8am
20.5 degrees, clear sky and strong cold wind.
Sent
Andrea a text for her birthday. She is having the day off as she worked Friday
– good planning.
Rang
Erica as she had left a message about a pokie win. Terry had been playing 1
cent per line and only one line and he won the mini jackpot, pocketing $32. Go
Terry.
Went
for a walk down the ‘main street’ to read the other signs about some of the
buildings that used to be here.
First
is the site of the local school from 1920 to 1956.
A
few bits and pieces mark the site of the local mechanic.
The
Hotel which looked like an impressive building. It also shows the railway shed
which was across the road where the railway lines still are.
Interesting
ballad about the ‘Kwolyin Mile’ Race held here and was the idea of a group of
locals one night in the pub. A great photo of the Hotel in 1987.
Further
along was the site of the Store.
If
we had kept walking we would have come to the tennis courts we saw yesterday.
Instead we crossed the road to the railway.
Behind
that was where the waste water from the Hotel was soaked into the ground.
Interesting to note that Bruce Rock is now going to make evaporation pounds
like these. Smart people back then.
Back
across to the road to check out the church opened in December 1955. Even has a
fancy toilet block out the back.
Lovely
salmon gums everywhere.
Back
to the truck and van and we headed east again for a little bit to a little
place called Shackleton. Looks like this could have been the school buildings.
Drove
up the main street and parked near the Info Board.
While
we were reading it a chap pulled up in his car and gave us the keys to the Hall
and the little Bank – wow how is that for friendly locals. He owns the shop and
said to drop them off there. There is a great display in the Hall.
Walked
down to the Hall.
Read
about Sir Earnest Shackleton who this town was named after in a small room at
the front of the hall. The blue room made us feel cold like we were in
Antarctica.
Inside
the hall proper there was a great display showing the history of the buildings
along the main street and a timeline of Shackleton. On the free standing
displays were photos and info about the railway, sports, school, local people
and lots more.
Also
good info about Kwolyin and the fire that burnt the Hotel down.
Found
out about the story of the graves at Kwolyin.
Great
display about the grain industry and CBH.
Locked
up and then checked out the ‘smallest bank’. So cute. Built around 1923 by the
Bank of New South Wales. It last operated as a bank in 1997. Steve checked if
they left any money in the drawer!!
Dropped
the keys back to the chap at the shop then continued down the road to Steve’s
Art. Not open but there is lots to see in his garden.
I
figure he probably built the war memorial too.
All
that remains of the railway station here is the crane and telegraph poles.
Continued
on to Bruce Rock. All quiet as we drove up the main street and on to Bruce’s
Rock which the town is named after. It was the camp site of a sandalwood
cutter, John Rufus Bruce. There are a couple of old wells (dry now) near the
base of the rock. The square flat one is actually the historical site as the
others were done by the Public Works Department in the 1900s. John Bruce went
on to become a coastal trader, owning his own barque and with sandalwood
forming part of his trade.
Went
for a wander up the rock – not a high one luckily as the wind is trying to blow
us off it. Interesting that we had to go through a fence.
Pioneer
plaque.
Nice
flat rock. Looking one way then over to Bruce Rock township.
As
we came over the top of the rock we spotted why there is a fence. This section
is part of someone’s farm.
Back
into town to the 48 hour RV Stop. Just a cleared area with no facilities but
that is fine by us. Interesting though it is across the road from the van park.
Had
some lunch then I worked on my blog while Steve went for a walk into town to
check out BBQs and fuel prices. We decided as the wind was still blowing hard
to skip the BBQ idea and he found a 24hr card payment bowser to top up the fuel
a bit, 139.3c/l.
After
smoko while my laptop was charging (yet again) I went for my walk into town.
Old tractor with old driver on the edge of a park.
Down
the main street past the Museum and the Bruce Rock Hotel (the original State
Hotel built 1914). The friendly ‘lady’ informed me the pub was open and
commented on my long hair and lovely tan.
Great
mural on the side of the Tradelink store.
The
Shire Office built in 1928. The girls were having a ball in their little pink
car.
The
Bruce Rock District Farmers Co-Op building.
Walked
back on the other side of the street – looking back up the street.
Checked
out the Amphitheatre and Sculpture Park – it needs some new sculptures.
Centenary
Pathway mosaics recording the locals and history of Bruce Rock (1913-2013).
Another
lonely railway station area. Obviously no one wanted the cranes as they seem to
be the only thing left. Sign says Bruce Rocks’ altitude is 285 metres.
Better
shot of the Hotel.
Past
the Men’s Shed to the Machinery Museum – looks like the men have been busy.
Over
the railway line and back to the van.
Van
all closed up as the wind is still strong and quite cold. Back under the
blankets tonight – so much for summer again!!
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