Australia
Day. Watched Sunrise to see how the rest of Australia was celebrating. Heard
Jessica Mauboy sing the National Anthem from the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge.
A
couple of early skiers are on the water trying to enjoy the flat water before
all the other boats and jetskis churn it up.
Drove
down to the ferry and across the Murray to Morgan township.
Looking
upstream to a huge wharf then the cliffs further upstream.
Parked
next to a Morten Bay Fig tree planted many years ago.
Armed
with Morgan Heritage Walk brochure we headed off to explore. It has some great
photos. Between 1880 and 1910 Morgan was South Australia's busiest port.
Next
to it was another tree with an unusual fruit.
Two
pubs on the corners overlooking the park and Murray River.
The
white pub is the Commercial Hotel – In the early days of wharf building, some
60 workers were accommodated there and meals were served in three sittings.
Next
door going up the street is the shops of Post Office Row.
Peered
in the windows of Carmine's Antique Shop as I thought it was closed.
Then
Steve said it was open – entrance via the next shop, so we went in for a look.
She
has a wonderful collection of everything you can imagine, lots of books too –
brought back memories as we found things we had as kids. Steve found a coat
brush like a penguin that he remembered having. Mum, remember your plastic
fruit!!
Erica
had said we needed to find a shop with tapestry in it – Found it. Paid our $1
entrance into a back room where the walls are lined with framed tapestries,
created by her mother, Kath Apps.
She
was always busy sewing, knitting, crocheting, cooking, doing her husband’s
books as well as working herself but she always found time for her handiwork.
After her husband passed away when Kath was 77, Carmine gave her mother a big
tapestry that she thought would keep her busy for a few years. Kath finished it
in and had it framed within 10 weeks. She kept stitching till she passed away 2
months off her 100th birthday.
Here
she is at 99 years of age – amazing. Some of her other handiwork.
Next
room was another of Carmine’s passions – antique tools.
Mum
rang to say they had a big storm with lots of lightning and thunder last night
which was spectacular. They got about 30ml there but the airport recorded about
70ml.
Continued
up the hill to the Captain Sturt memorial.
The
Custom’s House and Police Station.
Up
to the top of Billy Goat Hill – a garden is growing where a water tank was
buried in the hill to provide water for the railway. The name of the hill from
all the billy goats allowed to be grazed here.
Australia
Day celebrations are underway along the waterfront.
Another
River Boat Trail board.
Zoomed
in on the photos of the wharf and paddle-steamers in 1921.
Looking
down on a paddle-steamer being restored.
Great
view upstream then over the historic wharf.
Downstream
passed the ferry then around the bend is our van.
Zoomed
in on the paddle-steamer, called ‘Canally’.
Down
the hill following the path. Unfortunately they haven’t maintained the track or
even trimmed the bushes. Looking back up Billy Goat Hill.
The
back then front of the Station Master’s residence. It was built in 1887 and
housed the first Station Master, Tom Tapp, who commenced it duties on October
28, 1878. The building comprises of a Ladies Waiting Room and Booking Office
adjoining the residence of two bedrooms, kitchen and dining room.
Down
into the railway station area. The Ticket Office.
The
Pendle’s Refreshment Rooms, named after Wally Pendle, who looked after the mail
and passenger services.
An
old crane.
All
about the Paddle-Steamer ‘Canally’ which is being restored here. Great photo of
it being raised from its watery grave.
River
Boat Trail board about the historic wharf and two wrecks nearby.
We
would have been standing on the middle section of the wharf which has been
demolished. Only the last section built still stands but it is looking worst
for wear too.
Great
photo of the wharf during a low river time in the 1900s.
Further
along under the cliff face is the site of the boiler house for the railway.
Walked
up on the wharf – carefully – looking upstream then downstream.
Couldn’t
find the wreck of the ‘Crowie’ Barge near the end of the wharf. There are supposed
to be rusting ribs along the riverbank but the reeds are thicker here so might
be hidden now.
Climbed
up the hill a bit to the Powder Magazine which was dug into the cliff in 1881
for the safe storage of explosives.
Further
along the track we found the wreck of the sternwheeler, ‘Corowa’. We could see
part of her stern wheel rudder poles and a small section of a steam pipe and
boiler.
Headed
back to the wharf.
In
the railway yard were the paddle wheels off the ‘Canally’ waiting restoration.
In
the shed was the steam engine they are restoring so she can paddle up and down
the river again. Around the other side for a look. A lot of work still to be done.
Along
the grassed foreshore to the Australia Day festivities. Looks like a pie eating
competition with a twist – they have teams and have to eat an assortment of
Australian foods – weetbix, vegemite sandwich, baked beans, lamington and a
drink plus a few more by the looks of it. Sounds like everyone was having fun.
Across
the park to the railway turntable which was constructed in 1878.
Down
to the boat ramp. Steve’s head was just above the 1973 flood level. The 1956
one was way up at 11.3 metres.
Across
from the boat ramp was the Morgue, complete with dead body!!
Great
photo on the back wall.
Lots
of jetskis on the water. This is the remake of the stand-up ones first brought
out – they come with a little seat when your legs get tired.
Kids
were having fun swinging into the river.
Back
up the boat ramp carpark, which is full, and across the road to the Info Hut.
Behind the sign was a donation spiral which sort of still worked – you can roll
a pebble down the spiral.
Across
the road to Marion Lodge.
Next
door is Lanseer’s Warehouse which now houses the Morgan Museum.
Built
of yellow limestone.
Found
the boat Erica was telling us about. It was a replica of the ‘Lazy Jane’ which
was actually the P.V. ‘Amphibious’ when it appeared in the TV series ‘The River
Kings’ in 1990.
The
P.S. ‘Industry’ was also used in it as the ‘Lady Mabel’.
Wandered
around the museum. The Morgan Telephone Exchange changed to automatic on the 29th
March, 1983.
Great
model of the railway area and wharf of Morgan.
Gorgeous
christening gown and bonnet, over 100 years old.
This
pram was made by an apprentice wheelwright in the early 1900s, so he could gain
his certificate.
Interesting
photos of the P.S. ‘Gem’ not fitting into Lock 15 at Euston/Robinvale.
I
remember reading about Horrie Miller on the info board at the lookout at
Waikerie. He and Darcy Rees landed their plane on the dry lagoon in 1920.
Now
that’s a big steering wheel.
The
Paddle-steamers ‘Marion’ and ‘Gem’ (now at Swan Hill Village) alongside the
Morgan Wharf.
About
the ‘Marion’ and the other paddle-steamers and barges built here at Morgan.
Models
on display.
The
maps of the River Murray that the captains relied on where on cloth scrolls.
Three
generations of Randalls.
A
steam-powered ferry.
The
low security prisoners of the Cadell Training Centre did the restoration work
on this boat.
Another
area all about wool. They certainly piled up the barges.
Steve
liked the shearing efficiency poster.
A
few old wagons etc too.
A
photo of the Morten Bay Fig, looking alot fuller, that we parked beside, taken 2009.
Some posters about the 1956 flood.
The North-West Bend (or Great Bend) of the River Murray taken on 13th September, 1956. Morgan township on the left of the photo.
The Junction of the Murray and Darling during the flood.
Info
about the P.S. ‘Canally’ and its restoration program.
Some
photos of Lock 1 and Weir under construction at Blanchetown.
Back
outside we headed back up the street to the truck, reading the other history
plaques along the way.
Quite
warm today and everyone was walking out of the shop with icecreams so we just
had to stop for one!! Inside were photos of local events and newspaper
clippings of locals’ achievements etc. Should see if the Facebook page is still
going – Morgan Boarding Sessions.
Camping
in style with their van in 1934 on the Morgan foreshore.
Where
we walked along checking out the railway and wharf – in 1956.
Back
to the other pub – the Terminus, and our truck.
Lined
up to cross over on the ferry. A car and camper drove down to the water but
there isn’t any room to turn around – would like to hear what was being said in
their car!! We boarded the ferry before they moved again.
Very
busy on the water – poor houseboat trying to make its way downstream.
Everything
goes on the ferry – Semi-trailers and people too.
Back
to the van for a late lunch. ‘We of the Never Never’ was on TV which was great
to watch.
I
worked on my blog while Steve put the fishing lines in. Got one big pull but it
wrapped him around the roots of the tree.
So
nice to sit by the river watching all the skiers, jetskis and houseboats going
up and down – reminds us of Tinaroo Dam.
Clouds
have come over and the wind has picked up.
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