Rain
through the night with a lot of wind. Nice and cool this morning, 18 degrees.
Sun peeking out between the passing rain showers. Glen’s shade shelter fell
apart with the wind last night so they headed off to Warrnambool to buy a new
one. I uploaded my latest blogs and checked out all the Christmas messages on
Facebook. Packed up and drove around to the Motel. We are parking on a side
street. Saw the Motel owner, Robyn, to check the van will be ok there – all
good.
Put
on our jumpers and went for a walk down Terang’s main street. Checked out some
old motorbikes in a shop window. There was a couple of sidecar ones at the back
worth checking out later.
Looking
across to the Post Office and down the main street which is the Princes
Highway. The Post Office was built in 1903 with the clock being installed in
1904 by public donations of 300 pounds – a first in the Commonwealth of
Australia. In the middle is an avenue of trees and war memorial.
Just
as we were going to cross the road the heavens opened so we sheltered outside
the bakery with a couple of other people. One lady used to live in Trinity
Beach – everyone knows Cairns.
The
squall passed so we headed down the street – lovely vine.
Interesting
brick and brack shop. Lots of interesting items – Steve has a couple of oil
bottles like these stashed away – might be worth something in the years to
come.
Even
a rim off David Reynolds 2014 V8 for $320.
Walked
to the edge of Lake Terang which is now a dry lake.
Across the road to an Information Hut. Terang is at the centre of a rick dairy district. Lake Terang is an ancient volcanic MAAR. Thousands of years ago, the lake was a shallow depression filled with water and saturated limestone rocks. When hot magma rose through the rocks and water, steam was produced which blasted the rocks into fragments. They were thrown high into the air and landed around the lake for form a ring of tuff overlaid with ash and volcanic rocks. The rich banks around the lake are called lunette banks. At various times during the 19
th century, the lake dried up and was drained in the 1960s.
A
couple of old photos on the wall – top one of the Lake and the bottom one of
High Street in 1903.
Information
about the dry stone walls we saw near Noorat.
Looking
down the avenue of English oaks, planted in the 1890s. There are other avenues
of trees along other streets – Cottonwood Poplars and Plane trees planted in
1900s.
Lots
of caravans heading towards Warrnambool. Walked back down the other side of the
street – poor old building needs some doing up. Looks like it was beautiful in
its day.
Passed
the Thomson Memorial Presbyterian Church – named after John Thomson who
squatted on Lake Keilambete (6km NW of Terang) in 1840. He is said to have
built the first brick house in the district, was appointed a magistrate in 1840
and was also a founder of the first church in Terang, erected by the Bible
Christian denomination in 1863. This church was erected in 1893-94 on the site
of the previous church. Unfortunately Thomson was killed in a driving accident
before work started but his wife ensured its completion and dedication.
Back
to the van for lunch – Christmas lunch leftovers. 22 degrees in the van – such
a change from yesterday. Mum rang on her new phone the Greg & Tracy gave
her for Christmas. She will be able to read my blog too.
Drove
back to Noorat to do the volcano walk. Mount Noorat is Australia’s largest dry
volcanic crater, at 310 metres above sea level. The crater is 159 m deep and is
a breached scoria cone formed during eruptions between 10 and 15,000 years ago.
Up
to the car park where a group of people were gathered. We waited till another
squall of rain passed and the others drove off so we could fit in the car park.
500m
walk to the crater edge and 1000m to the lookout. Bit of a narrow gap to get
onto the track.
Up
to the rim – great view.
Nice
view.
Now
for the next 500m up to the lookout. Over the fence – the wind is nearly
blowing us off the mountain.
Heading
to the survey mark.
Made
it – the survey mark has seen better days. Might be something to do with the
100km/h wind up here. Steve reckons it comes over the rim into the crater then
it hurtles up and over to us.
Apex
had put a direction cairn here in 1986.
Steve
was checking out a memorial to Noel Black.
I
had to lean against the cairn so I wouldn’t fall over. Steve flying against the
wind.
Looking at the crater.
Panned
around and then took a video though it will just sound like wind!!
Mt
Shadwell 18km away and we could just make out Mt Abrupt in the distance 83km
away. We could also just make out the shape of Mt William 102km away.
Steve
said another rain squall was coming so we headed off. A quick look down into
the crater.
Looking
down on Noorat then Terang in the distance.
The
volcanic rock around the area.
Looking
back down the mountain to our truck.
A
few more people are climbing up – told them to hang onto their hats and kids!!
Back
out of the wind and the flies are back.
Made
it down just before the next rain shower came over. Down into Noorat then back
along the road to Mortlake to find the info board about the dry stone walls we
saw when heading here the other day.
The
protruding throughstone.
Followed
the map around to the next sign at Kolora. Each of the walls are a little bit
different depending on the dry stone waller. These walls were built in the
1860s, 70s by Irish and Cornish wallers.
Continued
on then stopped at a gate to get a shot of the width of the wall.
Next
one was a Consumption Dyke – named as the rock wall was built higher to
‘consume’ the rocks in the paddock.
Lots
of spare rocks on the ground.
Looking
back to Mt Noorat and the lookout on the left side.
Back
to Noorat and checked out the old Butter and Cheese Factory.
Our
camp for the next week – bit of the change but will be fun.
Moved
out bits and pieces in then settled in to watch the Royal Variety Show in
England – fantastic.
Louis
arrived at 6pm. Went back over to the others and had spaghetti – yum. Played a
new game of cards then headed back to the unit for bed.
