Destination's Journey

Category: Army

  • Bass Point Reserve

    Bass Point Reserve

    Bass Point Reserve

    A place of significant cultural value, Bass Point Reserve is Heritage Listed, due to extensive Aboriginal and Colonial use of the area. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Elouera people lived here at least 20,000 years ago. Colonial settlers arrived 1803, although European explorers had passed through before this. Settled by cedar cutters and graziers, much of the area was cleared. Land clearing, disease and hostility by Europeans resulted in the collapse of the Aboriginal population.

    The Gravel Loader

    One of the first sites you see at Bass Point is the gravel loader which services the local basalt quarry. It forms an interesting contrast to the other more natural heritage areas because of its industrial use.

    The Gravel Loader Bass Point
    The Gravel Loader

    Bass Point

    Walking through the Reserve, we saw some small lizards, but no other wildlife, although larger native animals inhabit the area. The eroded basalt on the shore has places where colourful orange algae grow, adding some colour to the otherwise dull rocks.

    Lizard
    Lizard at Bass Point
    Bass Point Reserve
    Weathered Basalt and Orange Algae at Bass Point Reserve

    US Cities Service Boston & 6th Machine Gun Battalion Memorial

    On 16 May 1943, the US oil tanker US Cities Service Boston grounded here during a storm. Australian soldiers from the 6th Australian Machine Gun Battalion camping nearby assisted in the rescue of the 62 crew on board. All lives from the Boston were saved but four Australian soldiers perished in the rescue. Each year, a remembrance service commemorates the loss.

    6th Machine Gun Battalion Memorial
    6th Machine Gun Battalion Memorial
    "US Cities Service Boston" & 6th Machine Gun Battalion Memorial
    “US Cities Service Boston” & 6th Machine Gun Battalion Memorial
    "US Cities Service Boston" & 6th Machine Gun Battalion Memorial
    “US Cities Service Boston” & 6th Machine Gun Battalion Memorial

    Bushrangers Bay

    At the end of Bass Point Tourist Road is a small carpark that services Bushrangers Bay. This beautiful bay has vegetation growing down to the water line. A well-maintained wooden walkway provides access down to the pebble beach.

    A viewing platform designed to provide views over the bay sits above and to the left of the steps but was overgrown when we visited. This obscured what would otherwise have been a great view.

    Bushrangers Bay is a Marine Reserve, so fishing or removing anything from the area is prohibited.

    Wooden steps down to Bushranger Bay
    Wooden steps down to Bushranger Bay
    Bushranger Bay Bass Point
    Bushranger Bay

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

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  • Wings Over Illawarra 2021 Air Show

    Wings Over Illawarra 2021 Air Show

    Wings Over Illawarra 2021

    Delayed since 2020 due to Covid, Wings Over Illawarra was able to get into the air on the weekend of 27/28 November 2021. Held at Shellharbour Airport, south of Wollongong, the air show was well organised, with plenty of parking and helpful volunteers.

    We stayed at a nearby hotel the previous night, because the show was a four-hour drive from home. Our previous visit here in 2018 convinced us that Gold Tickets would be a good idea and we were not disappointed. Not only did they give us great seats and excellent onsite parking, but we got early access to the site. This let us wander around the static displays before the crowds arrived, allowing us to take photos without too many people around.

    Weather

    Unfortunately, the weather on the day was overcast with showers, but the organizers did a great job getting as many flights happening as possible. Some of the warbirds did not fly, as the risk was too great, but we were able to see them close up because they were parked in front of the Gold Ticket area.

    Static Displays

    After getting a coffee, we went for a walk through the aircraft on static display. The RAAF had a Lockheed Hercules C-130J on display, which we were able to walk through. The air force also had an F/A-18 Hornet, but it was on the flight line ready for a display.

    The Royal Australian Navy and Army contributed helicopters, with the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk demonstrating its flying abilities later in the day.

    HARS (previously Historic Aircraft Restoration Society) is based at the airport and had their collection on display. They have an excellent collection, with the MiG-21 being a new addition since our last visit.

    Lockheed C-130J Hercules Wings Over Illawarra 2021
    Lockheed C-130J Hercules
    Eurocopter MRH-90 Taipan Wings Over Illawarra Air Show 2021
    Eurocopter MRH-90 Taipan
    De Havilland Canada Caribou Wings Over Illawarra Air Show 2021
    De Havilland Canada Caribou
    Douglas C-47 Dakota A65-95
    Douglas C-47 Dakota A65-95
    CAC Sabre A94-901 Wings Over Illawarra Air Show 2021
    CAC Sabre A94-901
    MiG 21U in Indian Air Force colours Wings Over Illawarra Air Show 2021
    MiG 21U in Indian Air Force colours
    Dassault Mirage IIIO
    Dassault Mirage IIIO

    War Birds

    The highlight of many air shows are the war birds giving flying demonstrations. The Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk, Lockheed Neptune and CAC Wirraway put on a great display Despite the weather. Unfortunately, the Avenger, Corsair and P-51 didn’t fly on the day, but were still displayed for people to see.

    Vought Corsair with folded wings Wings Over Illawarra 2021
    Vought Corsair with folded wings
    Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk
    Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk

    Flying Displays

    Apart from the war birds, flying displays were put on by the RAAF with their F/A-18, the Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk and the Sky Aces aerobatic team. These were great to see and our seats in the grandstand gave us an excellent view.

    Lockheed P-2H Neptune A89-273
    Lockheed P-2H Neptune A89-273
    F/A-18A Hornet A21-8
    F/A-18A Hornet A21-8
    Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk
    Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk
    Paul Bennett in his Wolf Pitts
    Paul Bennet in his Wolf Pitts

    Vehicle Displays

    On the far side of the airfield was a small static display of vintage vehicles and current Australian Army vehicles. This was a fun and interesting area to walk around, as it offered something different to see.

    1939 Chevrolet
    1939 Chevrolet
    Bushmaster
    Bushmaster

    What Did We Think of Wings Over Illawarra 2021?

    We had a great day here watching the flying and walking around the displays, despite the gloomy weather. The following day had much improved weather, so the full flying agenda took place. Displays by HARS and access to their museum was a great part to the show.

  • Cape Banks Botany Bay National Park

    Cape Banks Botany Bay National Park

    Cape Banks

    Getting There

    We drove to Cape Banks and parked near the pistol club and helicopter base. This large car park has plenty of space, so parking shouldn’t be a problem.

    Cape Banks Walking Track

    The Cape Banks Walking track runs past the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter Base towards the coast. On the way you pass an old fortress before reaching the ocean. At this point you turn right, if you turn left, you will arrive back at the car park.

    The track continues along the coast to the New South Wales Golf Club, where a small bridge leads out to the cape. From here you are able to explore the rock platform and the higher ground of the cape.

    • Bridge to reach the rock platform
      Bridge to reach the rock platform

    Cape Banks Fortifications

    Used to protect the approaches to Botany Bay, Fort Banks is an old World War II bunker and fortification complex. During World War Two, it was armed with two 9.2 inch guns, but these are long gone. Sand dunes and vegetation are overtaking the fortifications. Graffiti also covers most of the site, which detracts from the importance of the site.

    Despite this, it is still an interesting spot to walk around, with some of the building accessible through rusty doors.

    Several old tombstones are stored here, removed from the nearby Hospital Cemetery.

    • Fort Banks
      Fort Banks
    • Fort Banks
      Fort Banks
    • Roof of Fort Banks
      Roof of Fort Banks
    • Fort Banks
      Fort Banks
    • Rusty Steel Doors at Fort Banks
      Rusty Steel Doors at Fort Banks
    • Old Headstones at Fort Banks
      Old Headstones at Fort Banks

    Rock Platform

    Exposed at low tide, the rock platform provides great views over the ocean. Be careful because you need to climb over rocks to get there. Check the tides before going, to make sure the tide will be low. Rock pools and slippery surfaces on the platform mean you need to walk carefully to avoid slipping.

    The small cliff face displays some great erosion patterns from wind and waves. The colours of the rocks are also interesting.

    To visit the shipwreck at the end of the cape, make your way to the rocks, where the SS Minmi can be seen up close.

    • Rock Platform and the Wreck of the SS Minmi
      Rock Platform and the Wreck of the SS Minmi
    • Waves Breaking Over the Rock Platform
      Waves Breaking Over the Rock Platform
    • Eroded Cliff on Cape Banks
      Eroded Cliff on Cape Banks
    • Undercut Cliff on Cape Banks
      Undercut Cliff
    • Eroded Cliff on Cape Banks
      Eroded Cliff on Cape Banks
    • Looking Along Cape Banks From the SS Minmi
      Looking Along the Cape From the SS Minmi
    • Overhanging Eroded Rock on the Cliff Face
      Overhanging Eroded Rock on the Cliff Face

    Wreck of the SS Minmi

    Located at the far end of the rock platform, the remains of the wreck of the SS Minmi are easily accessible at low tide. Salvage work in the 1930s removed the forward part of the ship, so only the rear portion now remaining.

    The SS Minmi was a 75m long, 1,455 ton collier built in Glasgow, Scotland in 1927. It was named after either the lower Hunter Valley town of Minmi, or the nearby Minmi Colliery.

    The Minmi’s captain for all of her ten-year service was Captain McPhall, who had brought the ship to Australia. Captain McPhall commenced two weeks’ leave in the first week of May, leaving Chief Officer Callum to take over as Captain. On 8 May 1937 at 10 pm while returning to Newcastle after delivering coal to Melbourne, the ship struck the outside of Cape Banks. Frederick Boulton, the ship’s cook, collapsed and died of a heart attack soon after the ship struck the rocks.

    The Minmi split in two at about 12:45 am, with crew members stranded on both the front and back sections. Those at the front were rescued without incident, but it was more perilous for those in the rear. During the rescue, one life was lost because of the heavy seas.

    • SS Minmi on the Rock Platform
      SS Minmi on the Rock Platform
    • SS Minmi on the Rocks
      Wreck of the SS Minmi on the Rocks
    • SS Minmi Wreckage Strewn Over the Rocks
      SS Minmi Wreckage Strewn Over the Rocks

    What Did We Think?

    This was a great little walk, because we saw an old fort, a shipwreck, and enjoyed some nice views. The walk is short, but does require some climbing over rocks and a visit at low tide is a must.