Ronnie in Lonnie.

[Major]

I thought there would be more water flowing through the Gorge. Have they had recent rain ?

 

[drron]

There is a dam further up river.But there has been less winter rain than usual.Since my walk though it has rained.Though I think the locals prefer that to July last year-

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[Major]

I see what you mean

 

[RooFlyer]

Further up the river from the gorge is the Duck Reach Power Station which operated from 1895 to 1955. Its electricity allowed Launceston to be the first town in Australia to have electric street lights.

The power station is now a museum.

The dam drron referred to still generates power - via the Trevallyn power station just along the road a bit.

Another first for Launnie is that in 1860 it had the first underground sewers in Australia and (they claim) third in the world (dunno about that one .. I think the Romans did a bit of this sort of stuff!!)

(Hope I haven't stolen your thunder drron.)

 

[drron]

They do claim some amazing things.I have met 2 locals who claim Melbourne is just a suburb of Launceston.Batman planned it here and left from here to Port Philip Bay.Of course he wanted the place to be called Batmania.

 

[RooFlyer]

The substance of that is true.

Batman sailed from Launceston in the schooner Rebecca in May, 1835. In June Batman went up the Yarra River and noted in his journal “this is the place for a village”. After leaving some men to build a hut and start a garden, Batman and the Rebecca returned to Van Diemen’s Land. Here Batman showed Wedge where he had explored and, from these details, Wedge prepared the first map of Melbourne in June 1835 (published in 1836), showing the location Batman had chosen as the site for the “village” and the division of land between association members.

Batman’s treaty with the aborigines of Port Phillip is the only example of any settlers (official or unofficial) giving recognition to the rights of the aborigines to the land. The members of the Port Phillip Association did not intend the treaty to be a fair commercial transaction, but a means of obtaining permission from the aborigines to avoid resentment (and subsequent violence) after settlement.

Dunno about Batmania but it could have been Dutigalla (see the article).

 

[RB]

Further up the river from the gorge is the Duck Reach Power Station which operated from 1895 to 1955. Its electricity allowed Launceston to be the first town in Australia to have electric street lights.


(Hope I haven't stolen your thunder drron.)

I thought Tamworth (NSW) claimed to be the first to have the electric street lights?

 

[RooFlyer]

Of course we turn to Mr Wikipedia, who gives the gong for first 'incandescent' street lights (as opposed to arc lights) in Oz to ... Waratah in Tasmania

In 1886, the tiny, isolated mining town of Waratah in NW Tasmania was the first to have electrically powered street lighting in Australia. On 9 December 1882, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia was introduced to electricity by having a demonstration of using eight arc lights, erected along Queen Street Mall. The power to supply these arc lights was taken from a 10 hp Crompton DC generator driven by a Robey steam engine in a small foundry in Adelaide Street and occupied by J. W. Sutton and C. The lamps were erected on cast iron standards, 20 ft in height. In 1888 Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia became the first location in New South Wales to have electric street lighting, for which that city erroneously maintains the title of "First City of Light".

 

[drron]

Batman is certainly an interesting character.Farmed his land with indigenous men brought from Sydney.Also the only person to make a treaty with the locals in Australia's history.
But back to the gorge.I went back via the weir-

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Now all this exercise does stimulate the appetite so a stop at the tea rooms for a Devonshire tea-

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Now this fellow has obviously perfected this manoeuver before.A peacock came from in front to try and partake of the scones and cream.Whilst distracted this fellow came from behind.He was unsuccessful.

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On the other side of the gorge evidence of an old boardwalk on that side-

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[drron]

On the way back the gorge cruise was seen-

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Then back to the hotel past King's Park-

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A long soak in a warm bath felt good.

 

[drron]

Saturday comes and I start once more with a visit to the farmer's market.One thing I do like here are the spring flowers-

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First is last week's breakfast stall and then this weeks-

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And my brekkie-a bennie burger-

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Another nice little stall.Yummy but I have so far resisted temptation-

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And that is the line for the fishmonger.Always popular and the fish does look nice.
A good thing is that dogs must be tied up at the entrance.This one obviously was used to it.Her name is Tora.-

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I also bought some lamb sausages with mint and rosemary-very nice.And my curry being cooked today is based on lamb.

 

[drron]

Now you should have a hint from that last post what my adventure would be for the rest of the day.Yes flowers.
I knew October was tulip time and that at Table Cape they had a festival.I wanted to go because they have helicopter rides over Table Cape and I feel that would have great views.Unfortunately the Festival is on next weekend and I am on call.As it was a fine day and the forecast for Sunday was rain as well as a certain car race I decided to go tulip watching.
The first display though was near Steady's stamping ground,Somerset.

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Now the tulip farm on Table Cape is run by the Roberts Thompson family.Two of them were colleagues in Maitland.Sadly both deceased.However the fellow in charge of parking was quite obviously one of the family so I introduced myself and we had a good chat and I got a good spot.Right next to this-

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Waratahs put on a good show in Tasmania.But of course it was the tulips that I had come to see.

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But out in the fields the display was not in full bloom.Quite possibly the reason was a cold winter.The news this week was that it was the coldest Tasmanian winter in 60 years.

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[drron]

Flowers though aren't the only view here-

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A few intruders are noticed.

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[drron]

More tulips-

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Tulips aren't the only bulbs grown-

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[drron]

The last of the tulips-

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I had been told of a new restaurant in the North West.My registrar strongly recommended a visit.I arrived there at ~3pm and I was famished.Fortunately I could still have lunch though the recommended dish of spring rolls was no longer available.So I started off with Bruny Island oysters.Large and delicious.Plus a charcuterie plate which was excellent.

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Washed down with this-

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And here is the place-

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The restaurant is at the Parramatta Creek rest area between Latrobe and Deloraine.

Now I was going to detour to Railton but this place also is a providore.And they stocked 7 sheds beers which was the reason for the proposed detour.And this was the reason on Sunday why I wanted those beers-

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[drron]

For those who enjoy old buildings Launceston is a great place.Today I took a short walk after lunch.Just 2 blocks down the road from the hospital to the CBD.Down one side back the other and these are some of the buildings I passed.

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[drron]

It is amazing the variety of styles you see-

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The last is the Sporties hotel dating from 1890.I am told it does the best steak sandwich in Launceston.I will try it and report back.

 

[drron]

It is amazing the variety of styles you see-

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The last is the Sporties hotel built in 1890.I am told it has the best steak sandwich in Launceston.I will try one and report back.

 

[drron]

The last couple-

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And I will be moving here on Friday-the Mantra Charles hotel.

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Impressive grounds-

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[RooFlyer]

Have you ventured up the hill to East Launceston? That's where the swankier places are (with the views ...).

The grander parts of Launceston were, unsurprisingly, built on the back of the mining industry, notably Mt Bischoff (tin) and Beaconsfield (gold).