Parramatta Park (1)

Parramatta Park

Parramatta Park is one of the largest parks in Western Sydney. It was proclaimed in August 1858 and is one of Australia's most important cultural landscapes.

Old Government House, Parramatta

Old Government House (Australia's oldest surviving public building) and Domain is included in the ‘Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property’
It has been undergoing major restoration this year, which is the bicentenary of Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

The Bath House, Parramatta

Although it seems an upmarket Restaurant, Lauchlan’s at Old Government house has a cafe menu available for morning tea, light lunch and afternoon tea. 

A grape vine seen on the left of the photo should add to the ambiance when it is in leaf.

 The Bath House was built in 1822 with a Roman style bath for Governor Brisbane.
It was later converted into a bandstand pavilion for public use.


Parramatta can be reached from Sydney by Cityrail train (~30 minutes) or by Rivercat ferry, see my Circular Quay to Parramatta post.



For more about Parramatta Park, please is my second post on the park.

Wattle Day

Australia's Wattle Day centenary (1910-2010) is being celebrated on Wednesday 1 September 2010.
This wattle (Acacia amoena) was photographed on a recent walk in the Blue Mountains near Hazelbrook. Australia's national floral emblem is the Golden Wattle.

Hazelbrook (2)

Aboriginal Wells, Hazelbrook

These rock holes, known as the Aboriginal wells, are adjacent to the Great Western Highway just west of the Hazelbrook village shops. The rock holes, which vary in size are natural or formed holes in the rock.

The rock holes, near Gloria Park, are the remaining group of a larger cluster of holes said to be rainwater catchment wells used by travelling Darug and Gundungurra people. Smaller holes could be covered with capping stones to reduce evaporation.
The elevated pedestrian  footpath goes around the wells which can be seen in the bottom right-hand corner of the above photo.

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Blue Mountains Gazette reported (Nov 19 2013) that: "Selwood Science and Puzzles is closing down after 16 years following the sudden and unexpected death in May of its creator David Thomson".

Hazelbrook Walk

The Intercity train journey, from Sydney's Central station to the mid Blue Mountains village of Hazelbrook, (93.5Km) takes about one hour 40 minutes. We walked from the northern side of the station, along Winbourn Road, past homes to the start of a bush walk in Burgess Park reserve.

Burgess Falls, Hazelbrook

The Blue Mountains City Council has recently installed signs for this walk

Oaklands Falls, Hazelbrook

Burgess Falls are not large, but like most mid mountains walks, it is a very pleasant spot to visit in all seasons. It was named as a memorial to a local World War I soldier who was killed in Belgium in 1917

There are several other small waterfalls in the area, such as the Oaklands Falls