This blog features photos taken around Sydney and the Blue Mountains, on day walks, excursions and bushwalks - with some descriptions and links to more information. Most walks were accessed by public transport.
Nov 16, 2013
Wentworth Falls Lake Reserve
Updated 8th January 2015
Wentworth Falls Lake was created in the early 1900s to supply water for steam locomotives, by damming Jamison Creek.
Wentworth Falls Lake Reserve has a picnic area and children's playground with sandstone sculptures, based on seed pods of local plant, nearby. There is a walking track around the lake, of about 3.5 Km. in length. (this includes some walking along Waratah & Banksia Rds.)
Much of the lake is surrounded by sensitive hanging swamp, which is listed as an 'Endangered Ecological Community'
BMCC info GPS trace map location map
Nov 2, 2013
Gore Cove track to Berry Island
This 6.5Km walk which starts at Smoothey Park Wollstonecraft,
follows a narrow green corridor along Berry Creek and Gore Cove to Berry
Island.
Beencke’s Bridge (left), built in 1964 to replace a wooden trestle bridge,
is named after the Greenwich
stonemason and carpenter who built the original footbridge.
The walk passes through rain forest remnants along Berry Creek, then through open woodland along the Gore Cove foreshore.
The small island was originally joined to the mainland by narrow mudflats which have since been filled and a lawn established. The bushland was regenerated and is now maintained by North Sydney Council. There is a short circular bushland track with views of the harbour and information about Aboriginal history.
Gore Cove from Berry Is. |
Our group had planned to complete our walk back to Wollstonecraft station through Badangi Bushland Reserve but hazard reduction on the day prevented this. This walk can also end at Waverton Station. (see map)
Badangi Reserve on Balls Head Bay |
Oct 20, 2013
Mamre House
Mamre House, at Orchard Hills, is recognised as
a property of State significance. This substantial Georgian homestead, was the residence of the Rev. Samuel Marsden during the 1820s and 1830s. He was
a colonial chaplain, magistrate and pastoralist who helped pioneer the
Australian wool industry by importing and breeding the famous Merino sheep.
The property later became the residence of Richard Rouse, a prominent public servant and grazier. It is now leased to the Sisters of Mercy who run a program combining job creation, training and tourism, for people returning to the workforce, those with a disability, and refugees.
As well as the training centre, Mamre House includes a restaurant and tearoom (closed Mondays), a plant nursery and gift shop.
The property later became the residence of Richard Rouse, a prominent public servant and grazier. It is now leased to the Sisters of Mercy who run a program combining job creation, training and tourism, for people returning to the workforce, those with a disability, and refugees.
Mamre House |
Companion Garden |
As well as the training centre, Mamre House includes a restaurant and tearoom (closed Mondays), a plant nursery and gift shop.
Labels:
Mamre House,
Penrith
Oct 7, 2013
Newington Armory
Now part of the parklands of Sydney Olympic Park, Newington Armory is a riverside site of undulating hills and woodlands, set aside in the late 1800s for a military magazine. Stone sea walls were constructed along the foreshore of
the Parramatta River fronting the site and the mudflats were filled in
to gain more land for farms, docks and a wharf.
Control transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in 1921, and the RAN Armament Depot expanded up until the 1960s. The depot remained one of two Navy ammunition storage depots in Sydney until December 1999, with ownership transferring to the State Government's Olympic Coordination Authority.
I have wanted to visit Newington Armory since our walking group visited the area on a week day earlier this year. On that occasion we saw the wharf and the gatehouse.
The Armory is only open on the weekends, and the Heritage Railway, which takes you into a restricted section of the reserve, only runs Sundays (10.30am to 1pm when I visited). Riding the Rails
If walking or cycling, the Newington Armory can be reached along the River Walk - from the Wilson Park (Silverwater Rd.) end, or from the Sydney Olympic Park Wharf (~2Km) (see 525 & 526 bus routes). The nearby Blaxland Riverside Park is a very popular spot on the weekends, and cars were parked back along Jamieson St. to Holker St. when I visited. Location map
Control transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in 1921, and the RAN Armament Depot expanded up until the 1960s. The depot remained one of two Navy ammunition storage depots in Sydney until December 1999, with ownership transferring to the State Government's Olympic Coordination Authority.
Bld 20 -1897 Powder magazine |
The site is now listed on the state heritage register, due to its significant and rare extensive military and industrial landscape. The earth covering around the magazines, seen in the photos above, acted as a blast shield in the event of an explosion.
Within the grounds are an Artists Studio, a YMCA camping lodge, a theatre that was formerly a naval storehouse, and the Birds Australia Discovery Centre, which includes an extensive bird book library, education room and
interpretation centre for bird conservation.
The Heritage Railway
This is a 2-foot gauge railway powered by storage battery locomotives, which was used to transport munitions from the wharf to magazines scattered throughout the site. The photo below (bottom left) shows a mock-up of such a train. As you can see it has now been adapted to take tour passengers.I have wanted to visit Newington Armory since our walking group visited the area on a week day earlier this year. On that occasion we saw the wharf and the gatehouse.
The Armory is only open on the weekends, and the Heritage Railway, which takes you into a restricted section of the reserve, only runs Sundays (10.30am to 1pm when I visited). Riding the Rails
If walking or cycling, the Newington Armory can be reached along the River Walk - from the Wilson Park (Silverwater Rd.) end, or from the Sydney Olympic Park Wharf (~2Km) (see 525 & 526 bus routes). The nearby Blaxland Riverside Park is a very popular spot on the weekends, and cars were parked back along Jamieson St. to Holker St. when I visited. Location map
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