30
degrees this morning in the van but the breeze is cool. Erica rang to check we
had heard there is a total fire ban now as they are forecasting extreme
temperatures for the next few days.
Into
town – need a new handle for the TV antenna as it got brittle and broke.
Stopped at the Info Centre to pick up a Chaffey Trails map and to check when
the paddle boat goes through the Lock. Only at 11am today and none tomorrow so
glad we came into town today. Headed down to the Lock and Lock Island.
Made
a cuppa then went into the park. A group of mums and their children were having
a playgroup Christmas party – that brought back memories.
A
hand-operated Capstan used for opening and closing the gates from 1926 to 1970.
Read
all the info while we waited for the paddle boat to arrive. Interesting reading
about the floods.
The
history of the Lock and Weir.
The
Lock with the other gate open ready for the paddle boat.
At
the end were the flood levels – amazing. The top one was in 1870.
Crossed
over the Lock onto Lock Island, created when they made the Lock channel.
Two
cute parrots posed for a photo.
Lock
11 in rocks.
I
asked the Lock chap about the flag. He said it was the Murray River flag which
has flown on paddle steamers etc since the 1850s. The Murray River is the only
river in the world to have its own flag. It has the Union Jack with the St
George Cross and 5 stars representing the 5 colonies then under that are the
three strips of the three major rivers, Murray, Murrumbidgee and the Darling.
The
paddle boat arrived – I thought it was to be the Melbourne but it was the
Rothbury (built in 1881), which we saw yesterday doing an evening cruise near our
camp.
I
videoed her coming into the Lock.
This
chap is canoeing the Murray so he paddled in too.
The
gates start to close.
We
were able to listen to the Captain’s commentary too. Walked up the other end as
the water starts rushing out.
The
boat drops lower into the Lock Chamber.
With
the water at the river level the exit gates open.
The
canoeist was first out, followed by the paddle boat. The wind was pushing on
the side of it so the Captain had to do some quick manoeuvring.
Seems
to be a leak in the other gate!!
Steve
had spotted a cooler on the water’s edge before and after the boat had gone
through he could hook it with a stick – fancy that it is from Cairns!!
Across
to the Information hut.
Climbed
up the stairs to read the info about floods. Unfortunately it is an old info
board so a bit scratched up. Where we were standing on the platform is about
the height of the 1956 flood.
Followed
the track to the Weir past the maintenance shed and spare trestles and height
raising boards.
The
Weir looks great and the pelicans etc are waiting for a feed.
Zoomed
in on the back of the boards – this one has higher boards to stop the water
coming over this section.
Looking
downstream as the river travels around the island to meet up with the water from the Lock.
Birds
waiting for fish to come up or down the fish ladder.
Back
across the island. The PS Rothbury won’t be back till 12.30. A flock of
corellas head across the channel.
Crossed
over the Lock at the other end now – looking downstream.
One
of the Lock valves – This one was replaced after 25 years of service. Eight of these
valves control the flow of water into the lock chamber to raise or lower the
water level for the passage of vessels.
Headed
off to find a few more of the Chaffey Trail sites.
Info
out of the Murray River book about the Chaffey brothers.
Down
the road a bit to the old Mildura Homestead. Unfortunately due to vandalism it
is now locked up.
Peered
in the windows at the displays.
A
wringer and fridge were outside.
The
other end had more information on boards and workshop where a couple of chaps
volunteer occasionally.
A
huge Mallee stump and the Mallee roller.
The
first irrigation pump in the Mildura settlement was erected on this site in
early 1889. Built by J & H Maclaren of Leeds, England. The weir and channel
here identifies this, the commencement of irrigation in the Mildura settlement.
The
windmill.
Further
along the river were more buildings.
Lots
of old photos of paddle steamers in this one. The Rothbury we saw today.
The
Gem that is at Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement.
Captain
Gecko.
Next
was a barn, workshop, yards and one of the 500 water troughs donated by the
couple wanting to look after animals.
Into
the Woolshed made of vertical Red Gum slabs and horizontal Pine slabs. Looks
like they have dances in here as the floor was smooth.
The
piano needs a tune.
The
sheep area in the other corner.
Outside
is an old wagon and a boring machine – the plaque said see in cottage for more
info – shame it is closed!!
The
good old loo.
Down
the road to Apex Beach – burnt feet to get in the water here. No shade for the
caravans either – so glad we have our lovely shady spot with our own swimming
area.
Headed
back towards town to find WB Chaffey’s home, Rio Vista.
Through
town – T&G Mutual building established 1876 looks impressive.
There
is a very American style to the names of the streets – Ontario, Walnut, San
Mateo and 10th, 11th, 12th Avenues etc. Deakin
Avenue was the main road and it is lined with all the churches. Unusual designs
too – this is the Methodist Church, then another more traditional one.
Onto
the Calder Highway we headed south to Red Cliffs to check out Big Lizzie.
Very
unusual wheels.
Great
information and photos were on display. Hope they have the originals are some
are getting very faded.
The
dented water tank from when it fell through the bridge near Kilmore.
Grapes
make shady covers in the main street of Red Cliffs.
Around
to the Murray and Red Cliffs Lookout.
Walked
down the other end to look down on the red cliffs.
Pass
the Red Cliffs Pump Station.
Then
the power interconnector. Followed the track under the power lines to head back
to the river and downstream to the Pysche Pumps.
So
dry and desolate yet so close to lots of water.
Along
the track right beside the river.
Came
to the end of the track with the river on one side and a lagoon on the other
side and two roos wondering what to do. I took a video as they decided to jump
across the lagoon rather than go past us.
We
turned around and found the road around the lagoon and then Pysche Bend and the
Pysche Pump Station.
To
the left was the Pysche Lagoon – all dry and salty.
Stopped
at the Pumps for a look around. The channel that feeds into Kings Billabong.
The pumps lifted the water up into the billabong then along the channels and up
into other billabongs till they reached the desired height (28m) to be able to
irrigate the land around Mildura.
The
new boiler building with old boilers etc that they still use occasionally
throughout the year.
I
couldn’t reach the top where the 1956 flood level reached so I would have
drowned!!
On
the edge of the river is the Ash Heap site.
The
old inlet pipes then the new version.
The
wood piles would have been huge.
Back
out onto the bitumen and around to the lookout over the Kings Billabong.
Found
my first Black Swan.
Drove
around to Woodsies Gem Shop. They have a huge – really huge, display of
jewellery, stones and other items like fossils.
The
café is made to look like a cave.
This
rose quartz and agate tree is available for $1700.
Back
to our van. Nearby was info about the Red Gum forests – hard to read, but it
explained all the ring-barked trees – They were ring-barked to allow new trees
to grow and when dead they were easier to cut down when dry. When the trains
started many of the paddle steamers stopped running hence the ring-barked trees
weren’t cut down.
43
degrees in the van. Straight into the river for a cool off – 26 degrees in the
water. We don’t mind the heat too much but the poor fridge is suffering. Popped
in and out of the water for the rest of the afternoon and after dinner.
River
busy with ski boats, jet skis and lots of houseboats tonight. About 9pm we
could see lightning in the distance. The wind has picked up with the storm
approaching, swirling the dust around us.
No
rain but the wind settled down – still hot but ok.
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