22nd - Early shower of rain then the thunder started about 6am. Steady rain for an hour.
Roald & Joan picked us up for our drive to explore Kilcoy. We headed back along Neurum Road. We drove to the end of Doyles Road but the family home is further along the dirt road and has it was still very wet we decided to leave it till later.
We continued on and turned onto Arnold Road South. Across the old railway cutting (the Glenfern sign is just up the road a bit).
We drove up to the locked gate. I thought this was the old family home of (great grandparents) Alfred & Eliza Arnold (nee McPherson) where our grandmother Ivy was lived. It looks in a lot better shape than when I visited it in 2005. My notes said there were two Bunya pines at the front gate so this didn’t look quite right. I took a photo any case but Roald & Joan came back later and met the people in this house and found out the old Arnold house was further up the road through the locked gate. Anyway Roald could see the area they lived in etc.
Should have brought the laptop to compare photos. If Noela had still had her painting of it I would have seen the difference too. I got these photos off my file from my visit with Mum & Dad in 2005.
Continued along to the site of the McPherson Hotel - our great great grandparents, Alexander (Sandy) and Eliza McPherson (nee Webb).
Across Sandy Creek and on to Kilcoy. Drove straight to St Marys Church which Alfred Arnold built in 1893. Joan took a photo of Roald and I.
Luckily the church was open as people were setting it up for Lent. We were able to take photos and have a good look around. One of the pews has a plaque dedicated to Alfred and Eliza.
A history sign on the building next door.
Another church across the road and a nice mural.
We drove back down the road then wandered along checking out the history signs.
We had a cuppa and something yummy to eat at the Lookout Milkbar - looking at what we don’t know!
Continued wandering and reading the history signs. Some have fabulous old photos of my grandmother’s era (1890s to 1918).
Love this trading hours sign.
We drove out to the cemetery to show them the final resting places of some of our ancestors. Nice view from their graves down to the creek and towards Kilcoy.
Went into the Info Centre and found more info on the Yowie.
Checked out the historical society. They have worked hard and have a collection of books on families and other history information which Dad had a few of. Roald bought a few too. Kilcoy history off their brochure - “In 1841, the Mackenzie brothers selected 35,000 acres in the prime upper reaches of the Brisbane River and named the run Kilcoy Station, after their ancestral castle in Scotland. Captain Louis Hope, an early owner of the station built the home of mud bricks made on the property. When the town was surveyed in 1888, it was briefly known as Hopetoun after Captain Hope. Due to the confusion with Hoptoun in Victoria, our town was renamed Kilcoy in 1907. Pioneering families are remembered in Kilcoy street names.”
Walked around the lake which has the Valour Walk. Alfred Arnold and three of his sons fought in WW2 and were fortunate enough to make it home again.
Drove back to William Street with its round-about with town clock. Dark clouds are hanging about but no rain which was great. The lady at the cafe said they often miss out on the rain.
Found where the drapery site was at 31 William Street.
A few more history signs. This old barn looks the same as the photo of 1936.
Had lunch at the pub - delicious meal. Headed back along Neurum Road. Turned off up one of the newer estates to check out the view - Mt Archer and the Stanley River.
Near Doyles Road, we slowed down for photos of the carved figures etc.
We stopped near the corner of Doyles Road and I asked a chap who was mowing whether we could get up to the old Doyles homestead, ‘Rosemount’. He said yes and proceeded to tell me his son had just bought a heap of land around here and his daughter lived down the road - friendly chap.
We headed back up Doyles Road again and as it hadn’t rained again we ventured up the dirt track. I remembered the house being on a hill. As we neared it came back to me so we drove up to the back of the house. New people had just bought it when I visited with Mum and Dad so we hadn’t gone inside then. New people have bought it again. We parked and called out but no one seemed to be about then a little girl came out. Her father followed and we found out that he was the manager of the property. Had a short chat about it but he didn’t know much so we left him be and headed back out. The property has Neurum Creek as one of its boundaries.
Brought up the old photos I had of the house and land map. Also Dad at the surveyors mark at one of the boundary corners and Dad straightening up the street sign.
Beautiful old fig near the creek on the way out.
Back to Woodford then onto Kropp Road which was the back boundary of the land owned by our great-grandparents, William and Mary Brotherton.
There are lots of new homes and this one is an old one being restored to be made into a B&B by the looks of it. It has a great view of one of the Glass House Mountains too.
Great garden ornament.
We had a great time exploring the streets then headed around to the cemetery. I forgot to recheck the grave numbers as I thought there was a map on the wall. After we wandered I felt this was the correct spot and found the 134 marker on a grave beside which would have been my great grandfather’s. Unfortunately they never had a tombstone put on their graves. Roald and I said we might look into that.
Got out the old photo with Dad.
Went back through town and followed the main road back towards Kilcoy then turned off into the site of the old township. My great great grandfather, Alexander (Sandy) McPherson is buried here which was the original cemetery but after 3 burials they decided to move the township further along onto higher ground due to floods in 1893. Now it is a playground - interesting! Checked his death certificate (he was thrown from his horse) and noticed that my great grandfather William Brotherton was recorded as a witness.
I received a text from the owner of ‘Spring Grove’ and she is happy for us to pop in tomorrow afternoon.
Headed to the pub again for drinks then dinner. No more rain but the dark clouds are still hanging about.
Back in the camper I googled my phone problem and it said to uninstall all the latest apps etc but that didn’t solve it. The NSW one needs a newer phone than mine so maybe that caused the melt-down. Might be time for an upgrade I suppose.
23rd - More rain overnight and early this morning. It hasn’t rained for a bit so we packed up and drove into town as the rain poured down again. Met Roald and Joan at the Museum. Met Donna who was very helpful. She gave me a contact for the Cemetery Committee so we can find out about putting up a plaque for William and Mary. We found my grandparents, George (No. 115 at Woodford School) and Ivy’s (No. 20 at Villeneuve School), school admissions and her siblings too.
An old map showing the original house and all the land of William and Mary’s and a more current one showing the subdivision along Archer St - the 1 acre block given to the Church stands out against the smaller blocks. The bottom portion of the land had been sold and is now subdivided.
Another map showing the Doyle’s property.
There are lots of interesting things to read and look at here.
We walked down the road to Jalla’s Cafe as this is the site of the drapery Ivy worked at when the drapery moved here from Kilcoy. Had a lovely cuppa and something yummy.
The sun has come out and we can see some blue sky but there are still lots of dark clouds around. I walked down a bit to the butchers as Rick worked here in his younger days - fancy that. I sent off the photo to him.
We drove back down Archer Street and turned off to find St Mary’s Catholic Church. GGrandfather, William had donated 1 acre of land for the first one on Archer St but in 1930 they relocated it and built a larger building and then another to use for boarders.
GGrandmother Mary’s sister Vera donated the money for this bell tower in honour of their parents John and Sarah Doyle.
Again we were lucky that someone was around to be able to open up the church for us to have a look. Jacquie was most interested to hear of our GGrandparents involvement in the church and asked for my details to pass on to the local church historian. Inside I showed Roald and Joan the stained-glass window that Mary donated for the original church.
We drove back up Archer St to the Lifeline which I thought was the original church site - got a bit confused as I remembered I had taken a photo of Mum and Dad sitting on the church pew here. (Looking back on my info this was the top end of Lot 74 that he owned.) Any way we chatted with the people and bought some books from the Op Shop then wandered down the back to check out the view over the land and Monkeybong Creek.
We walked down the street and noticed a house for sale so we got out our phones and I looked up the Title Search for that house while Roald looked on Google maps etc. Eventually we figured it out and once I saw the house I remembered it (No. 152). The one acre block had been divided and a quarter cut off where another house has been built.
Roald then worked out where the boundary fence was as it was on an angle. Slowly piecing it together again.
Zoomed in on the water tower as they have the murals on it as well as the plaques we saw the other day.
Went for a drive around checking out more houses - having a great time chatting and laughing. Had a late lunch at the local pie shop.
Drove down to ‘Spring Grove’ and met Sandy. She bought the house 4 years ago. She was happy to show us around. The kitchen is on the original verandah and the front room’s floor boards are still visible from when the Berkers stripped it back when we met them in 2005.
Wandered around the yard - she said this tree was original like the ones out front so they are very old.
Down to the house fence line looking over the land William owned. Sandy said there is a natural spring there hence why they named the house ‘Spring Grove’. William had dairy cows and there was a shed nearby.
Walking back up to the road I pulled out the old photo of the house and took a comparison photo.
The rain was starting again so we thanked Sandy and I snapped a photo of the beautiful Jacaranda and the sign out the front of the house.
Headed off on another ‘Brotherton Tour’ exploring the area with Roald and Joan. Great fun. We tried to find the water ski park but got a tad lost and ended up going all the way to Commissioner’s Flat! Back to where the Woodford Folk Festival is held each new year but unfortunately it was cancelled last year due to Covid and looks like it will still be closed for this year.
Back to the Pub for drinks and dinner again at our Table - no. 37 on the verandah! Roald declared it was steak night so we all enjoyed a very tender steak.
Joan showed me how to put our Covid Vaccination Certificate on the Sign-in App. I started doing it for each state when my phone came up with a message that my Contacts storage was full so I can’t make calls or texts - oops. I can still use the internet side of it so can send messages via Facebook and receive calls.
We said farewell as the rain ha stopped - keeping tabs on the scuds on the BOM site. We will see them in January when they come to Woodgate for a visit.
The murals on the water tower are lit up at night.
We drove out of town to the free camp at Cruise Park. Still the same people here from the other day - definitely here more than the 20hr limit. We set up in the dark just before another shower of rain fell. Noticed some water under the fridge - Steve’s not happy that the hatch doors are letting water in.
24th - Up early. Not raining so we had breakfast and closed up while everything was dry. Took our camp photo this morning. The other ‘overnighters’ - struggling to stay dry by the looks of things.
As we headed off I managed to get a photo of the big ‘Woodfordia’ sign on the hill where the folk festival is held.
Heading towards Beerwah. Up a short, reasonably steep range into the misty clouds.
Across the Stanley River again before entering Peachester with its cute church and hall (1889).
Down a steep windy range (D’Aguilar) for 3km. Into Beerwah and onto the Steve Irwin Drive to Landsborough. Slow going as there is scrub clearing well away from the road but we all have to slow down.
Past the Ewen Maddock Dam - looks nice.
Onto the Motorway near Aussie World Theme Park. The roadworks of the big interchange has been finished - amazing difference from when we came through July 2020.
The sky is clearing as we head north. Stopped for a cuppa at the rest stop before Gympie. Erica rang - they had 3 inches of rain last night and 5 inches a few days ago - they will all be floating away! Woodgate had 5 inches too - hope the drains the boys put in last Christmas are doing the job of keeping the water from under the house.
Through Gympie - dark clouds ahead. Only a light sprinkle fell. Continued on to Tiaro where we detoured to find the Mary River. Chocolate brown from the recent rain. Didn’t spot any giant turtles.
Continued on and over the Mary River again as we headed into Maryborough.
Drove around to John’s museum. The lost war medal is at his friend’s place who cleans them for the museum. We followed him out and back onto the highway and up to Toranlea then on to Toogoom. Blue sky here and quite hot. Steve got out the 2300 detector but where they think the medal might have disappeared is in a normal back yard with a concrete path around to a lawn locker so a bit too much other metal around. Steve gave it a go and found all kinds of other bits and pieces but no medal unfortunately. We had lunch there then drove around to the boat ramp for a look. Nice spot.
Continued on to Burrum Heads - plenty of water laying around on the way.
Looks lovely here at the boat ramp. Looking up the Burrum River, across to Walkers Point boat ramp then along to the point that we drove to recently.
The water is stained from paperbark swamps.
A ‘funny note’ tree.
Drove back up the river to the other boat ramp. You can see the homes of Walkers Point when I zoomed in.
We drove around to the beach side.
Back to the main road then through Burrum Town and across the Burrum River.
We stopped at a park on the other side for a cuppa. Obviously this John Miller isn’t one of Erica’s relatives.
A bit further on is Howard which became famous for the coal that John Miller found.
There is a 48hr RV stop by the railway line and a park full of history info. There is a museum around the corner. Will come back again for a better look.
Back to the main highway then on to Childers. Will have to come back with Kaylene and have a wander around here.
Continued on to Apple Tree Creek to take the other road back to Bundaberg. A shower of rain fell as we neared Wallum Creek Rest Area - nice area back off the road.
All sunny again as we pulled into Erica & Terry’s. We parked down the side and dropped off the camper so Steve can take the truck in to get the boost gauge looked at.
Had a nice chat over drinks.
Dinner and a game of cards before bed.
25th - Heavy rain at 1am. Overcast still when we rose but it was ok for a walk.
Cleared a bit so I did my washing and hung it out. Nearly dry by the afternoon so I whizzed around to the laundromat at Sugarland to give it all a quick dry off. Picked up some groceries too. Handy having Erica’s little Getz to zip about in.
26th - Steve and I went shopping - wine, toner for the printer and we bought a new Samsung phone. The lady in the Telstra shop was so helpful and advised us to keep the Samsung as it is the best of remote travel.
No more rain today. Terry had a wobble coming down the steps with his bowl of nuts balancing on his glass of scotch. I decided he needed a shelf to put things on so he can walk down the steps using the hand rail then pick up his drink etc off the shelf. Another job for Stephen.
I managed to get my phone sorted out and downloaded all the sign-in apps for Australia as well as put the Covid Vac certificate on them as well. Luckily I had typed out my phone contacts before I left Cairns in 2014 as I can’t transfer my contacts list from my old phone. Put them in and if I have missed anyone I will find out in due course if they ring me!
27th - No rain last night. I helped Erica put names on her photos as she wanted to give some to Lyn Bishop tonight at John’s party. Took a bit to get that sorted.
Steve put up grab rails on the carport entrance that we had brought down from Mum & Dad’s. Mum would be pleased to know they are helping someone else. Steve fixed the screen door that wouldn’t stay open.
Steve made the drink shelf and Terry put it to use straight away with his cuppa for Erica.
I noticed a brown blog on Mum’s painting and it was the beginning of a hornet’s nest. I quickly cleaned that up and found some spray ready for when the hornet returned!
We got ready then headed off in the Getz for Maryborough. There was a big rain squall on the BOM site but it was going over Woodgate so we figured we would be ok going the Apple Tree Ck way. Caught the edge of it for a bit then it was all fine. Lovely and sunny at Childers. Arrived at Dave & Amanda’s first for a short chat then followed them to the RSL to celebrate John’s 80th birthday with his wife Else and his sister Barbara’s family. We had a great time chatting with everyone over dinner. John made a very moving speech and we ate yummy cake. He had just secured another medal purchase for the Museum which he was very proud of too.
Said farewell to everyone then headed back to Bundy. Only a light shower on the way back, home by 11pm.
28th - Overcast morning. I baked Anzac cookies and date slice.
Started on my blog - should have been doing it along the way. This is going to take a while!
Little showers of rain throughout the day. Cairns made the news headline as one of the people in Covid Quarantine in the Pacific International Hotel decided to torch her room. It was on the top floor and made quite a sight. They had to take everyone out and relocate them back to Brisbane to quarantine.
29th - Went for our morning walk. Dark clouds to the east. Got back just as the rain started which continued all day.
Rang Rebecca - doing ok.
Played cards then watched a Dan Brown movie, The Lost Symbol, but it was only the special to lead into a 10 part TV series. I had the book - should have kept it to reread again as I didn’t remember it.
Still drizzling with rain.
30th - Little shower of rain early but the sky is blue now with puffy white clouds. Went for our walk - quite humid but there is a strong breeze. We spotted a baby lorikeet on the side of the base of tree and a miner bird trying to attack it. Steve tried to pick it up and put it back up in the tree but it bite him - drew blood and when he put on the branch it fluttered back to the ground so we left him be.
Steve and Terry drove down to Maryborough to check out Dave’s workplace and to pick up some steel to use on more handrails for the ramp at the back of the house.
Erica and I went to Bingo - didn’t have much luck but managed to win $10. Played the pokies with Erica’s friend, Shirley and after a rough start we finished on a high winning $125 - shame it wasn’t the grand jackpot. With that we came home.
Annalise rang to say she has taken a permanent position at the hospital with Medical Imaging. She did a rotation there in her training and enjoyed it, also it has better hours. So glad she has that sorted to continue on with in the new year once her post-grad time has finished.
Lots of flooding inland from recent rain. November rainfall for Bundy is usually only about 25mm but this month they have had 600mm. Wow - you would think we were in Cairns. Unfortunately Cairns hasn’t been getting any rain and it is very hot and humid there.
No comments:
Post a Comment