Wed, 23rd September, 2015 Polly McQuinns Weir, Strathbogie to Winton Motor Raceway, Winton (Benalla sightseeing)

Looks like we are in for another beautiful day even though it is starting off cold. The heater is working overtime to try and warm up the van. Didn’t even get up to check the temperature!!

Texted Brian to wish him a happy birthday – will see him again soon at Bathurst.

Headed off up the road to find some falls. Got a shot of Mt Wombat (799m). Decided not to try to get to the lookout with the van on so will put that on the come back and see later list!!

Lovely area. Passed a huge Alpaca farm and olive orchards. Lots of sheep and cattle in the lush green rolling hills littered with granite boulders. Down the steep road from 460m to 260m.

On to the main road to Mansfield looking out for the Gooram Falls sign. Only a little sign but we got into the picnic ground. Sign says Falls 400m and toilets 800m – must be another picnic area downstream that we missed. Can’t remember the name of the creek but it eventually flows down into the Goulburn River.

Wandered along the rocky track to what we think are the falls – nice but not too exciting. The water isn’t clear.

Turned and headed back upstream over the big boulders to where the water has carved out round holes in the rocks. Lots of small falls along the way.

As we headed back we saw the other entrance to the lower picnic area – narrow and treelined so probably was best we didn’t find it first. Exploring with the van on isn’t the best idea. Eliza Furlonge’s memorial is along a dirt road near here too but decided to give that a miss with the van on. Decided to go straight up to Winton and see if we can park the van there then head off to explore. Beautiful canola fields along the way.

Stopped at the office at the Raceway to ask about camping. Ok to park now though they were still cleaning up the campground from the last event which is like a Summer Nats – drivers bring out their cars to drive around the track and do burn outs etc. Apparently they went mental this year and kept going till they blew all their tyres then drove out on the rims. Then they burnt everything in the campground including putting gas bottles and butane canisters in the fires etc. Met Andrew, the caretaker, who said that they probably won’t have the event again as they are spending millions next year laying a new surface on the track. Malcolm’s race group will be sharing the track with lots of other competitors such as the Supertruck Nationals, Legend Cars, Super TTs, Vic V8s, Pulsar Challenge, BMW E30, Formula Ford and Vic Excel Series, so should be a good weekend.

View from the campground across to the pits etc.

We found a cleaned spot and set up the van. Three V8 Supercars Development Series cars were practicing on the track so we sound like we are at Bathurst again. Had some lunch then headed to Benalla to explore.

The canola fields are huge.

For the info centre which is in the old Mechanics Institute established in 1869. Benalla is named after an Aboriginal tribe who once inhabited this area. Benalla was an important supply stop in the gold mining days of the 1850s.

Outside was a plough that belonged to Ned Kelly’s brother, Jim. The Kelly Gang’s armour was made of mouldboards from this type of plough.

Inside is the Information Centre and Museum which has lots of other displays as well as Ned Kelly history.

Steve interrogated Ned in the witness box that came from the Benalla Court House where members of the Kelly family stood trial for a number of minor offences.

Behind it was the portable cell that Ned spent time in 1870 and 1971.

In a small room off that was a video of Ned story with the walls lined with information and a replica of his armour.

A map showing where the gang travelled etc.

In the portable cell were photos, weapons and the bridle that was taken from the Glenrowan siege by a local farm hand who had spent the night as a hostage at Jones’ Inn. There is a bullet hole in the top and according to the police report of the day, Ned’s mare had been wounded. The colt revolver believed to have belonged to Ned was originally 5cm longer but was shortened for convenience. We were allowed to use the camera but no flashes hence the dark photos.

The remains of  Jones’ Inn at Glenrowan after the police burnt it down to get out the rest of the Kelly Gang.

Also the sash that Ned was given from the family of the boy he saved from drowning in Avenel when he was 11. He wore it under his armour when he was shot at Glenrowan and it still has the blood stains. It was kept by the doctor who treated his wounds after the siege and had been kept by the family till it was donated to the museum in 1973.

The Benalla Gaol cells doors where Joe Byrne, one of the gang members, was roped to after his death so reporters could sketch him for their newspaper reports.

In another room was an amazing House in Miniature. It is 1.9m x 2.7m x 1.5m high, excluding the base stand which shows what the exterior of the house would look like. Mrs Gay Stell worked on this creation over a period of 10 years from 1970. It is a 14 roomed house is decorated with furnishings from the 1960s. The detail is amazing even down to whisky in the decanter. A few of the firms made replicas of their products for the house – like the porcelain toilets.

There was a huge display of chemist equipment and potions. Here’s one for Mum – Friar’s Balsam.

Lots of information about two local war heros – Hec Waller and Weary Dunlop – with videos telling their stories.

In another room was a display about Lace with lots of displays of lace items as well as the changing of fashions shown on the models. The black ball gown on the right is from 1860.

This one depicts the 1750s when it was made in the 1860s.

Went outside to find Steve who declined the museum visit!! He was resting in the ceramic artwork next door. I should have put on an extra jumper as it is a bit chilly with just two layers on!!

More information about the Major Mitchell Trail that we had been on and off before we headed back to Cairns. Unfortunately they haven’t been maintaining the info boards on the trail and this one has faded badly.

A Ned Kelly info board.

The bridge was built by the same chap who did the one over the Loddon River at Laanecoorie as Steve remembered his name.

Wandered around the Ceramic Mural. Quite marvellous what they have done. Great play area for kids too.

The kids were having fun in the tunnel which looks up to the top – stuck my head in for a look up to the glass above.

Walked down by Lake Benalla which is part of Broken River. Found some cute ducklings - they were so tiny.

Stopped at the Analemmatic Sundial which is one of the oldest ways of accurately telling ‘clock’ time. Its invention is credited to the great astronomer and mathematician, Claudius Ptolemy. The sundials were first used in the 2^nd century AD. You stand on the spot of the month you are in and then your shadow shows the time. It was correct as it was 3pm hence XV.

 Tried to turn this around but it won't let me!!

Up to the bridge built 1909-10. Steve noticed that the oldest side of the bridge they used 5 rails but the newer section they only put 4 – slack!! We could see the difference when we walked under it of the different styles of supports etc.

Lovely area with the Art Gallery and Botanical Gardens with the war memorials etc on the other side.

Walked to the edge of the Botanical Gardens known for its roses – which of course aren’t flowering now.

Found the Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop memorial. He is the one holding up the exhausted POW. An amazing man. He great up on his family’s farm 25kms NW of Benalla at ‘Sheepwash Creek’. He volunteered as an Army Surgeon in 1939 and in March 1942 was captured by the Japanese at the hospital where he was caring for his patients. He was interned for more than 3 years as a POW. At the prison camp, he was commanding officer and surgeon responsible for more than 1000 men on the notorious Thai-Burma Railway which was horrendous. As a leader, he displayed incredible courage, often putting his own life at risk on behalf of men under his command. He returned to Australia in 1945 dedicating his life to caring for former POWs.

Looking back over the lake to the Ceramic Mural.

Another fabulous attraction is the Wall Art on the sides of buildings throughout the town. Certainly impressive, especially the big ones on the brick buildings. There were 13 artists who took just 4 days in March 2015 to transform the walls. Some were more like graffiti but these ones were thought were amazing.

Back across the Hume Freeway to Winton for yummy lamb chops done in the Ecopot. It is the Spring Equinox today according to the weather report – looks like spring but certainly feels like winter as the temperature is dropping to 8 degrees at 5pm. Lovely sunset colour in the sky.