Sat, 10th Jan, 2015 Wrest Point Casino car park (Hobart sightseeing)

Made it through the night with no knock on the door. Had all the blinds closed as there are street lights over us but all was good.

Headed off to walk into town. Stopped at a monument to Canadian prisoners in 1840.

Along the footpath are lots of cherry plum trees with ripening fruit.

This is the anchor from the “Lake Illawarra” which sank after colliding with the Tasman Bridge on 5^th Jan, 1975.

Lots of old brick homes.

Interesting use of brick colourings to make a mosaic effect at the top.

Errol Flynn Park, named after the actor who was born at Battery Point in 1909. He briefly attended Albuera Street School (1918-1919) and lived in Duke St, Sandy Bay as a young child. His first association with water and boats were likely to have been in this vicinity. Big 1909 sign with more information. This is one end of the Battery Point Sculpture Trail.

Now a nice climb!!! These crazy riders totally struggled up the hill.

Old shed at the bottom.

Grand old house.

Made it to the top. Looking back down the street and across the suburbs crawling up the hills.

Lovely hedge.

Nice terrace houses like in Sydney and Melbourne.

Everyone here have lovely views over Derwent River mouth to South Arm on the left.

1,250 is the tonnage that the Slipway that used to operate here could handle.

Steam boiler or something from the steam powered winch.

Mr Watson’s Cottages built in 1858 at a cost of 20 pounds each.

Next sculpture – 1923 – a growing hedge to depict the gardens of Secheron House and land that ran down to the sea. It is now all subdivided and covered in huge houses.

Secheron House.

Another unusual style. Certainly walking is the best way to enjoy the views though Steve has some question about how far this walk will be!!

Down to the water’s edge at A.J. White Park. It has a rich industrial heritage. It was the site of numerous industrial activities, such as shipbuilding in the 1840s, chemical manufacture in the 1860s, iron smelting in the 1870s, timber processing in the 1880s, and fruit processing from the 1890s through to the mid 1970s. The Park was named in memory of Sir Alfred J. White, who was a long time president of the Battery Point Progress Assoc, through which he worked to protect the unique cultural heritage of Battery Point. Opened 2003.

Shells are imbedded in the concrete.

2,000 tonnes of fruit was made into jam in the factories here.

A sculpture from a Japanese artist.

The judges box for the yacht races. The other side of the finish line is the buoy we took a photo of before the Sydney to Hobart Race yachts arrived.

628nm (nautical miles) is the distance of Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Around the corner is the CSIRO facility and their huge boat.

Ordnance Stores.

12.43 feet is the height above sea level for the positioning point for a surveyor’s staff. Robert Huckson’s tide gauge that has been working since December 1889.

 The hut where the gauge still operates in.

Not sure if Robert Huckson lived in this lovely house near the tide gauge hut.

Interesting information about a seawater heat exchange used in a big building. Steve comment though is what happens later on when it gets a leak!!!

1833- sign filled with sandstone. It depicts the area in 1833.

The old warehouses of Salamanca Place. I forgot it was Saturday so the markets are on again. Full of people again. Bought some bamboo socks as another lady said they were very comfortable.

Opposite are these tall cylindrical buildings – possibly old silos. Looking a bit cracked though.

Turned up an alley to Kelly’s Steps up to Kelly Street. Named after James Kelly, a merchant, adventure, pilot and whaler, we read about him at Dennes Point at the top of North Bruny Island.

Looking back to the lane from the top of the steps. Went back down then to Salamanca Markets again.

Glass is embedded in the concrete on the top of the wall divider between buildings.

In Parliament Square lots of historical cars were lined up. They are competing in the Wrest Point Rally leaving from the Casino next Saturday. Shame we won’t be there then.

Cute little Teardrop caravans being towed behind these old cars.

Loved this classic old Jaguar – shining brilliantly.

A beautifully presented Riley.

A Peugeot for Dad.

FJ Holden Utility.

Corvette and Lotus kit car.

Porsche Spyder.

Headed up Elizabeth Street. The big clock donged 12 times for midday.

Wandered around Franklin Square named after Rear Admiral Sir John Franklin.

Information about the Square and the Government Buildings across the road.

In between the building was a great sculpture of a seal and penguins.

Information about 103 Macquarie Street. Macquarie Street is now one way into town while Davey Street is the one way out of town. There is no other way through Hobart except along these roads so we know them well.

On each corner lamp post is an information plaque about the corner. This is the Commonwealth Bank corner. Slipping up only got one photo!!!

Into Elizabeth Mall to get my wombat & echidna charms onto my charm bracelet. Then Telstra to ask some questions and lastly Commonwealth Bank to raid the hole in the wall!! Nice area for shopping.

Starting to get peckish so headed back to the Markets for some chips and chicken skewers and watch the world go by sitting by the fountain.  Up the road stopped to read info about a stone retaining wall behind the Ordnance Shed.

Headed back through Princes Park. Information about the park and Charles Darwin.

In the park was the sites of the Batteries where they planned to protect Hobart from but it wasn’t needed luckily as the site wasn’t very good to provide defence.

Someone has turned this old warehouse into a home.

On one side is this plain cottage.

The other side, a lovely decorated cottage.

Different type with very steep roof.

Oscalusa was built in 1890 for Mr R R Rex, Ships Provedore and Chandler, to the design of architect, Henry Hunter.

Big brick home with round tower.

There were a few more steep rooved homes by the water.

Picked a lovely white rose from a bush at the Slipway Park for mum. Beautiful scent.

At the top of the steep street ready to go down back to Errol Flynn Park. Looking across the marina to the Casino.

We can see our truck and van.

Looking across to the valley where the main highway cuts its steep descent down from Mt Nelson and Tolson Hill down to Hobart.

Zoomed in on the flag pole (left) and tower on top of Mt Nelson at the Signal Station.

Found an apple tree – looks like the fruit has been stung a lot.

Stopped at the cherry plum trees near the marina and picked a heap. Tree is loaded but not quite ready. The ready ones just fell off in my hand.

Had  a cuppa in the van then went for a drive to find Bunnings in Glenorchy, for a gas bottle exchange and Repco for some brake fluid. Steve had chatted with Griffo about his brakes after not having much left when we were coming down the steep range up north.

Headed across the Tasman Bridge to explore before picking Mum & Dad up from the airport at 8.30pm.

Drove up to Rosny Hill Lookout. Information board to fill us in on the history of the first settlements in 1803 and 1804.

Fabulous view over Derwent River mouth to the top of South Arm (in the middle).

View back to the Casino and zoomed in on the van.

Further round the lookout, looking back over Hobart and the dock area.

Then up the Derwent River to the Tasman Bridge and Glenorchy.

Further up the river are the Zinifex Hobart Smelter and the Bowen Bridge.

Down on the beach at Bellerive (historical suburb). Beside the beach is the Blundstone Oval where they have been playing the 20/20 cricket. A wedding party were trying to get some photos, the wind was blowing hard, poor things.

Info about how the beach has changed.

On one side of us the sun was out and the other it was dark storm clouds.

Above the beach is Kangaroo Bluff where a fort was built in 1880. It was amazing and very interesting.

Did my Cher impersonation!!!

The barrel of the cannon was full of rubbish.

Looking across to the site of the other batteries in Princes Park.

A major piece of work and it was never really used – thank goodness. The cannons were buried but the army dug them out in 1970 and erected them again.

I didn’t get a brochure on the historical buildings in this area but found this old church and graveyard.

In 1931 the 1^st Scout Group of Bellerive started up after a visit from Lord Baden-Powell.

Followed the road south towards the South Arm. Glad we didn’t stop there in the end as it would have been a big drive back into Hobart each day!! Turned off and headed to Seven Mile Beach to find a spot for dinner. There are no beach front areas as everything is behind huge sand dunes. Drove down to where the end of the airport is and the navigation building which is right on top of the dune.

Stopped in one of the day area parks and heated up our curried sausages and enjoyed sitting in the sun (6.30pm) as the wind was quite cold. Rang Charles for a chat and tried Erica but missed her again.

I walked over the dune to take photos of the beach. Lovely spot if the wind would drop!!

A plane flew off over our heads.

Headed around the fenced area of the airport and passed lots of plantation pine trees. There are heaps of horse riding trails here and out onto the point.

Into Hobart International Airport – well not quite the big airports we are used too!!! Stood waiting for Mum & Dad to come through when I thought “I know that face” but not expecting to see someone I knew. It was Jenny Bloomfield from Jon’s preschool days. I had just seen on facebook that her daughter had headed overseas. Had a quick chat before Mum & Dad arrived through the gate. So great to see them both again. Will be wonderful to be with them for a few days and then again after they come back from their coach tour.

Picked up the hire car and headed back on the A3 highway, across the Tasman Bridge, through Hobart and back to the Casino. Up to the front door and a wonderful doorman helped us out and parked the car. We headed into Reception. Because they are with a tour group they are actually in the motel across the driveway rather than in the tall tower. Not the greatest view – the road and the carpark but it was nice enough.

Went into the Casino and got them some dinner (didn’t get too much on the plane) and a cuppa in the Casino Bistro. Very nice. Joined them up too. 11pm so back to the room for them and back to the van for us. All quiet.