Destination's Journey

Tag: New South Wales

  • ANZAC Day Sydney

    ANZAC Day Sydney

    ANZAC Day Sydney

    We usually attend ANZAC Dawn Service in our home town of Singleton. However since our daughter joined the RAN and was marching in Sydney we travelled down to see her.

    By far the biggest parade in the state if  not Australia (we haven’t seen Melbourne’s parade so cant compare). It was impressive for its sheer size.

    Getting There

    Travelling down by train we arrived at Central Station in plenty if time to walk into the city a grab a coffee along the way. We could have caught a train to Hyde Park but wanted to stretch our legs after a 2 hour train journey.

    We picked a spot near Bathurst Street and staked our place at the barriers so that we could get the best view. This turned out to be a good plan as the crowd was soon several people deep.

    The ANZAC Day Parade

    The parade started with the cavalry horse being led with no rider but with boots placed  backwards in the stirrups to represent its deceased rider and extending this to all of those killed in battle.

    For Fallen Comrades ANZAC Day March Sydney
    For Fallen Comrades

    Veterans who were no longer able to walk or march followed in cars. These all received huge cheers as they went past. Veterans then passed marching behind their unit flags, some interacting with the crowd, all receiving huge cheers.

    • Ford Falcon Taxi For Veterans ANZAC Day March Sydney
      Ford Falcon Taxi For Veterans
    • Plymouth Taxi For Veterans on the March Anzac Day
      Plymouth Taxi For Veterans on the March

    Once the veterans had passed currently serving personnel marched passed.

    • World War 1 Flags ANZAC Day March Sydney
      World War 1 Flags
    • Royal Australian Navy ANZAC Day March Sydney
      Royal Australian Navy

    Interspersed with the marchers were bands from around the state with the Scottish bands with pipes and drums providing some great sounds.  The parade goes on for 4 hours, and provides a lot of history to today’s society.  Once the parade is over, there is the opportunity to play two up, or eat and socialise throughout a huge area.

    Scots Band on Anzac Day
    Scots Band on Anzac Day

    The march ends at the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park, where the ceremony is held.

    • ANZAC Memorial Hyde Park Sydney
      ANZAC Memorial Hyde Park Sydney

    If you are in Sydney on April 25, it is highly recommended that you go and visit the parade.  If you live in Sydney, this is something worth doing, to remember those how have and do serve Australia.

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

  • Newington Armory

    Newington Armory

    Newington Armory

    Newington Armory was originally a storage facility for the Australian Army and Navy’s explosives and weaponry. Now disused, many of the buildings have been re-purposed and the whole site is part of a museum and national park.

    If you are travelling with children, there is a huge playground, just before you reach the entrance to the Armory. This looks like a great place to let them work off some excess energy either before or after your visit.

    Wharf Area

    The wharf area is now quiet, but this was where explosives were shipped from. Some old cranes and buildings are still present, giving a great backdrop to the area. The old wharf office is now a small cafe, which is where we started our day, sitting on the wharf having a coffee in the morning sunlight was very peaceful.

    • Crane at the Old Wharf Newington Armory Sydney Australia
      Crane at the Old Wharf

    Armory Buildings

    The armory site itself is extensive and it is free to walk around examining the old buildings and going into those that are open. Many of the buildings are locked up, but you can walk around the outside and examine them and take the photos.

    It’s interesting to see the precautions that were set up to protect each building in case of an explosion. Surrounded by concrete walls or large earthworks to contain any mishaps, many buildings are partially hidden.

    Buildings near the entrance are in use so you can go inside. Make sure you go around the back and between them to see the explosion protection.

    • Concrete Blast Protection Newington Armory Sydney Australia
      Concrete Blast Protection
    • Blast Protection Newington Armory Sydney Australia
      Blast Protection
    • Buildings Behind Earth Bunds Newington Armory Sydney Australia
      Buildings Behind Earth Bunds

    Armory Train

    The train tracks that were set up to move items around of the armory are still in place and on Sunday a train runs so people can travel and have a look around the site while enjoying a ride.

    There is a bird sanctuary discovery area in the centre of the park, where you can learn about the bird life in the area. If the birds interest you, there is a great bird watching area not far away in the wetlands.

    Nearby are the train loading stations which are still in place and make a good photo opportunity. You can also walk over the old explosives’ magazines with their earth coverings but can’t go inside.

    • Explosives Magazine Newington Armory Sydney Australia
      Explosives Magazine

    A throw disc golf course has been set up which visitors can use. Rules are provided and although we didn’t play it looked like fun. Something families would enjoy.

    • Golf Course Newington Armory Sydney Australia
      Golf Course

    From the Newington Armory, we walked to the Homebush shipwrecks before catching the ferry from Sydney Olympic Park Wharf to Circular Quay.

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

  • Great North Road Convict Trail

    Great North Road Convict Trail

    Built between 1826 and 1834 by convict labour the Great North Road was one of the first great projects undertaken by the colony of New South Wales. It was built to connect Sydney with Newcastle and the Upper Hunter Valley. Some of the stonework for culverts, buttresses and bridges can still be seen today.

    Getting To the Great North Road

    We drove down part of the northern section from Singleton as far as the Circuit Flat Walking Track Bridge. The total driving time, one way was about 90 minutes, but took much longer with stops to examine remnants of the road.

    As well as the road, the scenery is great, and you drive through some historic towns, such as Wollombi.

    Great North Road Map Convict Trail
    Great North Road Map

    Thompson’s Bridge

    Flanked by a stone retaining wall, Thompson’s Bridge is about 15 km south of Laguna. The stone walls on each side are course rubble work which is not like the other stonework in this area, which is mostly close fitting dry stone construction. This has led to debate as to whether this is original or later work.

    • Thonpson's Bridge Embankment Great North Road Convict Trail
      Thonpson’s Bridge Embankment
    • Thonpson's Bridge Great North Road Convict Trail
      Thonpson’s Bridge

    Murray’s Run Culvert

    Murray’s Run Culvert is one kilometre south of Thompson’s Bridge. This culvert has an elaborate decorative arch that supports the retaining wall above. A sign post helps you find this culvert, but the obvious old road off to the side is easy to spot.

    • Murray's Run Culvert Great North Road Convict Trail
      Murray’s Run Culvert

    Fernances Culvert

    Fernances Crossing culvert is just beside the present road and located about seven kilometres north of the original Buckety intersection. We found it to be well sign posted and easy to find. Parking off the road is available. Constructed in 1830 by Road Party 27 it consists of a curved stone retaining wall with a rectangular culvert that carried the road across a small gully.

    • The Furnaces Crossing Culvert Great North Road Convict Trail
      The Fernances Crossing Culvert

    Buckety Precinct

    The Buckety Precinct was the largest of the Great North Road relics that we visited.  Situated at the intersection of the Great North Road and George Downes Drive, the area is approximately 400m long. The Buckety Wall is a very nice preserved section of dry stone retaining wall and is the first thing you see when entering the area.  Walking up hill from here, is a large section of the original road surface, as constructed by the convicts.

    • Buckety Wall Precinct Great North Road Convict Trail
      Buckety Wall Precinct
    • Original Pavement Great North Road Convict Trail
      Original Pavement

    St. Alban’s Road Ramp

    This large retaining wall was the tallest that we saw on our trip.  Still used to support the current roadway the road ramp is worth the stop to admire.  There is a signpost marking the spot, but the wall is on the opposite side of the road, over the embankment.

    • St Alban's Road Ramp Great North Road Convict Trail
      St Alban’s Road Ramp

    Circuit Flat Bridge

    The turn-off to get to Circuit Flat Bridge is sign posted as Mt Manning Intersection.  If you follow this track for about 3 kilometers in your car,  you will arrive at the remains of the bridge. We chose to drive further down Wollombi Road to the Mogo Camp Ground.  From here there is a nice three kilometer walk to the bridge, which took us about 45 minutes, with a further 30 minutes to walk back via the road.

    • Circuit Flat Bridge Great North Road Convict Trail
      Circuit Flat Bridge
    • Mt Manning Marker
      Mt Manning Marker

    Wollombi

    We stopped at Wollombi on our way home for afternoon tea.  There are several cafes and restaurants in the village as well as the famous Wollomi Tavern.

    After a refuelling stop, we walked around the village and admired the old buildings, notably St Michael’s Church and the buildings along the main street.

    • The Historical Town of Wollombi in the Hunter Valley
      Wollombi
    • St Michael's Church Wollombi
      St Michael’s Church Wollombi
    • Old Wollombi Police Station
      Old Wollombi Police Station
    • Wollombi Tavern
      Wollombi Tavern
    • Wollombi
      Wollombi

    Sights Along the Road

    As you drive along there are some great sights on the side of the road.  One of the best was this rhinoceros sculpture just outside Wollombi.

    • Rhino Sculpture Outside Wollombi
      Rhino Sculpture Outside Wollombi

    We really enjoyed our day out along the Great North Road, following the Convict Trail.  As well as doing some bush walking and learning some convict history, we were able to see some historical buildings all in a very picturesque setting.

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