Fri, 11th Dec, 2015 Murray River bush camp near Swan Hill, Vic (Pioneer Settlement)

Cool morning, 18 degrees at 8am. The wind is still here, could have almost needed a cardigan this morning. Hopped in the truck and headed off down the track when I realised the UHF aerial was missing. Turned back and it was lying beside where the truck was parked. Steve had run the truck this morning pumping some water into the van and it must have been the last straw and vibrated off. Screwed it back on and off we went back into Swan Hill to the Pioneer Settlement which started in 1963. Steve had been here years ago when he was racing Formula 500s and the gang all came out for a look.

First we headed for the men’s section – all the machinery. Ploughs and harvesters.

Into the fire station.

The horse and cart trotted down the street.

Huge generator.

Continued down the street – certainly is a lot to see.

All about tyres outside the blacksmith’s shop.

Chatted with the blacksmith who has been learning the trade for the last 4 years.

A steel vault used to transport coffins.

A couple of men were trying to get the old Imperial tractor working again. First they towed it with a vintage car till they got it to go then drove it down the street and then parked it in the shed – I was amazed how well it turned. Got a couple good videos too.

There are lots of tractors etc and they try to get them all going.

Wandered into the Swan Implement Factory, established 1897, where all the machinery is run by a steam engine and belts. Would have been very smelly and noisy.

All about wheat growing.

Some old cars and a very big boat.

Funny looking tractor but it is a Benz.

Furphy water wagon.

Black Bess.

A shearing shed.

Around to the Lower Murray Inn which was the first building in Swan Hill.

A wine press outside.

Found this one the ground – I wonder what came out of it.

On the fence near the Little Murray River was all the history of the Settlement.

The Murray in drought and flood.

Down on the bank was an old caravan, complete with fireplace inside.

Big Red Gum log from Cohuna Forest.

Walked around the edge of the bend, hence the area is called ‘Horseshoe Bend’ to where they have the Laser and Light Show. It used to be a walk at night around the settlement but now it is high-tech.

Further along is the Pyap Paddle Steamer.

Back into the village to Riversdale Cottage. Note the fence of Mallee roots – also used for firewood.

 The walls are lined with hessian with the main room being painted white.

Good use of old bottles along the footpath.

Pommegranates.

Keats Cottage where Miss Keats grew up that we read about near Murrabit. Notice they refer to the Little Murray River as Marraboor River – wish they would make up their minds!!

A lady was spinning some black Alpaca wool. Felt the different wools she had there and the Alpaca was even softer than the Merino.

A weaving loom.

Pressed metal ceiling which is in fashion again now.

Some more info about the floods.

Homemade Windmill.

Schooling.

How they made the many water dams in the district.

Half cellar – what a great idea. Lots of dairy implements.

The mud brick kitchen from the same station. Amazing to think they dismantled it and reassembled it here after it was originally built in the 1880s.

Out the back was the water well and hand pump.

An 1854 washing machine and a mangle and another style of washing implement.

Into Towaninnie Homestead. Amazing displays.

The drop log style dwelling.

In the bedroom the bed steps are used to arrange the fringe etc at the top of the four poster and is also a commode. On the bed is a bed warmer which is filled with hot coals and then placed between the sheets to warm up the bed.

Steve resting up - this is the ladies' section.

Timber chimney on the homestead but I looked inside and it is brick-lined.

A Murray Pine.

They have brought in a tree from Speewa Island (downstream of Swan Hill) where the bark was removed to make a canoe by the aborigines.

Steve pointed out it wasn’t this canoe as this one was a log which has been carved out to make a canoe.

A hut.

A sculpture in memory of Robert Britten depicting an aboriginal hunter with his weapons at the ready.

Log Arch used to transport big logs.

Another log buggy – this one had a tyre repair!!

In front of it is the yolk for the bullocks.

A lovely church – people still get married in it. It was built here using bricks and slate roof from the demolished Swan Hill Court House.

Beautiful stained-glass windows.

A cemetery is beside it.

Transportable gaol.

Next is all the different types of wagons.

Bit nasty having spikes out the back to stop the kids hitching a ride.

Going out in style.

Cobb & Co Coach.

Walked down through lovely rose gardens and rotunda where they have weddings also. In a pond is the Paddle Steamer, Gem.

Went on board for a look around. The deck is curved.

The engine and boiler were sold for scrap.

The paddle wheels.

Dining room.

Great view from the back deck.

The passenger cabin doesn’t look too comfortable.

Wow it had bathrooms – don’t sound like you end up too clean though.

All the portholes are covered with red and white striped curtains. Originally they used to have the Art Gallery in here (now across the road).

Up to the top deck to the Wheelhouse with its very big wheel.

The handwritten map of the Murray River stretches across the back wall.

Top view.

The Music Saloon.

The beer barrels on the deck.

Plaque commemorating the Royals visit in 1970.

D3 Locomotive. Steve was amazed that it could travel at 120 k/h.

The bridge to Pental Island was closed as it needs repairs.

The Post Office used to be officail and sold stamps. .

 Lots of phones on display

 Lots of old stamps on display.

The dress up room where you can get a photo in period costume.

The old Court House.

Prefab Homes aren’t new.

Peter Kirk lived in this house from 1880 till his death in 1933.

The walls and floor were covered in layers of newspapers.

Chatted with two volunteers before heading off on a tour around the settlement. One chap asked if we saw the ghost in the Iron House as his wife felt a presence there and when they had the night time walks a lady said she saw a lady in a white gown. I mentioned that I thought there would be people in period costume. He said they used to have theatre groups perform things, like bank robberies etc but good old public liability and WPH&S have made it too hard to do. They used to have lots of volunteers but that is dwindling now too. What a shame as it would be so much better with some actors. I remember when we went to Old Sydney Town years ago, the actors made it more exciting.

The Dodge is very comfortable.

Very interesting how this chap provided all the concrete water troughs.

Into the Printers – you can get Wanted posters printed.

Next door was the Music Shop in Rees Building (1891).

The chap turned the handle of the little red organ grinder, which I videoed to get the tune. Then he got the Pianola going – another video.

Then he put on the old gramophone –  Looking forward to seeing the Brotherton gramophone that Chris now has and is going to restore. So many wonderful instruments here. Even the old beer bottle-top stick.

Into the Haberdashery.

Found Steve in the Hardware store. Now how about these for fancy dunny and sink.

Now for a ride in the horse-drawn wagon around the village.

Into the old church which became the Masonic Lodge.

Next door is the Saddlery and Boot & Shoemaker.

Heavy duty Singer sewing machines to sew the leather.

Mechanics Institute.

The Kaiser Stereoscopic Theatre was very interesting. The 3D effect was amazing – didn’t come out well when I took a photo though.

They were photos from around the world.

Into the bank where Steve tried to get some cash using his finger as a gun!!

Next door was a bakery set in the basement of the Lemonade factory.

 Lots of bottles in the window but we couldn't find the Bendigo Cordial one that Steve found.

Steve popped into the Barbers for a trim up but he was out to lunch. I didn’t realise the reason behind the red and white poles.

Into the Chemist Shop which has so much to look at. A fantastic collection.

Around the back was the dentist’s surgery. No wonder everyone hates going to the dentist.

In the Real Estate Office I found a poster for auction of the subdivision on Murray Downs Station in 1926.

Looking at the map we are just camping just upstream of the old homestead.

Luckily the General Shop was closed as they have a huge collection of lollies.

We have covered everything so headed out to the truck. Drove downstream of the Little Murray/Marraboor River (containing the waters of the Loddon River).

Where it enters the Murray River again.

Then the Murray is split by Goat Island. One side came about because a new channel was cut to enable a better approach to the bridge for the paddle steamers.

The Hospital was near here.

We walked downstream to the other end of Goat Island.

We are now 1409 kilometres from the mouth.

A couple of ducks – one is much larger. I now call seagulls – Silver Gulls, as they are miles from the sea.

Back to the truck – Grain Corp silos and shed beside the railway line. The wind has picked up and is quite cool.

Drove 9.5km downstream out of Swan Hill to find the Speewa Punt. As we don’t have the van on we went for a ride.

Back over the river again we pulled into the park near the punt for a cuppa. It is amazing how the trees hang in there. Shows the root system well.

Back into Swan Hill to check out the Morten Bay Fig tree that is assumed was planted by Burke and Wills. Has had its limbs pruned.

Passed the brick water tower as we crossed over the bridge.

Not much room as they were doing repairs to the bridge.

Stopped at the park to fill up the water tank on the truck. I walked down the river walk checking out the info boards. On 20^th June, 1836 Major Mitchell camped overnight on a sand hill near the Murray surrounded by water and reed beds, and alive with water birds. He had a restless night, woken constantly by the noise of black swans overhead. The next morning he wrote in his diary: “I therefore name this isolated and remarkable feature Swan Hill”. Haven’t seen one swan here though.

Unfortunately the water was off – the ladies we saw at the van park said they had a ruptured pipe so maybe they had to turn off all the park’s water. Drove back through town to the other park near this train hotel. Interesting concept.

Filled up with water and headed back to the van. Very windy drive back so hope the van is ok. A lot of cars at the boat ramp. Steve’s shrimp were still alive so he had another go. Got another silver perch then hooked a big carp. Unfortunately the line was wrapped around the roots and eventually got off while we were trying to untangle the line.

Colder night so kept the windows closed as the wind is still strong.