Tues, 13th Jan, 2015 Wrest Point Casino car park (sightseeing)

   

Picked up Mum and Dad after breakfast. Another perfect day in Hobart. We have been so lucky with the weather. Even complaining about being warm and getting sunburnt.  Had to give my mother sunscreen as she forgot to bring some and her forehead got burnt. Drove into the Mall as Dad wanted another card for his camera and Mum needed another nightie. I had seen Target at the Mall so Steve found a ½ hour park at the top of the Mall. Dad got his card from a camera place and Mum found a nightie and a lovely blouse. The hair colours were on special so I got a couple of those too.

Headed back to Kingston to the Antarctic Division to check out the displays. Went into the Frank Hurley building (took his info photo the other day). There are heaps of displays here but we headed down the ramp past the Sir Douglas Mawson building to the coffee shop.

Lovely cuppa and toasted banana bread. Lots to read here too and fantastic photos. Wasn’t sure about taking photos here.

Upstairs I checked with the lady and she said it was ok to use my camera, so off I went. Two dummies showing the clothes of the clothes from two different eras of exploring.

Polaris Snotraveler.

Great models and posters of Antarctica. Hobart to Mawson, 5463km, 13 days by ship.

There are three stations maintained on the Antarctic continent – Mawson, Davis & Casey and a sub-Antarctic station at Macquarie Island. All have modern buildings with living quarters, research laboratories, power houses, stores, workshops and other operational facilities. Remote field bases operate during the summer research season, supporting coastal, island and traverse operations. Australia has over 100 years direct involvement in the region and claims 42% of the continent.

Mawon’s Hut is Commonwealth Bay nearest to Casey.

Displays showing Casey and Mawson Stations’ layout.

On a TV they had interviews with Team Leaders etc that are going to the different stations.  One lady will be the team leader for Macquarie Island – certainly a challenge.

Some wonderful photos.

The Emperor Penguin and Adelie Penguin, collected by Dr Frank Stillwell, geologist with the 1911-1914 Australian Antarctic Expedition led by Douglas Mawson.

The Winter Huddle. Emperor Penguins have a good claim to be our planet’s hardiest animals. They are the only vertebrate animals to spend winter ashore in Antarctica. After the female lays her egg, her mate stays behind in the colony, in the darkness and freezing cold of winter, and protects the egg until her return from feeding at sea.  She then takes over and cares for the new chick to allow the male to get some well-earned nourishment. During especially cold weather the birds huddle together to stay warm, rotating so that each takes their turn at being exposed to the winter chills.

This sledge was used 1911-1914 Expedition.

The TV showed up to date weather details for the stations – it rotated around so I got Davis and Macquarie Island station’s info.

Dad had a quick trip to Antarctica to pat the huskies. They had coats etc to put on and pose for a photo. Will put this on Facebook later.

Info about the Mawson Huskies.

These stools were made from disused and broken equipment. They have to be adaptive down there as they can’t run to the shop easily!!!

A very old theodolite. Dad has one a home about the same age – early 1900s.

Some fabulous photos on the wall as we headed out.

So glad we came back there, it was so interesting. Up the road at the intersection is “The Fork in the Road”. So we stopped and took a photo of the “Fork”.

Followed the road down the D’Entrecasteaux Channel as Mum & Dad won’t be doing this area on their coach tour. Near Woodbridge we were greeted by this cheeky scarecrow. I remember seeing a poster for a Scarecrow Festival sometime.

Stopped at Gordon to show them where we were camped.

Around the coast through Cygnet for a pie for lunch after showing Dad the Jam Factory site at Barton’s Reserve. Feel like tourist guides!! Didn’t see any swans or cygnets again in Cygnet. Past the timber carved soldier at Cradoc and then turned off at the Huon River and headed back to Kingston.  Saw The Apple Shed and turned in for a quick look as we have to return the hire car this afternoon. It was very interesting so lucky we had some time as there was a lot of info to read and machinery to check out. They have made all this back area (a cider garden) out of old apple crates etc. The apple shed was built in 1942.

I wonder how often they change these apples as they are real.

Steve checking out the apple sorter with its leather belts with different holes sizes for the apples to drop through.  Joseph Lomas (1849-1930) was an inventor, carpenter and boat-builder. The Excelsier Fruit Grader on display here was one of his inventions – it gave faithful service to the Huon Valley packing sheds until the 1930s. Joseph also invented the Lightning Picking Bucket.

Mum giving the apple peeler and corer a go. It was the quick way to peel and core an apple. Mechanical peelers like this were used in factories that produced processed fruit products like dried apples, jams, sauces and preserves. This one, which dates from about 1900, still works.

Not sure if this is the job for us, up and down those ladders!!

There are two old trucks in here.

In 1986 there were about 1000 apple growers in Tasmanian – now there are only about 30.

Pioneering convict Charles Oates whose daughter, Elsie, married William Smith.

They continued on the family apple business and then the Smith family story unfolds.

Of course they needed boxes to put the apples in so that became another business for the area. This is a box making machine.

Cyder Press.

Some more history of the area.

Relaxing in the comfortable Chesterfield sofas. Dad bought an Apple Juice – should have got the Williams & Sons Apple Cider instead.

Back outside – not sure what this was used for but it was by itself in the paddock next door.

I walked around the shed to take photos of the apple trees growing in the boxes.  The orchard is further up the road.

This is one of the old sheds.

Further up the road stopped at the Huon Trail sign near Grove.

We looked out on “Sleeping Beauty”, what the formation of the mountain looks like.

Haven’t been on this road so it was good to see how steep it was. Will be a slow climb up for the van.

Back to the room for a drink. It has started to rain. We are so lucky to have had such beautiful weather. Got out the umbrella and headed over to the main building for the Buffet for dinner. Two rabbits were on the lawn out front. It was lovely with lots of choses but shall I tell about the desserts!!! Oh they were so so lovely. Well, that is till I got back to the van and my tummy made me realise I had eaten far too much!!! I don’t regret it though.

We had a fancy card wrapped in plastic on the windscreen – they have decided we have been there too long – no worries, we are going tomorrow. Decided as it is pouring with rain they weren’t going to come out and tell us to move!!