Sat, 27th Jan, 2018 Gwambygine Park, south of York to Avon Park, York, WA (exploring York)

7.30am 26.5 degrees, clear sky. Packed up and said bye to Mick and Marion. Lovely couple – hopefully we will see them again somewhere.

Into York and we found a nice shaded spot at one end of the RV Parking area. Got out the chairs and enjoyed a cuppa in the shade of the gums with the nice cool grass around us.

York is WA’s most historic inland town as it was settled in 1831 only two years after the establishment of the Swan River Colony. As a result of food shortages in the Colony, Captain James Stirling commissioned Ensign Robert Dale to explore east of the Darling Ranges in search of arable land. In July 1830, Dale discovered what was to become known as the Avon Valley. Late that year a further expedition, this time accompanied by Governor Stirling and prospective settlers, assessed the area. The fertile undulating countryside so reminded them of England that they named the locality at the base of Mt Bakewell, ‘York’. Twelve months later, on September 15, 1831 the first settlers arrived. Convicts were introduced to York in 1851 and did much to help develop the district. The Convict Hiring Depot was not closed until 1874. From the 1850s many of the original large properties were subdivided into smaller farms to encourage settlers to the area. Transport and communication improved with the coming of the telegraph line from Perth in 1872 and the railway in 1885. With the discovery of gold at Southern Cross in 1887, there came a short ear of great prosperity. Practically all travellers to the goldfields passed through York on their way from Perth to the goldfields.

Walked into town to the Information Centre in the beautiful Town Hall. It was built on the site of an old store and the Mechanics Institute. When it was completed in 1911 it was boasted as having the largest floor area of any such building in Western Australia.

Beautiful interior and staircase.

Picked up some brochures. Unfortunately they have gone modern and the history town walk is now as an audio app for Smart phones but there is information about the buildings on the rubbish bins like in the other towns.

Up the stairs to a beautiful stained-glass door.

Lots of information to read.

Through the door to the big theatre with an old projector, stage and great pressed tin ceilings.

Back outside we started checking out the bins for info and all the old buildings. Check out all the rabbits in the truck and wagon. Love the timber door.

Across the road was an interesting phone box. It was locked and is used for advertising. Great photo of the Town Hall under construction.

It was in front of the Imperial Hotel built 1886. The verandahs were badly affected with the tremors from the Meckering earthquake in 1968. Looks like some renovating is going on at the back where the stables were. Maybe these flats were a barn or stables too.

Lots of rustic cottages still around.

Up the road was the old Masonic Hall.

Across the road is the site of the Railway Hotel that was very damaged during the Meckering earthquake. Great flood photo.

Sargent’s Pharmacy - 1904.

The Castle Hotel – 1853.

The Collins Buildings next to the Davies’ Buildings (1908).

Steve thought this newspaper advert was interesting – mail orders back then.

The York Motor Museum is housed in a building constructed in 1908. Originally it was offices then became a motor garage and showroom when horsepower took over from horses. A very apt advert outside.

Lovely chap inside told us how a lot of the vehicles displayed are from Peter Briggs. He and another chap had collected them but the other chap recently passed away so Peter decided he wanted his collection secure so he is selling them to the York Museum so they can’t be sold overseas etc (he had had an offer from a chap in Singapore who wanted to take it over there). Peter is on the left in the photo and in his car at the Goodwood Festival in England.

It is a wonderful collection.

Malcolm had suggested we come and see the Museum – we even found a car like his, driven through town in one of the York 50 races (like the one in Northam).

Even the posters are interesting.

Into the next room. Even little push cars.

One for Louis – a rocket gocart.

Another room full of cars and motorbikes.

We should get one of these or maybe he can peddle and I can sit in the back.

The Samson that Peter took to Goodwood Festival.

Interesting to read where Subaru’s star emblem came from – Japanese for a constellation called the Seven Sisters.

One for Dad – an orbital engine.

Even Crocodile Dundee’s ute is here – signed by Hoges and ‘Strop’ too. It was found in a wrecking yard in Darwin – fancy that.

Across the road are shops called ‘Central Buildings.

Next to that is the Settlers House (1845) and the Settlers Village shops.

Across the road from that are a group of lovely stone buildings. On the left is the Post Office.

The other side is the Old Gaol and Courthouse. The Police Station and cell blocks were built in 1852 with the Courtroom added in 1859. A trooper’s cottage, stables and yards were constructed at the rear. Resulting from the gold rush, part of the complex was demolished with a two story courthouse being built in 1895. The cells continued to be used until 1981 when a new police station was built in town. The court room was still in use after the National Trust acquired the property in 1983. Unfortunately it is closed at the moment. I peered in through the door.

The Co-op Building (1917) now houses the IGA Supermarket.

On the other corner is the Palace Hotel now called the York Hotel.

Cute truck in the bottle shop next door.

Looking back down Avon Terrace.

On the opposite corner is a building which has houses banks since 1841.

Continuing down Avon Terrace is the old Council Chambers (1897).

Then another bank (1909-1919).

Headed back to the van – got a cheesy grin from an Alpaca.

Checked out the Suspension Bridge – wobblier than the last one but Steve was fine. Luckily it wasn’t the original one swing bridge that was built in 1889 - it was reconstructed in 1988. Nice view up and down the Avon River.

A flock of corellas were having a squawking good time by the river but flew off as we approached – brings back memories of the Murray River.

Old jetty remains that the swimming club used. Signs now advise not to swim in the river these days.

Our campsite for the night – the shade is off the van now but there is lots of shade in the park.

Left Steve relaxing in the shade. I followed the river walk the Info lady suggested.

Nice hot day but still fine for taking a walk. Checked out the original Avon River crossing called Monger’s Crossing. Mr Monger was one of the pioneers of the district and he built a bridge here. View up and downstream.

The history signs certainly need upgrading. This one is about Peacock’s Forge.

Continued along the track – well back from the river so not such a nice walk.

Managed to read most of this sign. About a cordial factory which used the glass bottles with the marble in it as the stopper. Kids used to break the bottles back in the day so they could collect the marbles to play with.

The next sign I couldn’t read – this one only just. It is about the permanent pool (600m long by 30m wide & 3m deep) 1 mile out of town that was a great place for locals to relax and enjoy a swim till the 1960s.

Walked back to Avon Terrace and headed back into town. Passed some lovely old homes.

Into the area which was originally known as Monger’s Town. Lots of great signs were created for the Bi-centenary but sadly haven’t been maintained. Very interesting read thought the photos have disappeared. This was the site of Monger’s Store, sandalwood yards, stables, rail yards etc. No. 6 says Monger’s Bridge was built in 1853 and destroyed by fire in 1988.

A little bird came down for a drink near my feet while I was reading the sign.

The old horse stalls have been rebuilt to house Arts & Craft rooms.

The school room from Tipperary property has been relocated here. Inside they have it set up as it would have been back in 1874.

Beside that is the water tank, horse trough (c1860) etc restored by the York Society in 1990.

Walked down the road a bit then across the railway line to the magnificent Faversham House. In 1939 the Monger family donated the house to the Red Cross to use as a convalescent home then it belonged to the Uniting Church. Now it is a private residence again.

Back to the van for a cuppa with Steve. Then I headed off to check out the Residency Museum on the other side of the river. More nice homes. The homeowner of the second one wanted some flowers so she has put in plastic ones.

This huge place was a hospital (built 1894), now it is a private residence. I wonder how many people live there – too much cleaning for me. 

Next door is the old maternity block built in 1942.

Further up the slope to the Residency Museum which was originally part of the Convict Hiring Depot which operated here between 1851 and 1874. This building was the Superintendent’s quarters in 1858. It is called the Residency Museum now because after the depot closed it became the home for the local magistrates. The first magistrate to live here was Walkinshaw Cowan from 1863 to 1887.  Note the first magistrate of York in 1834 was only 23. Hard to imagine my boys in that position. In 1920 the Residency was converted to an isolation hospital but was never used as such and became nurses’ quarters instead. 1920-25 it was used as a maternity hospital before the new building was erected in 1945. A new hospital was built in town in 1963. The museum opened here in 1972.

Went inside and noticed a big sign saying ‘no photography’ so just wandered around reading all the information and checking out the displays. Very well laid out and very informative. It covered everything from aborigines, convicts to migrants – big section about an Irish family. About farming and the Chinese markets gardeners. One story was of two Chinese brothers who worked their gardens for many years and were very much part of the York town that when at the ages of 94 and 102 they wanted to go back to China, the townspeople got together and fundraised to buy their tickets home. The younger one only lived a couple more years but the older one went on to 114 years. Amazing. There is lots for kids and adults to use as well, like playing croquet on the lawn, dressing up in period costume for a photo in the Victorian photographer’s studio, ringing cow bells etc.

Walked back via another bridge upstream to check out the York Mill (1892). It now houses a café, galleries and op shop in the old shed near the old weighbridge. I came in the back way.

Walked back past the Sock Factory – last factory in WA. Shame we have just bought new socks.

Back to Steve for drinks in the shade of the big gums.

Drove across the river and up to Mt Brown Lookout. Read the legend of Mt Bakewell (458m) and Mt Brown (342m).

Looking across to Mt Bakewell.

View over town then Mt Bakewell to more farming land following the Avon River downstream.

On the other side where the big grain bins are.

Walked down to check out the memorial to Mr Davies who was behind the road being built up to this lookout. He was one of seven generations of the pioneering Davies family. The other plaque about Ensign Dale discovering the Avon Valley in 1830.

Back to the van – not going to wait for sunset as it sets so late, 7.30pm. Dan rang for a chat and we got to chat with Francesca too which was lovely. She sounds like a wonderful lady. Her dad is painting Dan’s place so he has done well there.

Chatted with a couple from Perth who are venturing out in their new van hoping to travel. Got the BBQ going nearby and cooked out Aust Day lamb chops (one day late!!) Beautiful evening.

9pm the wind came up – had to close the windows as the temperature has dropped too.