PROJECT 52 (X2 J & K) - JESUS & KURRAJONG

Bare with me here, last weekend was a busy weekend with visitors, and I couldn't get out, and this weekend was to be a heatwave, +35c each day, so I had to get creative...

First up 'J' and the creativity had to kick in, and a mate suggested something when discussing what I wanted to achieve. THat was some shots of St Marys Catederal, in which case it could be 'J is for Jesus' and so it was!!

The St Marys Cathederal as we know it today, is a English-style Gothic revival building constructed of honey-coloured Sydney sandstone, is regarded as the Mother Church for Australian Catholics. The original St MArys Church was destroyed by fire in 1865.

It took close to 100 years to finally complete St Marys with the first stage constructed between 1866 and 1900 and stage two between 1912 and 1928. However, the original Wardell design was only finally completed in June 2000 when the metal frames of the imposing Southern Spires were lowered into place by helicopter and then sheathed in Gosford sandstone. I remember these spires being installed whilst working at the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.

Next up, for 'K'... Kurrajong.

Kurrajong was first settled around 1790, not long after Governor Phillip had travelled down the Hawkesbury River in search of suitable farming land for the struggling colony.

As early as 1795 an attempt to find a route through the mountains had been made but it was not until 1823, that Archibald Bell, following Aboriginal women escaping from the Springwood tribe which had kidnapped them, discovered a suitable route. The road was little more than a track used as a stock route.

By 1841 the convict built road through Kurrajong, named Bell's Line of Road, was opened. The present road, with easier grades, was opened in 1901, with improved deviations during WWII.

Fun Fact - Kurrajong also had a railway line, an extension up from Richmond, and in 1926 the extension of line from Richmond was opened, however, by the time the line was opened, the orchardists had begun to use trucks and the line was never economically viable. Landslides gave an excuse for the line to close in 1952.

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

PROJECT 52 - ILLAWARRA COAST

'Project 52' this week is 'I'...

This was a bit of a tough one, as I am trying to get OUT of the Sydney Metro area... AND AS most of the 'I's were of considerable distance, so I became 'creative'...

Illawarra, Industry, Iron - it had to be, Port Kembla !!!! A great day out with my mate Mark!

(We trundled further down the Illawarra and these will come later in the weekend/during the week...)

The land was called 'Illawarra Farm'. In 1883 a port was opened to ship coal brought from the mine at Mount Kembla. Because of its association with the jetty serving the Mount Kembla mine, the area previously called Red Point became known as Port Kembla. The earliest reference to this name seems to have been in 1892.

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

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