Wed, 24th Dec, 2014 “Pub with No Beer” Rest Area, Bothwell to "Blue Place" campground, Kempton

Woken in the middle of the night by a loud bang on the roof of the van. Not sure what it was – maybe a possum jumping off the car onto the van. No damage so all good. The sun is out so will head back into Bothwell to explore.

Read a brochure about Dr Grote Reber who created the world’s first radio telescope here in Bothwell in 1950s. Dad will love this information. It was a very low frequency radio telescope and covered an area of one square kilometre. It was supported 20 metres above the ground and operated at a frequency of 2MHz, a wavelength of 144 metres.

Parked next to the park again and topped up our water from the tap while we had a cuppa and I did some more uploads. Dumped our rubbish in these great bins. To the north is the Nant Whisky Distillery where I think all these came from.

Wandered around the town with our “Browse Bothwell” brochure checking out all the old homes and businesses. Bothwell was declared a town in 1824, most of the early settlers were Scottish and there is a Bothwell near Glasgow. It is set in the Clyde River valley. There are 53 heritage classified buildings here with information plaques.

As we were crossing the road, a ute came past with a heap of dead wallabies hanging from a rack in the back.

The Castle Hotel has been licensed continuously since 1829.        

Amazing the decorative work they did back then on the buildings. Savage’s Store is now the Post Office.

All the street signs are done in Tartan fitting in with its Scottish heritage.

Some different plants we haven’t seen before and more roses with lovely fragrances.

In the Queen’s Park is the Memorial Sundial with a unique four-faced vertical sundial built as a World War 1 memorial. Of course we are on day light saving so it was an hour out but it was correct.

Twin Cottages – the bricks are starting to fall apart.

Lovely back yard.

Bothwell Store, continuously traded for 150years with the original flagstone path.

Bank, pharmacy then Post Office. It is now a private residence and For Sale.

 Lovely decorative work here too.

Original hitching rail – Steve said the hook might be but not the timber bit!!

Chequerboard brick work, locally made.

Crown Lodge now The Grange.

 These stones was grooved to give a different appearance to the stone look.

Town Hall built in 1902.

This must be an oldworld town – it is still in gallons.

Rock Cottage has a lovely garden. It was built by Thomas Lewis, a renowned stonemason about 1864.

St Luke’s Uniting Church and the faces carved by a convict.

In the church grounds is the cemetery. Lots of very old ones suffering neglect. So sad to see them falling down.

Found the Wilson family from the Steppes Homestead.

Back past the toilets next to the Info Centre and found the plaque about the bricks from the church – it was the church at Shannon where the other power station was.

Headed off through some lovely countryside and down into another valley and over the Jordan River into the Southern Midlands (230m).

Turned onto the Midland Highway and the speed limit is 110km/hr. We are doing 85 as we pass a sign “watch your speed”!!

Turned off into Kempton where there is a camp spot beside the “Blue Place”. After the “Pub with No Name” spot we aren’t sure what we will find. Kempton is small historical town with lots of info plaques so parked and went for a walk. It was originally called “Green Ponds”.

Lovely bridge built in 1840 by ‘Canadian Rebels’ held at the Convict Probation Station here.

Wilmot Arms Inn was a Coaching Inn where they would change the horses for the Cobb & Co coaches.

McKay’s Bakery operated by three generations of the family from 1857 to late 1980s.

The War Memorial in front of the police station and court house which was the Green Ponds Convict Probation Station which was moved here in 1837 but closed in 1841. Then it became the headquarters for the Green Ponds Police.

Plaque about Settling the Area. The first settler granted land here in 1816 was Anthony Kemp. A lot of convicts were assigned to the settlers.

Found the “Blue Place” which used to be a Presbyterian Church and is now a community hall. Chatted with a chap from Tassie staying here. It has free power for 24 hours and it is a 48 hour stop but he has been here for a few days and no one has worried about it. Decided we will stay. 

Next to the church was the Info Hut showing where all the plaques etc are. Wandered back to the van past some more old buildings.

Glebe House is rather grand and looks like it is getting a makeover.

The street signs are old worldly.

St Peter’s Church is rather grand and is now a house. Now that would be different.

It is for sale for $650,000+ , check out the inside. Should ring up and see how much it is going for

Kent Cottage – cute kettle and cup hanging on the outside.

Across the road the sheep cool off under the tree. The sun has come out and is quite hot when we are standing in it.

St Mary’s Anglican Church is situated on a huge piece of land.

Grand entrance to it.

Set up the van and started doing the washing as the sun was lovely and hot. Changed into shorts and shirt. 

Our neighbours, Bob and Judy are from Musselroe Bay in the very north east of Tassie. Lots of info of great places to go and free camps so I was busy making notes. She also prospects so gave Steve places to go. There was gold all the way across the top of Tassie from Beaconsfield to the east coast. She had a mining lease near Gladstone, Tas.

Texted and rang friends to wish them Merry Christmas. It certainly is strange not to be catching up with everyone for a drink. Mum rang and said there was a Cairns electrician on a yacht in the Sydney to Hobart – Guilty Pleasures VI, so will look out for it.

We headed down to the Tavern to have steak & chips but time had gotten away from us on the phone and it was already 7.45pm. Got a drink and went into the restaurant but unfortunately they had closed the restaurant already. Oh well, lucky I had left over stew ready to eat. Back into the public bar to finish our drink – interesting watching the goings on! Back to the van. Rick sent photos of Andrea’s beautifully decorated dining room where they were having Christmas Eve dinner. Rang them and had a wonderful chat with each one, Alan & Andrea, Dave & Wendy and Kaylene & Rick. The food sounds fantastic as usual but our stew was very tasty too.

Enjoyed a long long hot shower as we are connected to water and plugged into power.