Standing 15.2m tall and weighing in at 97 tonnes (50 feet and 95 tons imperial), the Big Marino lives up to its name. Being one of Goulburn’s tourist attractions, he contains a giftshop and wool display. His huge size makes him difficult to miss. Sitting on the Hume Highway means access is easy, along with plenty of parking behind him.
Located near Trapper’s Bakery is a great bonus, because when you finish admiring the big sheep, you can have a great meal there.
This was a fun visit, especially if you are into seeing Big Things.
The Big MarinoThe Rear View
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
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
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 at Bass PointWeathered 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“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 BayBushranger Bay
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
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.
Natural Histories #FUntitled CeramicInsect/Orchid
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 Suspension of Disbelief by Marcus BeilbyInstrumental Cause
The Art of Protest at Newcastle Art Gallery December 2021
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.
The Art of Protest TitleMade From Melted Family Ute Lost in the 2019/20 Fires by Fiona LeeI Can’t Breathe by Maddison GibbsPaper Armada by Alex Seaton and Screen Prints by Peter DrewTrial By Fire by Fiona LeeThe Bunker by Fiona LeeBillionaires UnitedThylacine Study No.4 by Joseph McGlennon
