Sat, 30th Jan, 2016 Hettner Landing, Walker Flat to Bolto Reserve, Mannum (exploring Mannum)

7am 18 degrees, raining and heavy sky. Set off to Mannum down the west side of the Murray. Across the ferry – taking the downstream one as the upstream one has a limit of 10 tonne!! A Queenslander in front of us but they turned off and headed upstream.

Chose our spot at Bolto Reserve. All the waterside sites were taken.

Lou rang about Clipsal – they have a hotel in town. Had a cuppa then headed off to explore. Back across the river to Mannum.

Drove up the hillside to the Lookout – Steve found one of the three historical trails – Randell, Arnold and Shearer, with interesting information.

Great view from the Lookout.

  

Directional cairn says Murray Bridge and Goolwa that way.

As we have had some rain we decided to check out the Mannum Waterfall, 10km out of town. Passed the Mannum to Adelaide water pipe then a very smelly piggery.

We went to the top carpark which was just gravel area. No sign about the falls so we walked through a gate for a great view over the land towards the Murray River downstream from Mannum.

Realised we were in the wrong spot so headed over to the other side of the carpark and found another gate. Lots of granite boulders.

No running waterfall, just a few ponds in the rocks. A few people climbing over the boulders.

Back into Mannum then out again up beside the river on the west side to Noa No Landing where Captain Randell built his paddle-steamer ‘Mary Ann’ and launched it in 1853 to be the first paddle-steamer on the River Murray. Will learn more about it at the Museum.

Parked near the P.S. Marion, built in 1897, which is part of the Museum now.

Across the road was the Lutheran Church built in the 1930s to replace the original one built in 1882. Religion has caught up with the internet.

Next along the street was the Woolshed opened by William Randell in 1854 to store freight that was to be transported on his fleet of steamers. The needs of pastoralists along the river enabled him to develop a thriving freight business. He built the Woolshed – the first building in Mannum, subdivided land, brought the Mannum Dock from Milang and was largely responsible for the present location of Mannum, for the town grew up around his business. The Woolshed was later used as a customs house and also housed Scott’s Engineering Company.

Following the Randell Walk we headed up the street beside the Woolshed. Plenty of rocks to make terraces up the side of the cliffs.

At the end of the street was a little home built by William’s brother, Thomas, in the 1850s and was the first solid built house in Mannum. He added two rooms on the house to use as a bakery and general store, when his first lean-to shop was flooded next to the Woolshed. He bought leeches from the aboriginal community to sell to doctors.

The first Randell Walk Board.

The Lutheran Church manse is further up the hill than the church. The Hall is on the site of the original church.

The old goat track, only bituminized in 2006, is one of the oldest roads in Mannun. It serviced Tom Randell’s store and continued down to the Woolshed. It also lead to the market and so was a stock track for many years.

Continued up Randell Street checking out the plaques on the historic buildings. The Bogan Store was the first shop in Mannum, built by Tom Randell in 1862. Was selling pizzas but the sign on the door said ‘closed due to breakdown’ – not sure if that is the owner or machinery!!

Next was Walker’s Flour Mill which was built by Benjamin Walker from 1874 to 1876 and equipped it with machinery bought from the Waymouth Street Mills in Adelaide for 600 pounds. That machinery was originally steam driven. Ben’s son, John, was in charge of this mill. It closed in 1978 and is now a Mitre 10 store.

There was a list of invoices charged to William Randell in 1897.

On the wall was a 1956 flood marker.

Baseby had the first butcher shop in Mannum in 1867. Great mural on the side.

A couple of river men.

The Bank of Adelaide established in 1881.

The Mannum Institute built in 1882 and extended in 1911. Instigated by the town’s leaders in 1880. It has been used as a Council Chambers, a court, a film and picture theatre and for many activities over the years. On the left side is the Commercial Bank, established 1909.

Next was Shearer’s Offices built on land they purchased in 1881. Brothers David & John Shearer were invited to come to Mannum by farmers in the area. They began their business in a small blacksmith’s shop at the top of Randell Street, moving once more before opening a factory on this site. Their innovative machinery revolutionised farming as they listened to farms and responded to their needs. Later, John moved to Adelaide, while David stayed in Mannum. He built an early steam car in the late 1800s and exhibited it in Adelaide and frightened the local horses when he went for a spin at 15 miles per hour.

The site of the factory is now a carpark – nice seats.

The Shearer factory gates and a plaque near the forge press.

The Hapsburg piano needs a good tune.

Good exercise spot – stairs!!

A storm is building.

The top of Randell Street was the next walk about Johan Georg Arnold.

Looking down on Mary Ann Reserve and the Murray Princess.

A War Memorial and WW1 gun.

Back down the road a bit then we climbed up walk way to the next Shearer Walk Info board.

Looking across the Murray to Bolto Reserve where we are camped.

Randell Street, upstream and downstream.

Next info board – David Shearer’s steam car.

Pretoria Hotel, the name of which is associated with the Boer War, was built about 1900 by Samuel Hoad.

Looking down on the old Shearer Bros Factory site.

Up the gully above the factory is the Shearer residence. David Shearer was an astronomer and built an observatory with revolving roof. Looking a bit sad now.

Down the steps – bowls clubs always have great locations.

The Mannum Club on the right of the bowls club used to be called Allgemeiner Deutscher Verein, established 1891.

Some interesting artwork – don’t think they will sell any!!

Another great mural.

The Mannum Hotel, originally called the ‘Bogan’ was built in 1869 incorporating an earlier hotel recorded in 1866. It has some barred windows on the northern side where the ‘first jail’ was, preceding the building of a police station. Legend has it a man was chained to the floor inside.

Leanne returned my call about getting V8 tickets – I bought ours today as Brian thought they went up in price on the 1^st.

Headed back to the van as the clouds look like they are going to dump rain on us. Walked around the camp and chatted with a couple from Perth – Lauris and Dave. Got talking about fish etc and he said he had some squid. I said I had just pulled a couple of recipes out of a magazine so they invited us to share it tomorrow arvo.

Only a few spits of rain. Watched the old X-files movie before the new series start tomorrow.