Trip to Australia - coming to an end

Friday 29th November and Saturday 30th November

Spent time with family on both these days.  Left for the Station to catch the Express at 5.15 p.m. to Campbelltown, laden with my luggage.  I had only bought a few souveniers and bring back with me a bunch of magazines.  The case was heavy for me 11.5 Kg, so I arranged for it to travel in the front carriage with the staff.

My final farewell to this town and two hours later being met by my friend in Campbelltown.
I collected my luggage from the front of the train at Campbelltown and tried to go up the steps at the platform.  Never thought I would have to do this.  A man asked if I wanted help, and kindly carried it to the top. 

We all walked to the car, and because it was late, we went out for a meal in the local Club. Very nice, but I wished I had time to change for dinner. 

Sunday 1st December

Lovely weather for a drive.  I had no idea where I was being taken.  Our first stop was the Australian Botanic Garden.  A winding road into the Garden brought us to the car park and restaurant.  Before eating we took to the paths meandering up and round through the gardens, some still under construction. 

 

Just before we started out on our walk we needed to see the site map below.

 

More information on display.

 

 

 



Looking up the hill.  Before we crossed the road.

A lovely man made waterfall and pool with palm trees.

You had a choice of many paths to take.  There were no arrows.

This was taken from the top of the rise - it does not give the impression by this picture.

We came across this strange building.  It was just a huge covered in area.  Under it was benches and tables.  Outside there was two (or maybe three) drop off points for vehicles - no parking spaces. 

 

 

Here it is from father away - the building on the right are circular toilets.  Can only think it must be for outdoor concerts or parties or weddings.  Further to the right are some barbeques, really modern ones.

Some areas there was no access as the gardens were still under construction

We managed to find another path that took us beyond the construction works, now looking at it from a different direction.

Further round I came across this entwined trees.  Facinating they were.

Another picture .....

After walking around for sometime we decided to have our lunch in the restaurant.  A timber building set on the edge of the gardens. 

From there we set off for the Burragorang River.  I have no idea which direction - I wasn't the driver.  I was taken to a look-out on the edge of the Blue Mountains.

This was a beautiful scene, high up on the look-out.

Another angle.

A little about the site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Our next stop was the Warragamba Dam.  After parking the car we walked towards the dam and I could not resist taking a picture of the turbines on display.  They were massive.

 

 

Just before you reached the platform overlooking the dam - I saw this sign.....

. 
Thank goodness there wasn't any around - may be it was just too hot - it was a scorching day that day.

Fantastic views across to the dam - there was some more construction work taking place.  Although you could get close, you could not actually go across the dam.  The gates were shut.



Even though I was told a little history of the dam, I can't remember.....

 



We could not get right at the back of the dam, so I cheated and took a photo off the leaflet.

 

 

 Unfortunately the last few photos turned out dark - not sure what happened, but I was trying to capture the otherside of the dam from another look out further up. 

It was late in the afternoon when these were taken, minutes before the main gate was shut, so was taken in a bit of a hurry. 

This was a very exciting day - good company - good food and lots to see.



Trip to Australia - Memories of yesteryear - Goulburn

Wednesday 27th November

Popped into see an old friend for coffee.  We were in the same class at secondary school for two years and we worked at the same place.  We had ten years of catching up to do.

The rest of the day was spent with family.

Thursday 28th November

Today I decided to walk around the town - to relive the old times.  First I visited the building where I worked 50 years ago - my first real job.

The window on the very right of this square building was a door in those days, which led to the office upstairs.  These were memorable days.  Being my first job, I was naive about lots of things and often jokes were played on me.

One particular time, and I do laugh about it still.  I was going down the town to buy some milk for our tea/coffee breaks, and one of the girls asked me if I would buy her something while I was there.  "OK what is it you want" I said.  She said while you are in the shop (not there anymore) and ask the girl (her friend) for a tin of striped paint. 

Of I go, all innocent, called into the shop, paid for my milk and asked this girl for the tin of striped paint.  "Which way do you want the stripes to go?".  I had no idea, I would have to ask H, and come back.

So I ask H when I get back to the office - how she kept herself from not laughing I do not know. Off I went back to the shop and told her which way.  Of course this person just roared with laughter.   Fancy admitting this after all these years.....Ha Ha.  Can laugh about it now.

And so I leave here and move on to St Saviours Cathedral. 

This is a lovely big Church, been around for years and hasn't really changed that much. 

I took this photo of the grounds of St Saviours Church as it reminded me when I took a short cut through the grounds in the dark when I was in my teens.  Near the gate up the slight hill in the middle of the picture there were, and I expect there still is, some grave stones.  In the daylight you would just walk past and think nothing of it.  But when you are with a group of girls in the dark, and they are spooking one another, then it becomes scary.

We took this short cut to go to Guides, or if we were attending evening Church service.  We could have just walked around the road, but it would take too long.

This is a beautiful park - Belmore Park - in the centre.  So much change since I knew it all those years ago. 

There is a beautiful Memorial of those men and women who fought in the wars.  Lists of names are displayed on the plaques - gold lettering on a black background.  A forever reminder.

 



 This building was once the Police Station - it is here I applied for my driving licence all those years ago.  My driving instructor took me here for the test.  I hated the hill start in Verner Street, but it all went well and I passed.

Today this building is a Book Emporium.  I did go and have a look.  In fact I spent over an hour looking at every book.  I was looking for two, but unfortunately I could not remember the titles.  I didn't find either.  Such a shame, but I did enjoy looking.

This was taken from the top of Montague Street looking down to St Saviours Catherdral, the route we walked to church or to Guides.

I walked along Bourke Street, then left into Goldsmith Street and then up Cowper Street (the route I would have taken to go to school).  The hill was steep, but not as steep as the one in the above picture.  I was determined, even though it took the puff out of me. 

This is where I boarded so that I could go to work (centre house).  I only stayed about a year.  I was in the room behind the one on the balcony, shared with two other girls, both now my friends.   There were very strict rules here in those days.

This is the foot path - looked very pretty with the trees and shrubs. 

During my teen years I stayed at what was called the girls hostel - for girls who lived too far away to go to school.  This was two doors down from the one above, but unfortunately I could not get a good photo of it.

I walk to the corner and down Verner Street - this was another route I took to go to school.  I can't ever remember it being so pretty as this. 

 



Over there on the corner was a sweet and icecream shop.  I remember when we saved enough we used to pop in there for a Paddle Pop (icecream I think, or ice lolly with icecream in the middle).

From here I turned left and walked to Clinton Street, back towards the town and up Auburn Street to see the little church  where I taught Sunday School, but it had changed into a residential home.  I decided to buy a cold drink from the shop opposite as I was hot and exhausted and then the intention was to turn left and over the railway bridge to Braidwood Road, but I had had enough of walking and still needed to walk back to the family.

Mundy Street is another steep hill.  This photo does not show it.

Even this photo doesn't show how steep it is, but believe me it was.  I had to take dolly steps just past the end of this house as it was a sudden drop.  I feared that I would trip.

 Today was a great day,  walked lots, bumped into people I knew and had a quick chat, and covered a lot of ground on foot.