Sunday 30 April 2017

APRIL 2017 : CANBERRA : Heritage Walk around Kingston, ACT

 

We live in an apartment in Kingston, a central suburb of Canberra.
Canberra was selected as the capital of Australia in 1913 - a pastoral area on an impressive 
limestone plain. 
In the 1920s the city began to develop, including the new Parliament House 
(opened in 1927), and our suburb, Kingston, built for workers in the new government offices.

 

For ACT Heritage Week there was a tour of Kingston to highlight its historical past. We 
joined the tour with a friends from our apartments

 

We began at Green Square, the heart of the shopping centre. Local businesses maintain the 
parkland for young families to enjoy.

 

The shopping centre was established in the late 1920s, one of the first in Canberra.

 

 

Some businesses have kept some of the original features and structure.

 

 

 

The home of Canberra's first commercial radio station.

 

Kingston or Eastlake as it was originally called was established for the workers at the Printing Office
and power station nearby. 

 
This was one of the early street markers.


 

Some of the heritage - listed houses.

 

 

The small garages built in The Depression, in 1930-32, as a special work project for the unemployed.
They were designed to house a tiny Austin A30 car.

 

Towards Lake Burley-Griffin is a new Kingston precinct.

 

Some of the early buildings remain, now remodelled and forming part of a new Arts precinct.

The Printing Office annex

 

The bus station

 

 

The Power Station (now The Glassworks)

 

 

 

The Fitters' Workshop (now a music performing space)

 

Exciting plans and developments envisaged for Kingston, particularly on the Foreshore on Lake Burley Griffin.

 

 

 

M&M



Saturday 29 April 2017

APRIL 2017 : CANBERRA : Uriarra Village to Mount McDonald Trig Cotter District and return - 11kms - 3 hours

 

We met in Uriarra Village - now Coree - at the bottom of Mt Donald.

 

Up a driveway past horse paddocks.

 

Through a locked gate.

 

And on to a fire trail..

 

The last part of the climb through natural bushland. This regrowth is after the devastating
2003 bushfires, which destroyed the extensive pine forests that previously covered this
Hill.

 

Mt McDonald Trig - 794m

 

Some surprising plants along the way.

 

Spectacular views across the Cotter Dam to further mountains to conquer.

 

Views on our return 

 

A few spectators

 

Through the gate to return to Uriarra Village

 

A visit to Mt Stromlo Observatory on our return journey

 

Brunch at the cafe..

 

M

Saturday 22 April 2017

APRIL 2017 : CANBERRA : The Cotter Dam Discovery Trail and return via the Honyong - Cotter Track : 9 kms - 2 1/2 hours

This morning, in misty rain, we walked from the Cotter Dam carpark on trails and tracks westward and then looped back to the Dam. 18o.

 

 

Setting off from the carpark.

 

Glorious Autumn colours

 

Around the river shore

 

 

Then on to one of the many firetrails.

 

There were some steep sections.


 


 

An unexpected sighting of an emu running along the fence.

 

Views of the Dam

 

Checking the route details.

 

Over the bridge..

 

To the new dam, reconstructed in 2013.

 

History of the area

 

Back to the carpark.

 

M