Fri, 28th Nov, 2014 Preservation Bay (Burnie Makers' Workshop)

Slow start – well for Steve anyway. I got up and starting working on my blog. It is so lovely sitting here looking over the beautiful blue sea.

Headed back to Burnie. Passed the old pulp and paper mill – need to read the info plaque on the walk near the water’s edge.

Into the Information Centre for more info and the Makers’ Workshop. Burnie was a huge industry area shipping timber, minerals and produce till 1990s when several companies closed under the pressure of global markets and environmental issues. The people of Burnie worked together to repair their town and its image. They cleaned up the environment and set about making Burnie a better place. These days they make giant machines to mine ore and specialised machinery for aquaculture and agriculture. They produce wonderful cheese, whisky and milk. The Maker’s Workshop is in an ugly looking building though and needs a bigger sign. But inside there was heaps of information and jewellers etc working on pieces and happy to chat. Great paper sculpture - Steve checking out how they did the flame – some paper, a fan and lights – very effective.

This one is of Jessie Rooke 1845-1906. Amazing. There are others are the room.

Steve thought the Elphinstone Loader was impressive.

Got lots of info and a pat of the penguins. They are so soft. The one I am patting is the female – she has a shorter top beak. We will come back and watch them waddle up the beach near here.

Then Percy Platypus needed a scratch – so soft too. There are heaps to see at a creek nearby.

This clock was very interesting. Made by Fritz Ziegeler in Melbourne.

Information about paper fibres was interesting.

This coat was made from Simplicity pattern paper. Took 15 months.

More paper statues and a huge roll of A4 paper (now known as Reflex). The wall was piles of paper too.

Fascinating information about the Harris family and their newspaper, The Advocate.

 Their printing press.

Another interesting article how a man made his violin in the bush.

Bill Young’s plough won many prizes in ploughing competitions.

Amazing how many potatoes they had once shipped, 26,000 bags in one week (each bag weighing about 60kilos) and all the potatoes were dug and packed by hand.

Grandad could make this chair – fold up version.

The clock just clanged its bell 12 times.

There was a shipping container inside as well with a video and information about the container port at Burnie. Cruise ships dock here too.

Overlooking the penguin boardwalk and Burnie beach with the container dock in the background.

Fascinating light – looked like each one was folded paper.

In the café there is a cheese tasting section. I liked the Brie and Steve the smoked cheddar so we got one of each – both Tasmanian cheese of course.

Chatted with a lady make glass beads as she worked on a button. Wandered around the other artists. Loved the colour of these blue ones – glass work too.

 These ones are ceramic.

Lots of different turned timber as well.

Found the information about the use of the Poppies – amazing they don’t have big fences around the fields!!!

We drove down to a wharf and looked back on the woodchip piles and the container ship.

Looking over at the old mill – they are slowly pulling it all down. A huge Bunnings is just down from it. Suppose this site will be taken over by Masters, there seems to be one opposite every Bunnings!!

It looks like this was a conveyor belt for the woodchip from the mill.

Heading back we drove up to Round Hill Lookout. Lots of TV towers etc and a bush fire tower which we climbed up.  Great view down on the dock and over the town round to the old pulp/paper mill area. Took a panoramic view video.

Another lookout through the bush to look east over the highway heading back to our van.

Zoomed down on the four lane highway right on the coast. Larger version of Cairns to Port Douglas drive and the water is bluer.

Walked down the road a bit to another lookout with an info board.

Zoomed in on the piles of stacked timber at the dock.

On way back to the van stopped to get this lighthouse letterbox photo.

Late lunch, more blog and reading of information to plan our next month or so.

Went for a walk around the Life Saving Club to a plaque commemorate the circumnavigation of Tasmania by Bass & Flinders in 1798. Flinders stopped here for water.

Walked along the beach to the other end and back. The coastline is lined with large black rocks. Walked back past the van towards the next point watching some fisherman out in their boat. The sea was lovely and calm. The sun was hot but the breeze had a cold bite still.

Quiet afternoon and evening watching the sun disappear and make lovely colours in the clouds that have appeared.