Memorial Archives - Page 13 of 24 - Destination's Journey

20 June 20215 August 2021

Fantastic Bruny Island Tasmania

Bruny Island

At 50kms long, Bruny Island has farms, food, forests, wildlife, beaches, and history, all within an easy drive. We spent two nights and two full days on the island and could have spent more because there’s so much to see and do.

How to Get There

Although accessible only by ferry, the island is still easy to get to, as the service runs regularly at 30-minute intervals. Check the timetable before going, to ensure you have the correct time. Tickets are purchased on the day of travel, as you enter the ferry terminal.

Cape Queen Elizabeth Track

Our first stop when we arrived was Cape Queen Elizabeth Track, where we walked to Bligh Rocks on the coast. This section of the walk took us one hour return for the five kilometres, plus another 30 minutes for photos and looking around. The full walk to the cape is 13km return, with an estimated 3 hours for the round trip.

Located opposite Bruny Island Honey, the track head has a small carpark next to the start of the walk. Commencing in coastal eucalypt forest, the vegetation changes to banksia scrub before reaching the beach on Moorina Bay.

This long sandy beach looks amazing and in summer must be a great place to relax, but in winter was too cold for a swim.

Bligh Rocks sit to the left of where the track enters the beach, with a gap in the rocks allowing access to the other side. At low tide access is possible on the ocean side, but is too dangerous when the tide is in. Through the gap, an arch gives access to a lovely small beach and more rocks.

Another arch further along, past this beach is accessible at very low tide, but was far too dangerous to attempt while we were there.

This was a very nice short walk and a great introduction to the island.

Gum Tree on Cape Queen Elizabeth Track — Cape Queen Elizabeth Track

The Neck Lookout / Truganini Lookout

One of the best-known features of Bruny Island is the spit that connects the north to the south part of the island. A carpark located next to a lookout gives a wonderful view of the neck, as well as providing views up and down the coast.

There are a lot of steps up to the lookout, but platforms at regular intervals allow rest stops and the chance to take in the views as you go up.

A large viewing platform at the top has bench seats to rest on and admire the views. In the middle of the platform, is a memorial to Truganini, the last full-blood Tasmanian aboriginal. Born in 1812 and dying in 1876 Truganini, the daughter of a Mangana leader saw her mother killed by sailors, her uncle shot by a soldier, her sister abducted by sealers, and her fiancé murdered by timber-getters. The genocide of the original Tasmanian people is the darkest part of Tasmania’s troubled history.

Truganini Memorial — Stairway Up To The Lookout

Cape Bruny Lighthouse

Sitting on the far south-western corner of the island, the heritage listed Cape Bruny Lighthouse, is 114m tall and sits perched at the top of rugged cliffs. The coastal views are amazing, especially at sunrise and sunset. We timed our visit to arrive before sunset and were able to see some great views.

View of the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage — Cape Bruny Lighthouse

Adventure Bay Bruny Island

Our two nights’ accommodation were in Adventure Bay, allowing us easy access to most of the island because of its central location. The area has a small general store, selling most things visitors will need, a great beach, some interesting attractions as well as being the departure point for the Adventure Cruise.

Opposite the general store, near the pathway to the beach is a large sculpture featuring a world globe containing a whale. Whales are often seen during their migration as they pass off the coast. In the past whales were hunted, but that has long gone, and they are now protected.

Between Adventure Bay and the small marina, two monuments to Captain James Cook commemorate his visit here in 1777.

Coal mining was undertaken in the area from 1879 to 1890 and a small information board explains its history. Mining was very difficult, because it was located on the shore line and impacted by the sea. The coal seam can be seen from the lookout near the information board.

Adventure Bay Beach Bruny Island — Adventure Bay Beach

Globe Sculpture Adventure Bay — Adventure Bay Beach

Beer, Wine, Whiskey, and Cider Tasting

Bruny Island has its own brewery, cider, whiskey, cheese, honey, and chocolate, so while there, take the opportunity to sample the locally made produce. We tried a few of the options and bought more to take home and enjoy later.

J Dillon and Sons Bruny Island Apple Cider

Bruny Island Beer Co. Lighthouse Ale — J Dillon and Sons Bruny Island Apple Cider

Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise

The highlight of out stay was the Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise. This three-hour cruise explores the rugged coastal cliffs and wildlife including seals, dolphins, and whales, if they are in the area. For the full blog of the cruise, click here.

Accommodation

We stayed in a self contained holiday house in Adventure Bay. This gave us a great place to explore from, while being able to relax in private. With places to eat nearby and centrally located for the Island’s attractions, we enjoyed our stay here.

What Did We Think

We really enjoyed out time here and could have spent several more days going on walks and exploring. The natural beauty and rugged coastline were amazing and the wildlife wonderful to see.

To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

Our photos are available for purchase on

14 June 20211 July 2021

Legerwood Memorial Trees

Created to honour fallen soldiers in World War One, the Legerwood Memorial Trees are a brilliant way to ensure their legacy remains remembered.

Following the end of World War One, many towns and cities in Australia chose to honour their fallen soldiers by planting trees to form avenues of remembrance. Planted during elaborate ceremonies, the families of dead soldiers placed trees as a permanent reminder of the sacrifice of their loved ones.

However, with time, the trees aged and became a hazard to people passing by. The thought of removing them and losing a link to the past was too much for the local community, so they came up with a unique solution. They engaged chainsaw artist Eddie Freeman to transform the trees into permanent memorials. Using historical photos of the soldiers, he sculpted the trees into wonderful artworks.

Not only do the sculptures show soldiers, but also depicts them in their civilian jobs, or with wives and fiancés. There are nine trees, in the park. They represent the seven men from the town killed in the conflict, one to remember the ANZACS and one to remember the sacrifice made at Gallipoli.

There is a plaque giving the history of the men at the base of each tree.

Getting There

Located just over an hour from Launceston along the Tasman Highway, Legerwood is easy to get to. Marked, appropriately by a sculpture, the turn-off is hard to miss. On street parking is available in the park, which also has toilet facilities and a barbeque area.

The Legerwood Carved Memorial Trees

We spent a lot of time walking around the memorials, reading the histories of the soldiers. The sculptures are great and it was wonderful that the artist used photos of the men to create each piece of art, because each one looks individual.

Legerwood Memorial Trees — Legerwood Carved Memorial Trees

A soldier on the Beach at Gallipoli Carrying an Ammunition Box and Billy Can Legerwood Memorial Trees — Legerwood Carved Memorial Trees

What Did We Think?

This was a great stop and a wonderful way to remember those who fought and died in the First World War. We loved walking around reading the men’s histories and admiring the sculptures.

To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

Our photos are available for purchase on

8 May 202110 May 2021

Nyngan and the Big Bogan

Nyngan

Located in the Orana Region of central New South Wales, Nyngan is the home of the Big Bogan, a helicopter memorial and several interesting museums. This was our second stop on a road trip out west and our first overnight stop.

Like many outback towns. there is a nice sign welcoming you to town, along with a rest stop. Here, you will find a “small” Big Bogan, but don’t be put off by its size, because the real one is in the town centre.

Driving around town we noticed some street art, as well as some nice buildings, especially the town hall.

Old Level Crossing Gates at the Heritage Garden — Welcome To Nyngan

Nyngan Museum

Our first stop was at the Railway Station which is now the town museum and also acts as a tourist information centre. Passenger trains no longer stop here, although the line is still used for freight, so the platform is blocked off to stop people wandering onto the tracks.

The museum’s displays cover all of Nyngan’s history, from pre-colonial to recent, including World War One and railway heritage.

Nyngan Museum Railway Platform — View of the Nyngan Museum From the Rail Overpass

Shearing Shed

Located across the rail line from the museum, the Shearing Shed captures the history of the wool industry that once dominated Australia. The original pulleys that powered the shears are still in place, making a great and authentic backdrop to the museum. Covering the walls are photos of past shearers, competition winners and champion sheep. We found this all very interesting, even more so when the volunteer working there turned out to be an old shearer. He told us all about life as a shearer and what the items on display were used for.

Railway Overpass Connecting to the Museum

Entrance to the Shearing Shed — Railway Overpass Connecting to the Museum

The Displays

Shearing

A photo on the wall shows how the shed used to look when operating. Many others showed champion sheep like Gothic and Dudley from Mullengudgery Stud.

Champion Sheep Gothic From Mullengudgery Stud — How the Shearing Shed Used to Look

Helicopter Flood Memorial

A stunning sight in the middle of town is a helicopter displayed on a pole Not something you expect to see on the main street, but relevant to Nyngan, because of the role they played during a flood.

In April 1990, unusually heavy rains caused major flooding in the town, despite a massive effort by local people to raise the levee walls using sandbags. With the town almost completely flooded, all the residents had to be evacuated by helicopter from the railway station, the highest point of the town, which was not flooded. Air Force helicopters, TV news helicopters and private helicopters all co-operated in the airlift.

Bell UH-1 Iroquois Helicopter Nyngan — Bell UH-1 Iroquois Helicopter

Nyngan Coach House

Sitting next to the Big Bogan, the Coach House is hard to miss. A large car park makes access easy, so you don’t have to park on the street. The two coaches on display are under cover but behind wire mesh. This doesn’t restrict viewing, because the mesh is wide spaced and allows the carriages to be seen from three sides.

Make sure you plan to see them before 5:00PM, because the roller doors are shut and locked to protect the displays overnight.

The Big Bogan

Adjacent to the Coach House, the Big Bogan is another “Big” thing we came across during this trip. Another one to cross of the list if you’re into seeing them all. For those who don’t know, a bogan is a derogatory word for an uncouth, unsophisticated person (like the American ‘trailer trash’).

The local shire council (The Bogan Shire) has made the most of having their name used this way and used it to attract tourists with the Big Bogan.

Early Settler Memorial

On the edge of town, a memorial pays tribute to the early European settlers in the area, who established the agricultural industry. It features a grazier, with his sheep dog and a flock of sheep.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Our photos are available for purchase on

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Category: Memorial

Fantastic Bruny Island Tasmania

Bruny Island

How to Get There

Cape Queen Elizabeth Track

The Neck Lookout / Truganini Lookout

Cape Bruny Lighthouse

Adventure Bay Bruny Island

Beer, Wine, Whiskey, and Cider Tasting

Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise

Accommodation

What Did We Think

Like this:

Legerwood Memorial Trees

Legerwood Memorial Trees

Getting There

The Legerwood Carved Memorial Trees

What Did We Think?

Like this:

Nyngan and the Big Bogan