Amazingly this is the first time we have set out for an adventure and had rain so no photos in wet weather.
Her are the old train tracks in Narrandera. I guess they had to cut them up for trucks to be able to drive through!!
We had morning tea in Narrandera at a building which was once called Halls Hotel. The sign is still partly visible inside as they have built on. This is now a second hand bookshop and a cafe. It's near the railway and men used to stay there when working.
Cold, but not raining. We stopped at the Tourist Information Centre which is also a bit of a museum. The Letona Cannery closed in 1994, there were lots of pictures of women leaning on some odd looking stools, sorting and stoning fruit, but the reflection from the sun meant I couldn't photograph them, phooey. Here is a fabulous statue outside.
Letona. This Statue is in memory of the Cannery which was the hub of Leeton 1914-1994. A community tribute to co-operative effort, dedication and hard work. "Women were the heart and soul of the Cannery". (Tom Sullivan)Unveiled by Lola Makeham and Marj Gall 11 April 2004
The MIA was a prohibition area up until 1924 and the former accommodation facility was extended to include a saloon bar and a ladies lounge. The public bar was located in a new building 50 metres south and now knows as the Hydro Tavern. The building pictures is now in separate title and ownership and operates as the Historic Hydro Motor Inn.
Burrinjuck Dam 1914
Burrinjuck Dam 1914The following photos are taken out the front of Cousin Tim, Jenny, Michaela & Joshua's house in Lake Wyangan.
This is from the front looking out, no other houses only to their left on their side of the road.
After lunch at a Griffith Bakery, we were shown around. This place is called the Hermits CaveThe cave was built by a colourful character named Valerio Recitti, an Italian migrant who arrived in Australia in 1916, aged 17. He immediately went to work at Broken Hill but soon began drifting. At one point he departed for Adelaide with a year's timber-cutting wages in his pocket. There he visited a brothel. Upon leaving he found that he had left his wallet behind and that the bouncer wouldn't allow him back in. After hurling a rock through a window, he was chased and ended up in Adelaide gaol. After his release he left for Melbourne where he intended to pawn his one remaining possession, a coat. Unfortunately he was duped by a passer-by who said he would pawn it for him and never returned.
From there Recitti went to work on the Murray River paddlesteamers. He is said to have taken refuge in the cave while he was passing through in the 1920s and decided to stay. He believed himself to be the only Italian in the area and kept entirely to himself, whereas in fact old compatriots from Broken Hill had settled nearby and increasing numbers of Italian migrants were arriving.
Recitti decided to construct a private utopia. He cleared and decorated the caves, creating massive stone galleries and pathways, cliffside gardens and floral painted rock walls. So as to remain unseen he worked at night and early in the morning, moving hundreds of tons of rock. Eventually he fell and injured himself and was taken to the hospital when found by a passing swagman. There he became a celebrity when the enormity of his work was discovered and much marvelled at. He was reunited with his old friends and went to work for them although he continued to live in his cave.
When security people became convinced he was a spy Recitti was interned with his fellow countrymen at Hay during World War II. He was put to work building roads and instructed his captors on how to improve their road-building methods. When released he was re-employed by his old friends in Griffith. Troubled by visions and obsessions, largely associated with his cave, he returned to Italy when his health began to fail him in 1952 and he died there six months later.
Quite a view from the cave, you can see where Tim and Jenny used to live.
The label says 'the chapel'.
Here is Michaela in one of the caves. She is one gorgeous fun loving girl!
That's Joshua in red. Typical 8 year old boy, can't be seen to be still or have both feet on the ground.
Wyngan Sailing Club
This is from the front looking out, no other houses only to their left on their side of the road.
After lunch at a Griffith Bakery, we were shown around. This place is called the Hermits CaveThe cave was built by a colourful character named Valerio Recitti, an Italian migrant who arrived in Australia in 1916, aged 17. He immediately went to work at Broken Hill but soon began drifting. At one point he departed for Adelaide with a year's timber-cutting wages in his pocket. There he visited a brothel. Upon leaving he found that he had left his wallet behind and that the bouncer wouldn't allow him back in. After hurling a rock through a window, he was chased and ended up in Adelaide gaol. After his release he left for Melbourne where he intended to pawn his one remaining possession, a coat. Unfortunately he was duped by a passer-by who said he would pawn it for him and never returned.From there Recitti went to work on the Murray River paddlesteamers. He is said to have taken refuge in the cave while he was passing through in the 1920s and decided to stay. He believed himself to be the only Italian in the area and kept entirely to himself, whereas in fact old compatriots from Broken Hill had settled nearby and increasing numbers of Italian migrants were arriving.
Recitti decided to construct a private utopia. He cleared and decorated the caves, creating massive stone galleries and pathways, cliffside gardens and floral painted rock walls. So as to remain unseen he worked at night and early in the morning, moving hundreds of tons of rock. Eventually he fell and injured himself and was taken to the hospital when found by a passing swagman. There he became a celebrity when the enormity of his work was discovered and much marvelled at. He was reunited with his old friends and went to work for them although he continued to live in his cave.
When security people became convinced he was a spy Recitti was interned with his fellow countrymen at Hay during World War II. He was put to work building roads and instructed his captors on how to improve their road-building methods. When released he was re-employed by his old friends in Griffith. Troubled by visions and obsessions, largely associated with his cave, he returned to Italy when his health began to fail him in 1952 and he died there six months later.
Quite a view from the cave, you can see where Tim and Jenny used to live.
The label says 'the chapel'.
Here is Michaela in one of the caves. She is one gorgeous fun loving girl!
That's Joshua in red. Typical 8 year old boy, can't be seen to be still or have both feet on the ground.
Wyngan Sailing ClubHere's Bruce Tim and Jenny at sunset.
Jenny and Tim.
Sunday? Feeling a bit tired, so went off to church and listened to a guest speaker who is a Chaplain in the army. Him and his wife are kept very busy in their Ministry. After church we went for a wander around the shops and ended up having lunch at the Hog's Breath Cafe. We kept walking past and wondering what it was like. We were really surprised at how nice lunch was. As we had a late lunch it wasn't long before we were due at Paul and Janeen's (from church) for afternoon tea. They have one child (out of 4) left at home. We had a lovely afternoon tea. They are Adrian H.s parents-in-law if that helps. Toast for tea and then crash early. Weekends are fun and tiring!
Jenny and Tim.
Sunday? Feeling a bit tired, so went off to church and listened to a guest speaker who is a Chaplain in the army. Him and his wife are kept very busy in their Ministry. After church we went for a wander around the shops and ended up having lunch at the Hog's Breath Cafe. We kept walking past and wondering what it was like. We were really surprised at how nice lunch was. As we had a late lunch it wasn't long before we were due at Paul and Janeen's (from church) for afternoon tea. They have one child (out of 4) left at home. We had a lovely afternoon tea. They are Adrian H.s parents-in-law if that helps. Toast for tea and then crash early. Weekends are fun and tiring!
No comments:
Post a Comment