Sat, 26th Dec, 2015 Roadside, Terang to Dalvue Motel, Terang (exploring Noorat)

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.