Thurs, 24th September, 2015 Winton Motor Raceway, Winton (Glenrowan & Ned Kelly Trail)

8.7 degrees in the van at 6am – will have to put out the thermometer to get outside tomorrow. Another beautiful clear blue sky – shame it is so cold. Definitely putting on an extra jumper today.

Off to discover more about Ned Kelly at Glenrowan. Parked under the huge Ned Kelly but there were a few people taking photos so we will do that later. Walked down the street past a couple of Museums with lots of souvenirs. Stopped at an Info board near the railway line and found the Ned Kelly walking trail. 

A bit of history of the family first.

The about Glenrowan and the Siege.

We followed the sign and crossed over the railway line to the site of Ann Jones’ Inn where the siege happened in 1880. The police burnt it down to flush out all the gang members. Mt Glenrowan in the background.

Ned and the gang kept the townsfolk entertained while they waited for the Police train to arrive but it took longer than they expected. 

Some of the Kelly Gang!!

The police were hiding across the road!!

A marker shows where a pistol has been discovered in 1997 – probably by someone with a detector!!

Unfortunately we aren’t walking in the time order of events. There are some great old photos as the police train had reporters and photographers on board too. The next one was the site of the gravel contractors that Ned tried to get to pull up the railway line.

Walked by the capture site to further up the hill where Ned climbed on a horse, after being shot in the arm and leg, to tell the others not to come out of the hills. He returned to the siege to finish it for good and was then captured. Obviously the armour worked ok but he forgot about his limbs being exposed.

Ned came back but was wrestled to the ground and captured.

Watched a lovely parrot having a drink and some beautiful lilies.

Next we checked out the police lockup and police station – after Ned Kelly’s era.

Across to the Railway Station. The special police force was coming to town because Joe Byrne, Ned’s lieutenant, had killed an informant, Aaron Skerritt. When Ned was captured he was put in the station house where the doctor saw to his wounds. He was then taken by special train to the gaol in Melbourne.  This is a replica of that building.

As we walked back over the bridge we saw another big Ned and some characters on the roof.

Last one on the Kelly Trail was the McDonnell’s Railway Tavern. Nothing here now but the hotel next door has the Kelly Gang standing on the verandah with Ned out the front.

Stopped in at the Glenrowan Tourist Centre and chatted with the chap there – Bob Hempel. He was the original museum and with the café next door was about the only buildings here till 15 years ago. Now there are cafes, souvenir shops and other museums lining the street. He explained his show was not a picture theatre but an 8.5 million animatronic show. Sounded good so we thought we would give it ago after we had a cuppa.

Headed back to the truck and got a photo of Big Ned – another to tick off in Dad’s book of Australia’s Big Icons. Shame someone had put the Go Tigers thing on it.

There were some fabulous paintings in the main room but we weren’t allowed to photograph them. He said I could use the camera in the show though.

It was certainly different – telling the story from the railway station in Melbourne.

To Ann Jones’s Inn – with lots of movement and noises – even the chap having a pee in the bucket beside us!!

The story was told by one of the ‘live’ faces in each set.

Outside we saw the siege gunfire with lots of shots ringing out then the Inn being set on fire.

We went into the Inn as it was peppered with bullets then set alight – I jumped went there was a big explosion and caught on fire.

Last was the cell and hanging of Ned Kelly in Melbourne. His last words were ‘Such is Life’.

We learnt that Ned was buried in an unmarked grave in the Old Melbourne Gaol. A death mask is made and sent back to London. Also all murderers were beheaded!!

The show was ok but not quite as good as he made it sound. As we walked we passed through a couple of rooms full of things. He said it was his bedroom!!! There was a huge TV and lots of DVDs on the opposite wall so who knows!!

The Pianola was playing away by itself.

Heading back to the truck we found this tree – not sure if they are leaves or flowers.

Drove out of town to find Mt Glenrowan Lookout. Stopped at the van park for directions and got some more brochures. Drove around towards the Warby Range area before turning up and climbing toward the track to the lookout. Unfortunately the road is now gated and it is a 9.7km walk so we gave it a miss. Headed down the other side – got a good enough view from here. The canola starts to be harvested in November.

Looking back up to Mt Glenrowan.

A few emus along the way!!

From here we headed back through town to Greta – where Ned Kelly spent some years as a boy. A cactus orchard or whatever you call lots of cactus!!

Turned onto the Wangaratta to Mansfield road, which follows the King River, at Moyhu. Stopped at Edi at a nice campground to have our lunch.

Found a little bit of sun by the river – shallow but wide. A few campers were here too. There was a notice about keeping clear of a wombat with mange – they wander about in the daytime.

Turned off at Whitfield to find Paradise Falls in the Alpine National Park (530m elevation). Across the King River and through Cheshunt established in 1895. A road goes off from here to Lake William Howell (17km away) which is part of King River. Beautiful blooming wattle lined the dirt road.

Cool but no breeze. Read the info board. 

Another falls I wanted to see is the Dandongadale Falls with a drop of 255m but it is a lot further around below Mt Cobbler. This is a photo of it (obviously from the air) with Lake Cobbler on the top left.

Headed down to the falls. Great escarpment on the other side of the valley.

Spotted the falls which is a drop of 31 metres but doesn’t look like much water coming over.

Balancing rock down in the valley.

As we got closer it sounded like there was a raging river at the back of the rock face. We walked around and under the escarpment – it was spectacular but no other water other than the two falls coming down from high above. It was just the echoes of this cavern shape formation. The wall is layers of river stones layered on top of each other.

Wandered down to the base of the falls – we were in awe. It flows into Stony Creek which then flows into the King River.

You can just make out the water tumbling over the cliff above us.

Across to the other side. Didn’t see any Peregrine Falcons.

Steve went to check out the little falls at the back of the cavern where lush ferns were happily growing.

I followed.

Looking out from the back of the cavern.

Certainly was more spectacular than we first thought.

Probably a weed but so pretty.

As we walked back up the steps we got a great view down the King River Valley. Lots of wineries and dairies around here.

Under the overhanging rock – no ‘art’ here.

The wattles are so bright.

Back down the road to try and find the Little Falls it mentioned on the info board. Found the carpark but no obvious track – another attraction not maintained.

Back to Whitfield (300m elevation) and up the windy road through the forest – great view at 700m through Steve’s window.

Turned off to head out to Power’s Lookout (800m). Harry Power stayed at the Kelly’s place when Ned was younger and probably taught Ned a few things about being a bushranger.

Nice big area with info boards, toilets and picnic shed. He had an interesting yet hard life as he spent 30 of his 72 years in jail and then worked for 5 years on the prison ship as a tour guide – it must have been a terrible era of time to live in. Fabulous view from the lookout.

They didn’t have the pictures of the mountains out on the lookout but I think I got the correct ones.

Headed off to check out the other lookout further out on the point. Fabulous view. Paradise Falls is further around and up the valley from here.

We climbed down the stairs to cross over the boulders then up this other side then out onto a big platform.

Zoomed in on what I think is The Horn near Mt Buffalo. I think I see snow.

Took a video of the view then went around shot by shot.

The 'looking down' shot doesn’t do justice to the drop below us.

Time for some pose shots.

The other lookout is further around the escarpment.

Poor old twisted tree is still hanging in there.

Some caves in the rocks.

This one had been blocked – not sure if it was to hold water or to stop the water coming down onto the track.

Looking back at the stairs up and around to the Lookout.

Pretty white flowers.

Back out onto the bitumen road and we wound our way through all the forest area. Looking back to the power lines we passed under on the way to the Lookout (830m elevation).

Passed a big pine plantation up high on the mountain at 930m elevation. Down to Tolmie at 850m where the Grim Reaper was waiting with one of his Death Hounds.

Turned off onto a dirt road to wind down through the State Forest to Stringybark Creek where the Kelly Gang killed 3 policemen.

Stopped at the first camp area where the State School was from 1922. Nice open camping area.

As we drove back out we spotted wally wombat making his way across the road – should call him Ranger Wombat as we are in the Wombat Ranges!! Only a small one though. We have seen a few kangaroos and lots of rabbits too.

Into the Stringybark Creek Campground where there is plenty of room – only one van here. It is 5pm and starting to get very cool as we headed off to find the Kelly Tree and the sight of the murders.

Steve found an old gold mining shaft too.

Great photo of gold sluicing.

Lovely tall straight gums.

More info board – each one has another bit of information not mentioned on other boards.

The Kelly Tree but it isn’t the original one and not even in the correct place!!

Around to the site of the murder of the 3 policeman. My pet hate is that that give you a drawing but it isn’t laid out so you see if from where you are standing!!

The setting sun is making the gums look lovely.

Wombat holes even featured in the Kelly story.

Nice big open area in the campground with lots of wattles in bloom.

Headed back down the very narrow, windy dirt road – signs about logging trucks – so hopefully we won’t see any.

Back down to 200m elevation and along the long straight roads back to Benalla. Nice colours as the sun starts to set though Steve is complaining as it is straight in his eyes.

As we left Benalla we saw some camels in a paddock but didn’t have the camera ready.

Still only us in the campground. Rang Mum as she had left a message that Veronica had gone into labour. Hope it all goes well for her. Got tea ready and settled in for some TV.