16th - The peacocks and the sun are both up early. They have a very loud call with a sharp honk at the end - quite funny to listen to. One male is trying hard to get the hen’s attention. I was impressed but she wasn’t.
Breaky with the Munces - lots of chat of course. Took photos of more of Mum’s paintings.
Rob and Sheura left to head back home.
While we had lunch I put on the audio I have of Len Beadell about his road making and the atomic bomb etc. Graham and Sharon have done the Anne Beadell Highway which Len had named after his wife so they were very interested in hearing it.
Sharon and I went to the shops via the park at the junction of the Brisbane and Bremer Rivers which of course was all washed away in the 2011 floods. Looking good again now. Sharon pointed out houses that had been washed away or damaged by the floods. All looking good again after 10 years. (didn’t take my camera!)
Sharon showed me the ‘Bubble House’ built by an architect - very unusual. I downloaded the photo.
Back home. I booked the Broome to Darwin flight - we will have two days in Broome to check out the sights.
Two male peacocks are having a ‘fan’ off beside the camper - no female in sight!
Had a cuppa then I took Steve for a walk down to the park where the rivers met. Looking up the Brisbane River then down to where a car ferry crosses for people to use saving travel time onto the highway etc. Then up the Bremer River.
A bit of history.
While we were having dinner outside Mum and baby possum scurried up the tree beside us then onto the bird feeder to finish off the bird seed. We threw down a corn cob for them to enjoy after.
The peacocks are back in their tree complaining when we laugh.
17th - Early wake-up by the peacocks outside our camper again.
Emily sent a photo on my phone of when I played one of the senior’s guitar at Tuckshop.
Clouds are coming over. Walked around the block and found a plaque about the airstrip that was here in WW2 - will have to come back with the camera.
Joined the others for a cuppa. Rang Rebecca to see where they are staying in Darwin etc. She is home but in a lot of pain though she is excited that we are going to be on the cruise with them.
Graham got out his canoe and with our help put it on the trailer behind the ride-on mower to take it down to the river. We then put on the outriggers and the outboard. All aboard.
The river flows well so the outboard will be much better than paddling. We went up the side of the island heading upstream checking out the other houses we can see from the water and the farming area.
Spotted an old stone quarry that is now part of a walk in the parkland on the other side of the river.
The sun came out - glad we wore long-sleeved shirts and hats. Turned around at the next boat ramp/park area then back down on the other side of the island around to their landing spot. Amazing to think all that slope was full of water in the flood.
Clouds came over and a cool wind sprung up in the afternoon.
Had a cuppa then said goodnight and goodbye to Graham and Sharon as we will head off early tomorrow morning so we can beat the morning rush to the train station so we can park up there, have breakfast, then catch the train about 7am.
18th - Dark clouds. Stopped at the corner near Graham’s place to take a photo of the plaque about the airfield (emergency landing ground) that was here in WW2.
Drove in and parked at rail station. Lovely rainbow.
We haven’t explored Brisbane as we are always on the way south on the M1 or at BMX competitions around Nerang and Beenleigh.
Leanne had done a ‘Brisbane Greeter’ tour of the Walter Tower Bridge at Indooroopilly which we kept an eye out for. People lived in it and it even has a ballroom. Will certainly try and do that tour one day.
Leanne met us at Central Station. She is in town doing a couple more ‘Brisbane Greeter’ tours. She will be our tour guide today as she has learnt so much doing these free guided tours. Managed to read a couple of history signs before we headed out with all the rest of the commuters.
Lots of Anzac info in two museums as we exit the station at Anzac Square. Leanne said there are 19 steps up one way and 18 steps up - for 1918 and there are 18 columns.
The fence is made up of all the town names where everyone who went to war came from. Amazing. There is a lovely park with statues.
Of course there are the skyscrapers as well as the lovely old buildings like the Customs House. We hopped on the free bus around to Eagle Street Pier.
View of Brisbane River and Story Bridge which goes across to Kangaroo Point. There is a bridge climb like the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The cliff wall was the quarry for a lot of the building material for the old buildings of Brisbane.
Looking up at the pillars of the Story Bridge.
Of course there are murals everywhere.
Leanne took us into the hotel to show us an artist. His paintings look just like photographs they are so life like. She said there were different artists on each floor etc. The hotel was originally owned by Accor and was part of the Art Series Hotels. It is now owned by Crystalbrook Hotel but they kept this artist, Vincent Fantauzzo, in the foyer. The collage is actually photos but it is hard to tell the difference from the paintings.
The hotel is jammed in under the bridge by the cliff face.
We walked around to the Howard Smith Wharves (est 1935). This area has been refurbished in the last 5 years with spaces for hire for parties etc and a microbrewery like Hemingsway in the middle.
Amazing lifts.
Along the bottom edge of the cliffs are old WW2 bunkers.
Lovely gardens of fresh herbs etc.
Great playground and another lift up the cliff face.
We continued along the boardwalk downstream. Lots of interesting buildings to check out. The sign said ‘Lealholme’ 1928, formerly the Gregory Terrace rowing shed - home conversion 2004.
Must be mayhem being a tradie here.
Onto the floating platform to catch the Rivercat back upstream to South Bank where the 1988 World Expo was that we came to with Brian and Greg.
Shafton House across the river with green banks - 3rd oldest house in Brisbane so the chap said who was sitting beside us.
Nice ride, great way to have a good look around.
Abseilers were coming down the wall.
Past the Maritime Museum then on to South Bank.
We have picked up a hitch-hiker.
Hopped off at South Bank 3. Lovely and shady. These ‘hire’ scooters are everywhere and they go fast too.
Food gardens are amazing. They even have Miracle Fruit - one of Dad’s favourites, have some then eat a lemon like it is an orange!
Confucius watches over us all.
Bottle trees and bougainvillea.
Stopped for a cuppa by the pool area. Steve remembers being here - I have very sketchy memories of it all. Found a little friend.
Walked along the river edge. The Treasury Casino being rebuilt on the other side.
We found some very comfortable chairs.
Into the Rainforest Walk.
The carvings on this peace pagoda are amazing and very ‘interesting’ if you look closely. Info about the World Expo too. Some are a bit out there for 1988 I would have thought!
The new bridge being constructed to go across to the new Casino.
Comparison photo of Brisbane and the big Brisbane sign.
I remember going on the Monorail and this was one of the stations.
Lots of interesting reading on the old bridge and arch.
Great view from here too.
We walked across the new bridge. The Treasury buildings are magnificent.
Leanne is staying here in the old Land Administration Building.
Over the road is the Commissariat Building (convict built in 1829) which is a Museum but we didn’t have time to go through it today. From the brochure I read that the blocks were quarried from the cliffs in the wharf area we walked past. The Casino is being built beside it. Another lovely old building across the road.
We went into Leanne’s hotel - lovely entrance and stained-glass everywhere.
Great view from the balcony.
Great courtyard too.
Lovely Christmas tree. There was a video playing about the new Casino development - looks amazing though so modern compared to the lovely historical buildings in the area.
Queen Victoria (1837-1901) stands out front.
Fabulous memorial for the Air Force on the corner of the park.
Wandered along the road. Lots of interesting ‘art’.
Someone’s having a sleep-in this morning.
Down a lane to read about James Charles Burnett who discovered a river in 1846-47 which was then named after him which is in Bundaberg. Sadly he only lived to 39. This lane was originally the site of the Moreton Bay Convict Barracks.
Nice murals in the lane too. Steve is ready for the mouse to come out the door.
Around to the Town Hall. Leanne said the stone figures at the top was hand carved by lady and she also did the one inside above the organ.
The Christmas tree is being decorated.
It is beautiful inside. There was a football function on so couldn’t get into where the organ is but Leanne led us around to the other sections - lots of information too. You can come and listen to the organ being played on certain days - that would be fabulous.
We met a Museum lady and she told us about the little tiles on the floor - individually laid!
Ben Craig made a complete replica of the hall out of Lego.
We then went up the lift and booked the bell tower tour for 12.30 then went down for a quick lunch at the historic Shingle Inn (Brisbane’s oldest cafe). It was originally down town on Edward Street and opened in 1936. It was dismantled in 2002 to make room for inner-city development and stored for 8 years before the Bellchambers family, who purchased the cafe from the Webster family in 1975, gifted it to the City of Brisbane to be faithfully restored by the Brisbane City Council in City Hall. The service was prompt and food was delicious too.
Back upstairs to wait for the bell tour. Lots of interesting reading here too.
There is more to see here to next time we visit.
Leanne mentioned she had done the bridge tour and the lady said there was a You-tube show on the family who lived there - ‘New Australians live in unusual home’ - Australian Diary 77. Will have to have a look.
Our guide collected us for the bell tour. 15 minute tours between bell tolls. We went up in Brisbane’s oldest working cage lift and the chap chatted about the history - very interesting. The clock tower is 92m high and was the tallest structure in Brisbane for more than 30 years until the late 1960s. The observation deck is at 76m just below the bells.
Fabulous view - took a few quick photos before we had to head down again before the 1pm bell gonged.
Got a photo of the clock face as we headed back down in the lift - good side profile of Leanne too. We could just hear the bells boom just as we reached the bottom. Good soundproofing inside.
All quiet in the main foyer now.
Walked across the square to Speakers Corner and a chap was having a wonderful time stating his opinions - maybe he was practising for a big debate he had coming up. It wasn’t very interesting any case.
In the box behind was a white figure from Expo 88 era.
Steve commented on the bolts in the handrails - no sliding down the bannisters allowed here!
Don’t think these would be very popular in Cairns.
Wandered into Brisbane Arcade to check out the Christmas decorations.
Lots of interesting things to look at in the Mall.
The Info centre in a beautiful building that was the Regent Theatre, built 1928-29. It could seat 2,600 people and was one of the Hoyts’ Picture Palaces. It was converted to a movie theatre in 1979-80 but the building, the entrance and foyer were added to the Qld Heritage Register in 1992.
We said farewell to Leanne at Central Station. She headed back to her hotel. I spotted a park up the road so we decided to walk up there first. Found some interesting copper art at the start of King Edward Park. Our legs are getting a bit tired now so we won’t do the exercise thing of running up and down the steps! Lovely gardens.
At the top we walked along Wickham Terrace and found an old windmill which is the oldest surviving structure in Queensland being built in 1828. By 1861 is was converted to an observatory and signal station. It has the time ball at the top which was dropped at 1pm each day so people could set their watches and clocks. The old grain stores are still beside it.
There are very handy maps for sightseeing.
We walked down the grassy slope to Roma Street Station. Trains and buses leave from here for Cairns.
We boarded the next train to Dinmore. Our camper and truck was still there in the parking lot so we had a cuppa then headed off to see the Beavers again.
Steve wondered what was holding up the left lane of the motorway as there were no lights or roadworks but we are crawling along at 40k/h. It turned out to be a bottleneck of cars trying to get off at the next exit and they were held up by lights at the end of the exit. Dark clouds loom in the distance.
We backed into Dave and Petra’s driveway as those dark clouds came over. There was a loud crack overhead just as we got organised.
I went inside with Petra but the boys stayed in the camper chatting when the rain started to fall. It didn’t last long and the dark clouds moved on.
Ron rang for a chat while we were in chatting over a nice drink from the ‘bar’. Great dinner - so lovely to be able to spend time catching up.
Lovely clear sky with a full moon as we headed back into the camper to bed.
19th - Mum has been gone 7 months now. She is smiling down on us as the sky is clear and blue and the sun is shining brightly.
More chatting with Dave and Petra over a cuppa then Petra loaded Steve up with more rum. They wouldn’t accept any money towards their costs - so generous of them. Steve checked their gas stove for them so at least he felt it had contributed something to help.
Headed back to Ipswich to hand in our train cars for a refund.
Back to Fernvale for lunch. The dump point is still blocked. Up the road towards Kilcoy. Passed the turn off up to Mt Glorious and on to Northbrook Creek (which is silted up) which has a small park beside the road which is a 20hr rest area. We figured there won’t be too much noise tonight as it isn’t a major road. There are some cattle in the field across the road watching us set up.
Might have got that wrong about the traffic as car after car came past pulling huge ski boats or jet skis, all heading to Somerset Dam for the weekend.
It was only 2.30pm so we settled down with our Len Beadell books to get them finished so we can give them back to Roald. They are so great - makes us want to go and follow more of his ‘roads’. We have read 4 - ‘Too Long in the Bush’ (about the Gunbarrel Highway), ‘Beating around the Bush’ (Sandy Blight Road), ‘Bush Bashers’ (Connie Sue and Anne Beadell Highways) and ‘Blast the Bush’ (about Woomera and Maralinga). We will have to keep a look out for his other books - ‘Still in the Bush’, ‘Outback Highways’ and ‘End of an Era’.
Steve went for a wander to pick up some firewood as there is a fireplace near the shade shelter. Wendy rang with their plans to pick up their new camper from Bundaberg. The traffic has slowed down now.
Another couple pulled in with a roof-top camper so we joined them for a drink as he had a little ‘stove’ he was getting going for their dinner. They were very interested in hearing about our travels. They love just getting away from Brisbane for the weekend, mostly finding free camps for the night.
We moved over to the fireplace to have our dinner by the bigger fire. Steve commented that someone must be up the top of the hill as there was an orange glow. A few minutes later we realised it was the moon. I googled it and it is the last lunar eclipse of 2021 - the moon in the earth’s shadow and making it a Blood moon as it is quite reddish (caused by the diffusion of the sun’s light in the shadow cast by the Earth). It was the longest partial lunar eclipse sine the 15th century - now how’s that for great timing. As it came over the hill it was at maximum eclipse at 7.02pm in Brisbane. There will be a solar eclipse on the 4 Dec - it always occurs about 2 weeks before or after a lunar eclipse. It is very handy having Google to give us all this information as we travel. I tried taking photos of it - not too good.
Saw a few satellites too and Steve saw a falling star. Erica rang to say hi as she was watching the moon eclipse too in Bundy.
We can hear motorbikes zooming up and down the Mt Glorious range - hope no one crashes.
All quiet when we went to bed.
20th - Warmed up quickly as the sun rose. Clear blue sky. Our neighbours came over to say goodbye and to thank us for the information about travelling and detecting. They are keen to get on the road.
We continued north to Somerset Dam - narrow 2 lane road up and down the hills through bush then grazing country.
Here’s a map of the area.
Across the Stanley River.
We turned left at the cross road to check out O’Shea’s Crossing over the Brisbane River. Crossed the bridge for a photo then turned around - so glad we don’t tow the van as Steve wouldn’t be happy with the turning around bit!!
Back to the picnic area by the river but no camping allowed as it is controlled by SEQ Water and they lock the gates at sunset. Such a shame for overnight travellers but the few who do the wrong thing have killed these opportunities for all the ones who do the right thing and love their country and the freedom to explore it.
Back to the cross road and continued north up the west side of Lake Somerset. Lovely drive with lots of flowering Jacarandas as we enter Somerset Village - spotted an old Coronation Hall but we didn’t stop.
Continued on the windy 4km road then pulled off for a view of the dam wall. A bit of information too which was great.
Zoomed in of a plaque - sadly it is a memorial to 4 men who lost their lives working on the dam.
More expensive, huge wakeboard ski boats whizzed by. Just up the road are the concrete remains of the Workshop and Crusher area.
Turned off at The Spit for a look - this is where all the boats were heading.
There is a nice garden area which is a memorial for the Ulysses Club.
Interesting info about the flood storage capacity - obviously it didn’t work in the 2011 floods.
We walked around checking out all the ‘money’ spent on equipment here. Jon would be drooling. No camping allowed as the gates are closed at 6.30pm but reopen at 5.30am.
On the other side of the spit you can see the dam wall.
We continued up the road spotting ski boats etc all the way along the lake. We stopped at the top of a one kilometre steep climb to check out the view over Hazeldean and the dam. Lots of acreage blocks but no water access. A few of my ancestors lived around here somewhere.
Into Kilcoy and through to the Anzac Park by Kilcoy Creek (which you can’t see) for a cuppa. We had missed the left turn to the showgrounds to dump the toilet so headed back there. Stopped at a fruit van on the way back for some ‘Bowen’ mangoes and strawberries.
Back along Hope Street and around to the free camp area at the other end of Kilcoy Creek from where we had a cuppa. A few people look like they have been here much longer than the 20 hours permitted! Obviously there has been some relaxing of rules due to Covid. We chose our spot for the night - we even have some ripe cherry tomatoes at our back door.
Checked out the Art Gallery and found lots of paintings done by Noela (a Fogg family member who is also part of the Historical Society here and has helped a lot with locating the descendants of our convict ancestor, John Fogg. The society has done a wonderful job on the history boards.
Further along was the Information Centre which was the site of the old railyards.
We walked around to Noela’s house but no one was home and she didn’t answer the phone so I left our card hoping she will call me. Headed back to the camper by walking around the lake and across the sporting area for lunch.
Steve set up the TV so we can watch the Supercars race at Sydney this afternoon. Quite warm but our little fans over our chairs work very well.
Kaylene and Rick rang about their plans to come down to Woodgate. They should arrive about the 11th and stay for a few days which will be lovely.
I looked up my family history program on the lap top to refresh my memory as to who is who here on Dad’s side. 3pm 35 degrees in the camper, tad warm today.
Dark clouds are building. Noela rang so I arranged to walk over to her place so we could catch up. We chatted the afternoon away and I checked out more of her fabulous paintings. There is not much wall space left.
Back to the camper just as the rain drops started to fall. Watched the Supercars night race in Sydney. The rain stopped here but it started in Sydney making the end of the race very exciting.
Warmer night with the cloud cover. First time in a few weeks I have been back in my summer PJs.
21st - Early wake up by the Life Flight helicopter landing beside our camp area. An ambulance came and collected the passenger and the doctor/nurse then half hour later the doctor/nurse returned and the helicopter flew off again. Hope it wasn't anything too sad.
Jodie’s birthday - I sent her a message and she replied saying she and Bryon were now working and living in Orange, NSW. She applied for an accountant position with the gold mine there and Bryon is working for an electrical contractor.
Packed up and drove back to the other side of town to the cemetery where a few of my ancestors are buried. Dad’s mother’s family - the Arnolds and McPhersons. They are all up the top right hand side past the trees. I had visited these with Mum and Dad years ago.
Back through town and towards Woodford. Will come back with Roald and Joan and show them around including the church that on of our great grandfathers built.
Turned onto Neurum Road rather than the main road. The Arnolds, Doyles and McPhersons lived along here. It feels a lot like the Atherton Tablelands with the green rolling hills.
Across Glenfern Bridge over Sandy Creek. Dad’s maternal ancestors lived around here. First was the McPhersons who had the hotel where the hoop pine is. Their daughter Eliza married Alfred Arnold and they produced Dad’s mother, Ivy.
I spotted the Glenfern rail sign that Noela mentioned someone had just erected.
Alfred and Ivy lived on land further along this road. We visited the old house with Mum and Dad so will try again with Roald and Joan.
Across the Stanley River that feeds into Somerset Dam.
Mount Archer is where ‘Shirley’ Strachan from Skyhooks died aged 49 when his helicopter crashed into it.
Interesting house!
We found Doyles Road and I remember seeing the house up on a hill. Will come back and investigate. Dad’s grandmother was Mary Doyle, daughter of John and Sarah and the house was called ‘Rosemount’.
Checked out the free camp 3km out of town but it has a lot of people that look like they have settled in rather than the 20hr rest area. We drove back into town and parked at another park then walked up to the Info Centre. Checked out the big tank at the War memorial.
Walked down the road through the markets checking out the little murals with stories on the way.
John Meyers rang to ask if Steve could use his detector to locate a lost war medal. We said we would call in on the way back to Bundy in a few days.
We found a book swap box so went back to the camper and got some books to swap as I spotted a couple of good ones. There are more and more of these little boxes appearing in towns, free camps, at beaches etc.
Drove down Archer Street to where my Great Grandparents Brotherton had lived. Lovely to see the ‘Spring Grove’ sign. When I came with Mum and Dad the couple who had bought it were renovating and they were very excited to know the place had a name. It was on my grandfather’s birth certificate - born at Spring Grove, Archer St, Woodford. I gave them all the information we had from Title Deeds etc too. As they had just stripped back the walls and floor coverings we saw the original flooring etc that Dad’s grandfather had laid down when the house was built in the 1880s. Unfortunately no one was home so I left a card hoping we can pop in tomorrow when Roald and Joan arrive.
Rang a chap, Ron Trim, who helped us a lot when I was here with Mum and Dad and arranged to pop in for a chat.
As the weather looks quite grey we decided to park up at the Showgrounds. The caretaker wasn’t there but I chatted with her on the phone and we could park anywhere in the unpowered section. It was grassy and a bit soft from the recent rain but we should be ok. At least it is secure to leave when we go with Roald and Joan exploring tomorrow.
Made some lunch then Steve fought with the TV as he had to reprogram it again to pick up the Supercars telecast. More rain fell in Sydney and it got so bad they had to cancel the race before it actually started.
Woodford history info I picked up from the Info Centre.
Roald and Joan arrived so we joined them in town for a drink then dinner at the local pub. Had a great chat about the family tree etc.
Back home by 7.30pm - all quiet here so we read our books.
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