongue lizard (2).JPG
Blotched Blue Tongue lizard (3).JPG
Common Death Adder
Common Death adder.JPG
Eastern Water Dragon
Eastern Water Dragon (2).JPG
Eastern Water Dragon.JPG
Hosmer's Skink
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Inland Taipan, the worlds most toxic snake. fortunately very few people live out where these do
Inland Taipan.JPG
Ridge Tailed Monitor
Ridge Tailed Monitor.JPG
Stimon's Python
Stimson's Python.JPG
One they brought out at show time, cannot remember which of the Dragons it is
Dragon.JPG
plus they had a couple of others that I never got good photos of.
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#15

Post: # 53419Unread post Whwoz
Sat Sep 04, 2021 10:22 am

A few other animals

Common Wombat
Common Wombat.JPG
Eastern Grey Kangaroos
Eastern Grey Kangaroo (1).JPG
Eastern Grey Kangaroo (2).JPG
Eastern Grey Kangaroo (3).JPG
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Eastern Grey Kangaroo.JPG

Goliath Stick Insects, at over 8 inches long
Goliath Stick Insect JPG
Plus they had the Spiney Stick Insect, which is the one we have at home
Spiny Stick Insect.JPG
They had a couple of other stick insects which blended in too well with the foliage to get a good photo, sighting one or two of some was difficult enough

The other essential Australian animal for any park here, the Koala
Koala.JPG
Green Tree Frogs
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Mertens Water Monitors
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Mitchells Hopping Mice, which are down right cute when snuggled up together.
Mitchells Hopping Mouse.JPG
Swamp walllabies, which are a naturally shy animal
Swamp Wallaby.JPG
and another hopping furball, the Tasmanian Pademelon
Tasmanian Pademelon (1).JPG
Tasmanian Pademelon (2).JPG
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#16

Post: # 53422Unread post Whwoz
Sat Sep 04, 2021 11:17 am

Birds seemed to be the main focus of the displays, with a number of walk thru aviary setups. Unfortunately the finch house did not allow for good photos of some of the finches plus a few extra locals got in on the display act as well.

Black Swans, these are widespread and common locals
Black Swans.JPG
Black backed magpie. This is the dominant colour form of this bird, spread around most of the country. We have the White backed form in the south east around home, which differs in that the two white patches on these birds backs are joined to one big white patch.
Black-backed Magpie.JPG
Chestnut teals, another free ranging local
Chestnut Teal male.JPG
Chestnut Teal female.JPG
Chestnut Teal.JPG
Pacific Black duck are widespread around the country
Female and Male Pacific Black Ducks.JPG
Emus are widespread but of restricted range in farming country. The birds they have are all confined but free to roam large areas of the park.
Emu (2).JPG
Emu (3).JPG
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Galahs and Sulphur Crested Cockatoos would be naturally occurring in this area, but the display birds are caged.
Galah or Rose Breasted Cockatoo.JPG
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo.JPG
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#17

Post: # 53423Unread post Whwoz
Sat Sep 04, 2021 11:28 am

The parrots and other small birds were generally non-local species and all in cages of one size or another
Budgerigar.JPG
Bush Stone Curlew.JPG
Chestnut Breasted Mannikin.JPG
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Common Bronzewing Pigeon.JPG
Crimson Rosella.JPG
Dusky Woodswallow.JPG
Dusky Woodswallows.JPG
Eastern Grass Owl.JPG
Eastern Rosella (1).JPG
Eastern Rosella (2).JPG
Laughing Kookaburra.JPG
Mallee Ringneck Parrot.JPG
Pale Headeed Rosella.JPG
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#18

Post: # 53424Unread post Whwoz
Sat Sep 04, 2021 11:38 am

more birds
Princess Parrot.JPG
Yes that little feathered fiend did draw blood, don't know why my hands were considered so tasty.......lucky for that Paradise parrot there is not much of it otherwise parrot pie might have been on the menu.
Princess Parrots.JPG
Regent Parrots.JPG
Satin Bowerbird.JPG
Was not a good day for bringing out the best of his feathers, this blue loving thief has beautiful blue-black feathers that really shine when the sun is on them.
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Southern Cassowary (2).JPG
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The Southern Cassowary is considered by some to be the most dangerous bird on the planet. Big feet, bad attitude, helmet to go with it and lives in rainforest so that when you first see it it is in your face normally.. Areas in Queensland have Cassowary alerts.
Supurb and Princess Parrot.JPG
Supurb Parrots.JPG
Western Rosella.JPG
Wonga Pigeon.JPG
Not forgetting the beautiful Major Mitchell Cockatoo
Major Mitchell Cockatoo.JPG
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#19

Post: # 53426Unread post Whwoz
Sat Sep 04, 2021 11:51 am

From there it was onto Bendigo for the night, with a short stop at Rochester to look at a couple of old grain silos now part of the silo art trail. Apologies if these are a bit dark , the light was nearly gone when we got there
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Re: Travels around Victoria, Australia 2

#20

Post: # 55929Unread post Whwoz
Thu Oct 21, 2021 4:25 am

Have not been able to get back to finish this lot off, hopefully tonight or tomorrow this will be done.

Leaving Bendigo, next stop was Halls Gap Zoo, out be the Grampian Mountain range. This Zoo has a mix of both native and exotic, some of which you folks will be familiar with. There is also a reasonable selection of native plants planted around the zoo, some of which were in flower, we shall start with those.
A ground fern.JPG
One of our many ground ferns, no books with me to identify it.
Bracken Fern - Pteridium esculentum.JPG
Our most common ground fern, a very strong grower, will take our full summer sun.
Crowea exelata.JPG
One of our may Rutaceae family plants, makes it a relative of the various citrus.
Epacris impressa.JPG
Our state floral emblem, come in may shades from white through pink to red.
Eremophila nivea.JPG
One of our Emu bushes, a DDG (in native plant terminology Drop Dead Gorgeous) can be taken two ways, very beautiful or libel to drop dead if you look at it wrong. Beautiful lavender flowers on hairy grey foliage, great at trapping moisture in its native dry environments, will kill it in humid conditions.
Eucalyptus casiea buds.JPG
Often sold as Silver Princess, one of our more spectacular flowering eucalyptus in the Mallee group getting to around 20 feet tall. requires perfect drainage and very subject to being blown over by the wind.
Eucalyptus verrucosa.JPG
Eucalyptus verrucosa 2.JPG
Eucalyptus verrucosa 3.JPG
Another small Mallee group Euc, this one widely grown for its foiage rather then the green flowers which are tucked away. Did manage to find some seed capsules, must see if they have opened yet.
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