AdBlock Detected

It looks like you're using an ad-blocker!

Our team work realy hard to produce quality content on this website and we noticed you have ad-blocking enabled.

The Swinging Bridge Cooranbong

The Swinging Bridge Cooranbong

The Swinging Bridge Cooranbong

Originally built in 1934 to allow access for workers to the nearby Sanitarium factory, the Swinging Bridge replaced rowing or swimming as the means to get to work. Crossing Dora Creek at Cooranbong the bridge can be tricky to find because it is located behind residential houses. We parked in Victory Street and walked down the public access track between Nos. 19 and 29. Once behind the houses the bridge is in front of you.

Crossing the bridge is fun as it bounces slightly as you walk. On the far side of Dora Creek, the old private access road to the Sanitarium Factory leads along the creek. Lined with palm and flowering trees, the old road looks great, especially as the trees were in bloom.

The Swinging Bridge Cooranbong
Looking Over The Swinging Bridge over Dora Creek
The Swinging Bridge Cooranbong
The Swinging Bridge over Dora Creek
Pathway after leaving the bridge The Swinging Bridge Cooranbong
Old Private Road to the factory

Following the creek, we saw palm trees lining the far bank which was unexpected. The creek passes the old factory which has been closed and changed hands. Visible through the surrounding fence, the old entrance would be nice to see up close. We made do with looking over the fence, because access is not allowed.

Palms on the bank of Dora Creek
Palms on the bank of Dora Creek
The Old Sanitarium Factory
The Old Sanitarium Factory

Sandy Creek Trail

Returning to the bridge, we decided to walk the Sandy Creek Trail, because it follows two creeks and goes through regrowth woodland. A sign showed other walks in the area, but this one held more interest for us. This walk is in yellow on the photo below. The well-maintained track follows Jigadee Creek until it meets Dora Creek. At this point the M1 Motorway from Sydney to Newcastle crosses the creeks several hundred meters down Dora Creek.

The track then follows Dora Creek back to the swinging bridge, where we crossed the creek and returned to our car.

Bush Track
Bush Track
Dora Creek Looking at the M1 Motorway
Dora Creek Looking at the M1 Motorway
Map of the Tracks around Avondale
Map of the Tracks around Avondale

What Did We Think?

This was a great little walk, with some industrial heritage as well as the bridge and bush walking.

Newcastle Art Gallery December 2021

Billionaires United

With 3 exhibitions at the Newcastle Art Gallery in December 2021 it’s a great place to visit The three exhibits fill the galleries walls until January 30, 2022.

About Being Here

The first exhibit consists of ceramic art work by Angela Valamaneh of the Jam Factory. Titles “About Being Here” displays works from her developing style of the late 1990s until present.

Instrumental Cause

The exhibition Instrumental Cause is by guest curator Donna Biles-Fernando featuring portraits from Newcastle Art Gallery’s collection. These examine how different artists work.

The Art of Protest features politically engaged artists past and present responding to disaster and injustice and calling for change, whether from community activism or global social movements.

Covering over 100 years of resistance, it shows how new artists take up the fight each decade. Many areas of protest are covered, from workers’ rights and feminism to climate change.

Miss Porter’s House Newcastle Australia

Miss Porter's House

Miss Porter’s House

Built in 1909 by Herbert Porter for his new bride Florence, the Miss Porter’s House is a freestanding Edwardian terrace building. The Porters ran a business in Hunter Street, immediately behind the house. Herbert and Florence had two daughters, Ella, and Hazel, who lived in the house their whole lives. Unfortunately, Herbert died in the 1919 influenza epidemic at the age of 41.

The last surviving daughter, Hazel died in 1997, since then the house has been cared for by a volunteer Management Committee of the National Trust. The house is unique because it was only occupied by the one family. Unlike most National Trust houses, which have been reburnished to represent a particular time period, Miss Porter’s House has its original furnishings.

Miss Porter's House
Miss Porter’s House

Original Kitchen and Kitchenette

As part of the reconstruction work, following the 1989 Newcastle earthquake, the sisters had the laundry and bathroom reconfigured. The resulting kitchenette contains a small 1935 electric stove.

Containing the old wood fuelled range, the original kitchen also displayed items from the early twentieth century.

Old Moffat Oven Miss Porter's House
Old Moffat Electric Stove
Wood Fired Range in the Kitchen Miss Porters House
Wood Fired Range in the Kitchen
The Kitchen Miss Porter's House
The Kitchen

Ceilings

The decorated pine wood ceilings are beautiful and a highlight of the building, because of their rarity.

Miss Porters House Decorative Ceiling
Decorative Ceiling
Miss Porters House Decorative Ceiling
Decorative Ceiling

Parlour

Green glassware was on display in the parlour, along with 1939 lounge suite. Other furnishings and decorations were Art Deco, along with a 1920s gramophone.

Green Glassware
Green Glassware

Upstairs Bedrooms

Two bedrooms make up the upstairs area. Both have the original bed and clothing. Even the receipt for the bedroom furniture was found, the Porters appear to have thrown nothing out.

Sewing Machine
1910 Treadle Sewing Machine
Upstairs Bedroom Miss Porter's House
Upstairs Bedroom