Tues, 22nd September, 2015 King Parrot Creek Rest Area to Polly McQuinns Weir, Strathbogie (Avenel and Euroa sightseeing)

Rain on and off all night. 13 degrees in the van at 8am.

Blue sky and puffy clouds as we head off after another shower of rain.

Up through the Goulburn Valley and over the Goulburn River into Seymour. Through Seymour and onto the Hume Highway. Steve is so impressed with wide 2 lane highway going north and the southern traffic is well away with trees in between. No chance of head on collisions here.

The canola fields are beautiful and full of colour.

Pulled into a rest area just north to have a cuppa – long drive!!! Nice big area with plenty of parking bays, toilets and picnic facilities. Chatted with a couple on the way to Canberra with a new compact van that folds down electrically. Cool.

Further up the highway we turned off into Avenel. Stopped at beautiful old bridge over Hughes Creek. We are on the Ned Kelly Trail. In 1865 Ned, aged 10, saved a 7 year old from drowning after he had fallen off the footbridge going to school, into the creek’s swollen waters about 150m downstream from this bridge. Ned was hailed a hero and awarded a 7 foot green silk sash. Ned wore this later during the Glenrowan Siege. Ned lived here with his parents John ‘Red’ and Ellen and siblings Annie, Maggie, Jim, Dan and Kate after moving here in late 1864. In 1865 ‘Red’ was tried at the local courthouse having a cow hide after stealing the cow for food. He was sentenced 6 months hard labour. In December 1866 ‘Red’ died and is buried in the local cemetery. Ellen then had run-ins with the law after her husband’s death so she moved her family to her relatives the ‘Quinns’ in north east Victoria.

This bridge was built in 1869 replacing the wooden one built in 1847.

Lovely old tree in the picnic area.

We wandered over the bridge to get some photos of the 6 arches and the amazing stonemasonry.

Such a contrast to the ugly new bridge – nice to see the graffiti artists have left the old bridge alone.

The creek isn’t much nowadays as it is slowly being filled up with sand which is called ‘sand slug’. On the info board are some early photos of the bridge and the creek.

Steve went back and brought the truck and van over the bridge to park on this side so we could head off on the Ned Kelly walk.

Followed the track down under the bridge then along the creek to a fork in the track. Unfortunately they don’t put any more signs so we headed off to the right and found some more info boards about the area’s history. Certainly was a lot more water under the bridge than there is now.

Great photo of the stage coach about 1890.

More boards about the land.

We wandered up the track through the flood area.

Spotted this parrot before he darted off out of his home.

Steve pointed out how this tree had been chopped down then grew up again over the old stump.

No more signs to follow so we walked up into the streets. I was smart and brought an umbrella as the rain squalls had been coming over regularly. Steve didn’t so we hid in a bus shelter as another squall passed. Steve entertained himself reading all about who loves who on the walls – Linda seemed very popular!!

Lots of lovely colourful flowers everywhere – it is spring though it feels like winter today. Should have put on the big coats as well.

Found the Cemetery with an ornate gate that took us a bit to work out how to get in.

Wandered around looking for ‘Red’ Kelly’s grave. Found lots of other Kellys as well.

Gnarly old tree.

This is the Court House where John ‘Red’ Kelly was charged with cattle stealing. He was later acquitted but fined 25 pounds for the illegal possession of a hide.

The wattles are in full bloom.

Headed back to the creek along another road and found an info board about the school Ned attended. The sign is on the edge of the road above the flood area so not sure exactly where the school was.

Found where we should have walked to follow the Ned Kelly trail – shame they don’t walk it and see there are lots of tracks leading off in different directions so more signage would be helpful. Got back to the van and had lunch as the rain came tumbling down with lots of wind. Luckily the squalls pass over quickly.

Headed back to the Hume Freeway and off to Euroa. Found a place to park then wandered down to check out the Fish Ladder on Sevens Creek. Flood gates keep the water level up in the park area.

On the other side the water flows down the creek. Fish can enter the fish ladder through a narrow opening then work their way up the channels. There are dividers in it to slow the flow and give the fish places to rest before heading out into the main water area.

Wandered down the lush park area to the back of the RSL where an impressive bit of machinery was on show.

Euroa was the home of three Victoria Cross recipients and new sculptures and information boards have just been erected. Lieutenant Leslie Cecil Maygar won his VC rescuing a comrade under heavy fire during the Boer War in 1901 and was later killed in action during WW1. Lieutenant Frederick Harold Tubb and Corporal Alexander Stewart Burton won their VCs in the Lone Pine tranches at Gallipoli in August 1915. Burton died in the attack and was awarded his medal posthumously. Tubb, by then a major, died two years later in France on the Western Front.

The wind was whipping around us as we headed into town. Found an info board about the Flour Mill.

Steve thought the brick maker in town had a good business going making all the bricks for the gutters.

St Andrews Church built 1889.

Gardiner building built 1901 houses the Euroa Gazette which started in 1897.

The impressive building was the third National Bank – they must have made a huge profit as Ned Kelly’s gang robbed the previous bank which was across the road. It is now a residence – now that would be fun to decorate!!

The second National Bank used to be here. The existing building is made of the original bricks.

On the wall were a sculpture and then some more information. Before robbing this bank the gang had robbed Faithfull’s Creek Station the day before. Ned and his gang took 37 hostages from the bank back to the Station (one being the bank manager’s wife who changed into her best Sunday frock to go with Ned). Ned and the Gang entertained them with horse tricks and banter through the night, releasing them unharmed at day break.

Euroa Hotel.

Shame the RSL left this magnificent building as the new one near the park is very boring.

The Colonial Bank has been used by a variety of banks over the years.

Around the block we look on the back of the Euroa Hotel – massive.

The Salvation Army Barracks.

Interesting letterbox.

Ned Kelly scarecrow.

Some lovely old homes.

Euroa Post Office is an impressive building.

Steve saw the water level at the bottom of the Post Office building which would mean the all the roads would have been covered in water.

Stopped at the Information Centre and got some more brochures. Asked about taking the van up to Strathbogie – all good they said. The chap marked the map with the roads. He commented that the temperature here today only reached 13 so up there it might only get to 10 but will feel about 6 – oh joy!!

Steve liked the old shop with its lopsided awning.

Blairgowrie built in 1890.

An old shop in Binney Street.

We thought this was a fancy home. It belongs to St Johns Church.

Beautiful flowers.

Peered in through the fence at the Museum as it isn’t open today. Lots of machinery in the sheds.

The Museum is in the old Farmers’ ArmsHotel.

In the Museum grounds is the Longwood National Bank complete with outhouse.

This cottage belonged to Eliza Forlonge who was the pioneer of the wool industry here in the 1850s. We saw a monument to her in Campbelltown, Tasmania. She had a remarkable ability to select sheep and she developed the local wool industry from their family property, Seven Creeks Estate.

The Seven Creeks Hotel commenced as a store in a tent in 1853. John DeBoos then built a single storey brick hotel in 1860s. The second storey was added in 1910.

Decided to head up the Strathbogie Ranges to check out Mt Wombat and Polly McQuinns Weir. A shower of rain had passed over creating a lovely rainbow.

We were looking for the Mt Wombat Lookout as we climbed up the hills. Euroa is 200m elevation and we rose to 610m before heading into Strathbogie at 480m. Nice and green up here.

Didn’t see a lookout sign but did see Mt Wombat road but it looked narrow so won’t try and take the van up there (610m elevation). At Strathbogie was ram statue in recognition of the production by local farmers of high quality fine Merino wool.

Along a narrow road and across the bridge beside the Polly McQuinn’s weir to a rocky parking area (500m elevation). The story goes that Polly drove his horse and cart into the water hole and drowned and his ghost can still be seen. There is a rumour that the waterhole is bottomless which is why no trace of him or his horse was ever found!! The weir is on one side and the water flows out through a narrow spout down over the natural granite rocks into the waterhole. We wandered around taking photos.

Weird feeling standing on the rocks peering over the weir wall thinking about all the water that was on the other side!!

Our site for the night – sign said no camping with a picture of a tent – we don’t have one of those!!

5.30pm and the heater is on as it is getting colder by the minute. Taking a long time to warm up the van so it must be cold outside.

Rang Kaylene to see how she went with her surgery today then rang Mum and Dad for a chat.

At 7pm I checked the temp and it was only 4 degrees outside.

Malcolm rang – will meet up with them on Friday at Winton.