PROJECT 52 - HUNTER RIVER, HONEYSUCKLE & HEXHAM

The task for the weekend was 'H', and a work colleague in Melbourne looked up 'H' and Honeysuckle was the suggestion; so I said "why not"!!

Initial planning I noted that Nobbys Head Lighthouse was very close, as was the Hunter River... So it was a 3am alarm, and on the road 3.45am for the 2two and a bit hours drive north to Newcastle with an image in mind of the Lighthouse wat sunrise. However, on approach, first light was starting and I thought I was going to miss it!! Photo above had me going crazy on the back of the screen!!

After some breakfast of a Bacon & Egg Roll with a coffee, I went up again, and there was a ferry nearby at the Queens Warf for the shuttle service accross to Stockton, aptly named 'HUNTER'!!!

And further up the Hunter River, was many ships and tugs at idle...

As it was now pushing to time to meet some of my team for lunch, I started the drive, and passed through, another 'H' - Hexham!!!

This is a well known 'pinch-point' on the Pacific Highway for those of us that drive between Sydney and anywhere North; Brisbane! Back when I worked at the Botanic Gardens, I was on a Committee where there was, at the time, discussion about this bypass, and how some of the land at the Hunter Region Botanic Garden will be acquired, I guess finally after 12 odd years it has happened! Below are some of the pics of the bypass progression!!!

And then - it was lunch at the 'Harrigans Hotel', an unexpected venue considering I was doing 'H' this weekend! From the moment you enter into the Grand Entrance' it is like no other I've been to!!! Below, which is a 12 image, stitched panorama of the entrance...

Next weekend, is 'I', and I am struggling as to where to go to, stay tuned...

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

PROJECT 52 - GOULBURN, GUNNING & GRABBEN GULLAN

This weeks 'Project 52' was 'G', and as all three were very close, Goulburn, Gunning and Grabben Gullen it was!!!

Goulburn

As Australia’s first inland city, Goulburn is a proud historic town, combining grand heritage and country charm with contemporary museums, festivals, restaurants, and galleries. There’s also plenty of epic outdoor adventures to be had in the surrounding region, from rock climbing and abseiling to motorsports and skydiving.

Standing on Goulburn’s fringe is the Big Merino – one of Australia’s iconic ‘big things’ and symbolic of the city known as the fine wool capital of the world.

Gunning

Passing through some wonderful rolling hills with plenty of livestock, we came across several wind-turbine masts, both between Goulburne and Gunning and then Gunning and Grabben Gullen!

One of Australia’s most significant colonial explorations began here in 1824. Explorers Hume and Hovell led a groundbreaking expedition from Gunning to Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne in search of new grazing land. Explore this history and more on the Gunning Town Tour.

On the main street is the fascinating Pye Cottage Museum. The historic slab hut cottage is furnished with household items, intriguing photographs and agricultural tools and artefacts from the area’s rich wool heritage. Originally built in Dalton in 1860, the settlers’ cottage is one of the last of its kind in the area.

Grabben Gullen

The Albion Hotel, situated just 10 minutes from the township of Crookwell and 20 minutes from Goulburn, offers a cosy bar with indoor and outdoor dining areas.

For the enthusiast and the curious there is Memorabilia and a Motorcycle Museum, the collection representing owner and chef Ray' other lifetime passion.

Affectionately known as the Grabby Pub you will find a good bistro and an eclectic mix of decor around the bar. In addition, there is an undercover BBQ area which is great for functions and entertainment. The Albion Hotel specialises in seafood!

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

FITZROY FALLS - PROJECT 52

Sunrise on Saturday morning near Robertson, lasted all of about 5 seconds I think, before the overcast conditions came.... Oh well, worked with what I had....

'Fitzroy Falls' as a suburb (barely makes a village really) really doesn't have much to offer, a splattering of residential homesteads, very nice some of them, 'Grandpas Old Wares & Collectables', and thats about it...

And yes, there is a waterfall, but to be blunt and honest, I could've go somewhere better and have seen better waterfalls as well!

There is also a resivoir 'Fitzroy Falls Resivoir', which also caters for some boating activities with what looks like a 'Regatta' of catamarans etc on the shore...

An easy drive away across towards Robertson, theres a much better waterfall, 'Belmore Falls'...

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

HISTORIC EBENEZER CHURCH - PROJECT 52

Ebenezer is a historic town about 45 minutes from home, and nestled in the City of Hawkesbury, and sits on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. I found not a great deal is in, or to do in Ebenezer, apart from visiting the historic, Ebenezer Church.

What I found after becoming airborne, and not at all noticeable whilst within the grounds, was the large cross that formed the turning circle of the driveway!! This looked really cool indeed!

Built in 1809 Ebenezer Church is the oldest existing church in Australia and became the first Presbyterian Church in Australia in 1824. It pioneered education in the colony, beginning a school in 1810.

The church is the oldest existing school building, constructed in 1817 as a residence for the teacher. The first burial was in 1812; the cemetery is one of the most important in Australia with six generations buried in its grounds, including some of the first free settlers in the colony.

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

ROAD TRIP TO DUNEDOO - PROJECT 52

A long day today for my 'Project 52' where I am going out every weekend to somewhere starting with the letter in the alphabet... This week ' D'!! Dunedoo it had to be!!

Dunedoo is a tiny rural service centre on the crossroads of the Golden and Castlereagh Highways. It is surrounded by fertile plains, gently rolling hills and wide valleys. The local water comes from the Talbragar River. The surrounding district is agricultural and concentrates on wheat, cattle, mixed farming, timber, fat lambs and wool. The commercial centre is effectively a run of shops along Bolaro Street which runs beside the railway line.

Dunedoo is located 354 km north west of Sydney via Mudgee, 97 km north east of Dubbo and 88 km north of Mudgee.

Dunedoo is well known to Australian travellers due to its distinctive name ‘Dunny’, which is a colloquial Australian word for a toilet. The name is actually derived from a local Aboriginal word meaning "swan", which are commonly found in the area's lagoons.

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

CARLINGFORD & CAMELLIA - PROJECT 52

This weeks 'Project 52' had me staying in Sydney metro area, as we've had some horrendous weather this past week, with many trees down and wires cut, so I played it safe near home...

For 'C', I visited the newly opened 'Carlingford to Westmead' L4 Tram Line (others will want to call it a 'Light Rail' - I beg to differ...)

The stabling yard is located in 'Camellia', which is located behind the Rosehill Racecourse.

The Carlingford railway line was originally constructed a ‘heavy rail’ line in Sydney, NSW.

It was opened from Clyde (on the main western line) to Subiaco, renamed Camellia, in January 1885, then by means of the construction of a bridge across the Parramatta River, and then up the hill to Carlingford in 1896!

The line was also used heavily on race days at the Rosehill Racecourse.

The busy James Ruse Drive, required a bridge to be built to cross over it, and this bridge Bidgee Bidgee Bridge, to recognise the important Aboriginal heritage of Parramatta as well as the life and legacy of Bidgee Bidgee – a prominent local Aboriginal Elder. It uses Australian-made weathered steel to minimise future maintenance and reduce disruptions to light rail network operations. 

The ‘Heavy Rail’ line was closed on 5 January 2020 with most of the line converted to be part of Parramatta Tram Line, otherwise known as the L4 Carlingford to Westmead, which opened in December 2024. A very short section between Clyde and just short of Parramatta Rd, was retained for use by Sydney Trains.

'End of the Line' - both for the tram, and the old Carlingford Produce Store surrounded by the ever growing Carlingford unit blocks... After over a 100 years of continuing presence, Carlingford Produce Store closed its door permanently on February 27th, 2021.

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

Wallerawang Power Station

On Sunday, when driving out to Ben Bullen for my 'Project 52', I past the decommissioned Wallerawang Power Stiation, just past Lithgow. As I had the drone with me, it was too good of a morning to not put it up over the remaining towers!!

It was really cool to see it from this perspective from above!!!

Wallerawang Power Station was a thermal coal powered station, located near Wallerawang, in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. The power station was equipped with two turbo-alternators of 500 megawatts (670,000 hp) each, supplied byCA Parsons & Company of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. Production commenced in May 1957.

In July 2013, Energy Australia acquired Wallerawang Power Station, along with Mount Piper Power Station, from Delta Electrix. Due to dwindling demand, the first of the two generating units had been mothballed in January 2013, and the second in April 2014. In November 2014, EnergyAustralia announced that it would permanently close Wallerawang due to ongoing reduced energy demand, lack of access to competitively priced coal and the power station's high operating costs. EnergyAustralia began the process of removing useful equipment from the station in 2015, and was finally demolished in 2021 using controlled demolition.

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

Customer Service - Could NOT get any better!!!

Almost three years ago and not long after I got my new car (Toyota Fortuner 4WD) which I just love, I had a Stedi Lightbar installed into a cavity in the Bullbar, installed by the team at PCTA Offroad. Everything has gone really well over the 100,oookm I have done. Until just before Christmas...

I had noticed that the light was suddenly, very HIGN! And when I investigated, it was actually very loose!! As I had some time off, I looked at it, tried to fix it, but my tools and fingers were just not good enough... So I contacted the team at PCTA who did the install.

When I got to the store, the technician who did the install, was now at a sub-branch over the other side of the railway line, and so I went over. After a quick look, I was told it would take about an hour, as all of the protective 'bash plates' would need to come off to access the rear of the lightbar; no issues there and was quoted $170 (no issues either as it was well after any sort of warranty period!)

So today was the day, and arrived at the service centre, and the guys took the car in to be worked on. Meanwhile, I was in the waiting room, going crazy on modifications I might like to make (wheels & tyres are next, wider and higher). A couple of other guys were also getting quotes etc... After about an hour, my car was ready, and I was invited out to inspect, and I was so happy again. He remembered my car from a UHF Radio installation (which is also another mod very soon), and we got talking.... I asked the Manager about the wheels and tyres, and BOOM, not only a good price (returning customer maybe?), but the repair today was for FREE!!!! He also told me to keep an eye out on the socials as they quite often have special "Buy THREE, get one FREE" which I am happy to wait for!!!

So, thanks guys, a simple goodwill gesture has me coming back for future mods!!!

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

BEN BULLEN - Project52

Continuing on with the 'Project 52' of visitiing a letter of the alphabet everyweekend, today I headed west for 'Ben Bullen'... Not much there really, just a lonely old abandoned railway stattion, which made for a bit of interest with the stabled coal wagons in the siding...

Ben Bullen is located on the Castlereagh Highway (almost) halfway between Cullen Bullen and Capertee.

The place name Ben Bullen is derived from the local Aboriginal word meaning “high, quiet place”.

The village was formed when the railway was constructed in the early 1880s. While goods trains still use the railway line the small railway station is closed. Since the closure of the railway station a bus service serves the community.

Ben Bullen is surrounded by picturesque cattle grazing land and the Gardens of Stone National Park. Farming and coal mining are the main local employers.

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie