Tag:victoria
Swan Lake, Phillip Island, is the only freshwater lake on the island and home to an abundance of birdlife. It is accessed off Ventnor Road, 7kms before the Penguin Parade and near the Nobbies. The pleasant walk starts from the small unpaved carpark and, at only 1.7kms long, is a leisurely 40-minute return.
The Walk
The swan lake trail is slightly undulating and a pleasant stroll, thus making it ideal for prams and wheelchairs. It is also bicycle-friendly, and picnic tables are provided. The gravel path weaves through open bushland and gives way to a boardwalk across ecologically sensitive areas as it nears the lake edge. Next to the boardwalk are two bird hides.
Historically, Swan Lake was a significant food source for the Bunurong Aboriginal people. Historians believe the Bunurong people previously lived in the area and fed on the wetland birds, fish, eels and plants, as evidenced by the ‘Middens’ items made from shells and charcoal that have been found there.
wildlife
On the day we visited, apart from the Black Swans, we also saw Cape Barron Geese, various ducks and Welcome Swallows. The Welcome Swallows were abundant in the trees alongside one of the hides. They also had a nest in the corner of the door leading into a bird hide. Watching them, they darted around and stopped to perch on the branches for us. Very accommodating of them. We also spotted a Swamp Wallaby as we continued our walk.
Getting There
The reserve is located on Ventnor Road. Keep an eye out for the Swan Lake guest house as you approach the penguin parade carpark. The carpark is situated to the left, before the penguin parade carpark and just a few metres past the guest house. Swan Lake is open daily.
NOTE
Unfortunately, Swan Lake has no toilets, and dogs are not permitted. The track also offers no shade, save for when in the bird hides, so a hat, sunscreen and insect repellant are recommended (though the mosquitos weren’t as bad as elsewhere on the island)
Located in Murchison South, Victoria, Days Mill is a well-preserved steam-driven flour mill with a rich history. It’s also considered the best-preserved flour mill from the 19th century in Victoria. The property spans four hectares of land in the Goulburn Valley, south of Murchison, and includes the mill, a residence, and farm buildings. The mill contains all the original milling machinery in its original setting, just 150 km north of Melbourne.
History
Days Mill was established in the late 1850s by William and Ann Day, migrants from England. William ran the flour mill, a bush sawmill, and a punt on the Goulburn River. Ann also ran the local store. In August 1870, William was thrown against a fence by a cow suffering severe injuries to his legs and arms. He never fully recovered from this accident and died in 1872.
After her husband, William passed away, Anne was left to care for her seven children, aged 5 to 19. Thankfully, William’s estate was worth more than £5,000, which provided Anne with financial security. From 1872 to 1891, she successfully managed the farm and the mill, making it one of the most advanced properties in the area. Through a collection of letters, it’s evident that Anne was a capable and determined woman excelling in the male-dominated Victorian business world. Her letters document her struggles with poor selectors and her endeavours to sell flour in the Melbourne market. They also shine a light on her disputes with tardy agricultural machinery manufacturers and her efforts to sell her farm’s produce at a reasonable price in Melbourne.
By 1870, traditional rural mill stone operations were being displaced by new iron roller technology. This led to the cessation of the mill’s commercial operation in the late 1880s. Anne Day, who had been farming and storekeeping, retired and passed on the reins to her eldest son, Joseph. The property then functioned solely as a farm, with Joseph occasionally grinding chicken feed for his neighbours. In 1910, Joseph extended the size of his farm by acquiring an additional 320 acres. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Henry, acquired 244 acres.
The Buildings
The exact date of the residence’s construction remains unknown. However, the Day family believes the kitchen area was built around 1865, which coincides with the mill’s construction. The two-story house featured a cast iron verandah and was constructed later. The interior walls are adorned with hand-painted stencils and marbling that date back to 1910.
The Mill complex includes a complete collection of farming and flour milling equipment from the nineteenth century. Entering the property, past the gatehouse, down a long driveway lined with peppercorns and pine trees, brings you to a two-story brick house beside the three-story brick mill. In addition, a granary annex with a two-story surrounding veranda was constructed around 1905.
The mill operated using a unique early E T Bellhouse steam engine connected to a Cornish boiler that is still fully functional. There are also several other buildings, such as a stable, chaff shed, blacksmith, butchery, dairy, shearing shed, milking shed, piggery, and chook shed. The original machinery and equipment have been preserved. These include three under-driven millstones, grain and meal elevators, a bolting reel, an air leg aspirator, a sack hoist, and other equipment.
Heritage listed
The Day family owned the Days Mill until 1985, after which the Department of Conservation Forests and Lands acquired it. Since 1996, the Days Flour Mill Complex has been under the management of Parks Victoria. Visiting the mill complex by appointment or during special events held throughout the year is possible.
The Days Flour Mill Complex is a remarkable representation of the milling techniques commonly used in the 19th century. It consequently has earned a spot on the Victorian Heritage Register. The Victorian Government’s Living Heritage Program in 2018/2019 granted it $500,000. This funding allowed significant conservation efforts on the Mill, Gatehouse, and Residence buildings. Reconstruction and repair of the roof, brickwork, windows, chimney, and Pulley House were also made possible by the grant.
Days Mill is located on Day Road, Murchison
Mooroopna, situated in the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria, Australia, boasts a fascinating history. Before European settlement, the Yorta Yorta and Bangerang peoples had occupied the land for several millennia. James Cowper was the first European squatter to establish a residence in the area in 1841. In the 1870s, Mooroopna had already flourished into a thriving agricultural hub. Eventually, in 1865, it was officially surveyed and recognized as a town.
Early History
By 1888 Mooroopna had eight hotels, a flour mill, two banks, four insurance agencies, a State school, a hospital, four churches, and a mechanics institute.
War Years
During World War II, Mooroopna played a vital role in the war effort. The town was home to a training facility for the Australian Army, known as the Mooroopna Recruit Reception and Training Depot. The depot was established in 1940 and provided basic training for new recruits before they were sent to other army camps for further training.
Mooroopna War Memorial
The Mooroopna War Memorial stands at the intersection of McLennan Street and Vaughan Street, situated in the heart of Mooroopna. This monument is a tribute to the brave men and women from the Mooroopna district who selflessly served in the armed forces during World War I, World War II, and other conflicts. Additionally, it bears the names of the 145 enlisted men and 21 serving nurses who received their training at Mooroopna Hospital.
Amidst a landscaped park, pathways lead to a war memorial featuring a stone obelisk within a rotunda. The names of the brave soldiers who lost their lives are inscribed on the sides of the obelisk. Surrounding the rotunda is a circular garden bed with a tall flagpole at the centre. Notably, the memorial was unveiled on ANZAC Day, April 25th, 1928, by Lieutenant General Sir John Monash, and a large crowd of locals, many of whom had lost family members in the war, were in attendance to pay their respects. Trees and benches can also be found in the area, offering a peaceful retreat for those who wish to reflect and remember.
In 2020 the Greater Shepparton City Council allocated $320,000 to upgrade the war memorial. Funding also came from the Mooroopna Rotary Club, the Victorian and Federal governments, and private donors. Significantly the upgrade included new flagpoles and memorial panels. New concrete paths, lighting, a rose garden and irrigation were also added.
Mooroopna Hospital
The Mooroopna Hospital was built in 1876. At first, it began as a small timber hut on the Goulburn River. The hospital treated injuries and accidents as the nearest doctor was forty-two kms away in Rushworth. From 1910 to the 1930s, the hospital underwent a significant rebuild and was the main hospital in the region until the Shepparton Base Hospital opened. This eventually saw the closure of the Mooroopna Hospital in 1974.
Unfortunately, on January 9th 2011, the abandoned hospital was gutted by fire. It had been slated to be converted into a nursing home then. After the fire, the developer applied to demolish the laundry and main entrance. He submitted an engineering assessment that repairing the damage was “probably not feasible”.
The Heritage advisor opposed demolishing the hospital due to its “historical, social, aesthetic and architectural significance”. Independent engineers also determined that 70% of the building was undamaged and heritage elements could be included in any development. Since then, it has sat empty and at the mercy of vandals and graffiti taggers.
Mooroopna Museum
The museum and gallery are located at the back of the old Mooroopna Hospital in a former nursing home. It boasts the biggest historical medical collection in regional Victoria, comprising fifteen rooms and hallways filled with remarkable artefacts. The archaic operating theatre and patient rooms are the museum’s prime attractions. Visitors will also find nurses’ uniforms, medical apparatus, and a dentist’s chair serving as a reminder of how much medicine has progressed since its early days.
Cows and Statues
The main street has a spacious median strip dotted with part of the unique ‘Moooving Art’ herd. Additionally, there is a statue of Jack Findlay, a well-respected local figure. Born in Mooroopna in 1935, Jack Findlay was a skilled Australian Grand Prix motorcycle racer. Findlay is one of only four riders who have achieved a twenty-year Grand Prix racing career. He is recognized for his exceptionally long racing career in Grand Prix history, and his achievements are celebrated through the monument dedicated to him.
Black Swans (Cygnus atratus) are native to Australia and are an iconic species. They are so revered that they serve as the official emblem of Western Australia, appearing on the state flag and coat of arms. In fact, you can find their image on stamps, sports uniforms and even public buildings around Western Australia (WA). The Swan River in Perth was named after this beautiful bird when the British established the Swan River Colony in 1829. In addition, Black Swans have also been introduced to New Zealand.
Description
The male black swan, also known as ‘cobs’, can grow up to 110 to 142 centimetres in length and weigh between 3.7 to 9 kilograms. They have a wingspan of 1.6 to 2 meters and a unique “S”-shaped curving neck, which is the longest among other swan species. Male swans also have a longer and straighter bill than females, also known as ‘Pens’, and are slightly larger. These large birds have predominantly black plumage, broad white wingtips when in flight, and a vibrant red bill. They require a clearance of forty meters to take off and can reach flying speeds of up to 80 km/h. Black swans have a lifespan of 40 years. Immature swans are known as Cygnets, which have greyish-brown feathers with pale edges.
Black Swans are nomadic, with erratic migration patterns that depend on climatic conditions. Their migration follows no set route or pattern but is in response to drought or rainfall, always hunting for wet areas. Outside of the breeding season, they can travel vast distances, flying mostly at night.
Habitat
Their preferred habitat is the fresh, brackish and saltwater of lakes, swamps and rivers with the underwater vegetation they need for food and nesting materials. They prefer permanent wetlands, including ornamental lakes. However, they can also be found in flooded pastures, tidal mudflats and ornamental lakes.
Diet
Black Swans are vegetarians. They consume algae and weeds, which they obtain by plunging their long necks into the water at depths up to 1 metre deep. While they will also occasionally graze on land, they are ungainly walkers.
Breeding
Black Swans are mostly monogamous breeders. While older swans generally mate for life with one partner, younger swans are known to pair up for a short time, breed and then desert the nest. Thus, leaving the partner (of either sex) to care for the young. Breeding occurs mainly from February to May in the north and May to September in the south.
Near the water, the female swan constructs a nest using sticks, dead leaves, and debris. She lays one egg each day, which usually amounts to five or six eggs, but can sometimes reach nine. Despite the varying laying times, the parents only sit on the eggs and do not warm them, ensuring that all the eggs hatch together. Incubation lasts between 35 to 48 days, and both parents share the duty. After the breeding season, the adult swan goes through a moulting period during which it sheds its feathers and is unable to fly.
The babies, known as cygnets, are able to fly at six months. However, they often remain with the family for up to nine months. They reach sexual maturity between 18 and 36 months of age.
Predators
Black swans and fledglings are at risk from ravens, eagles, hawks and rats. However, the species is not endangered and are protected under the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Acts (1979). They are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
In 1999, the marketing committee of Shepparton Show Me introduced Merry Moos for a Christmas campaign. The Merry Moos was so successful it evolved into Moooving Art. The Shepparton cows all sport whimsical artwork and are forever moooving around Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley.
Moooving Art Shepparton is a tribute to the strength of the dairy industry in Greater Shepparton. The region produces a large percentage of Australia’s dairy exports, evidenced by the number of grazing cows driving through the Goulburn Valley. Therefore, cows were an obvious choice for public art. Moooving Art is both a unique and innovative way to increase the dairy profile while also increasing public art in the region.
Moooving herd
There are ninety cows in the herd, scattered around towns in the Greater Shepparton area. However, not all are on display at one time. Shepparton Council publishes a list of locations; however, as the herd is always on the move due to events or repairs – it’s not always up to date. As of January 2023, thirty-seven cows are out to pasture Due to sun damage and wear and tear, some are waiting to be repaired, and others are having a makeover.
Certificate of Excellence
The three-dimensional, life-sized cows are the canvas for emerging artists to paint and decorate. In 2018 Moooving Art was awarded a Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor
Just over two hours from Melbourne, nestled in the beautiful tableland of Strathbogie in Victoria’s northeast, is Sunnymeade Cottage Garden, Kithbrook (not to be confused with Sunnymeade at Anglesea). In days past, the area was previously home to infamous bushranger Ned Kelly, gold miners and tree loggers. Today it’s a quiet rural area, home to vineyards, farms, farm stays, and our destination – Sunnymeade Cottage Garden for a rare open day.
Garden Plan
Craig Irving started Sunnymeade Cottage Garden in 1986. In 2017 Sunnymeade won the Melbourne Cup Tour and VRC Australian Garden competition. The garden is laid out along the lines of interconnecting rooms. An Incan wall garden and a circular lawn are enclosed by towering hornbeam hedges from Europe. A Persian garden invites you into the tiled pavilion.
Further along, is the Yellow Garden boasting an iron arbour with wisteria. A rose garden with old-fashioned roses with a Victorian-era gazebo to sit in. Additionally, there is a medieval garden, a walled garden with a moon gate, a rose walk, a sunken garden, a fruit garden and an Egyptian garden.
Unhelpful weather gods
The day before our visit was in the high 30s, and we had everything crossed that our day wouldn’t be so hot. Unfortunately, the weather gods granted our wishes but went a little overboard with the cool change, giving us bland white skies and no sun. We even had a quick rain shower as we walked around (taking refuge in the gazebo).
Topiary Trees
I love Topiary, and Craig has undoubtedly mastered the skill. His immaculate hedges and spiral trees were a delight. However, while I thoroughly enjoyed our visit, I wished we had sunshine and blue skies. Maybe, fingers crossed, it will be open again in spring.
The Yea Wetlands is a 32-hectare flood plain adjacent to the Goulburn Valley Highway and a short walk from High Street. Home to many Australian marsupials, birds and aquatic creatures, the wetlands are a haven of peace and tranquillity encompassing natural bush and riverine floodplains. The Discovery Centre opened in August 2014 due to the dedication of the community and volunteers. Also added were the suspension bridge and raised boardwalks.
A neighbouring property owner graciously agreed to relinquish a crown land license. This enabled the construction of a track between the Centre and the suspension bridge. Native trees, endemic to the area, replaced the willow trees and noxious weeds that were choking the waterway.
Walking trails
Wetlands are areas of land that are saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally. They are characterized by unique hydrological, chemical, and biological characteristics and are typically classified as marshes, swamps, bogs, or fens. Wetlands can be found in various environments, including coastal areas, river deltas, and the edges of lakes and ponds. Accordingly, they provide essential habitats for many plant and animal species and play critical roles in water management and carbon sequestration. They also provide various ecosystem services, such as water purification, flood control, and shoreline stabilization.
Grade 2: Distance: 2 Km. The walk begins at the Franklin Track and crosses the Yea River via a suspension bridge. Keep a lookout as you cross the bridge; Platypus and Rakali (native water rat) regularly forage along the river bed. The walk features information boards along the route and a bird hide overlooking a pond. A leisurely 45-60 min stroll allows you to come across Koalas and Sugar Gliders as well as Azure and Sacred kingfishers, spoonbills, Platypus and Rakali.
Discovery Centre
The Yea Water Discovery Centre is a multi-purpose facility incorporating an accredited Visitor Information Centre and an Interpretive & Educational Centre. They offer visitor information in the form of maps and brochures as well as accommodation and travel guides. There is also a gift shop, free wi-fi, public toilets and meeting room hire.
Upgrades to the Wetlands
In July this year, the Yea wetlands successfully received a grant of $375,000 from the Victorian Government’s Regional Tourism Fund. The funding will go towards an upgrade of the precinct. The upgrade will include a 700m extension of the existing walk, named Yea River Kayigai Trail. In addition, the Cummins Lagoon will be extended to include a Riparian Zone.
A new bird hide and a sculpture trail will be added, focusing on the Taungurung people and their connection to the Country, and the exhibits in the Discovery Centre will be refurbished. Works are expected to be completed by mid-2024.
Preserving wetlands is essential for maintaining the ecological, economic, and societal benefits they provide. Some preservation strategies include:
- Protecting existing wetlands through regulations and laws such as Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
- Restoring degraded or destroyed wetlands through reforestation, re-vegetation, and other management practices.
- Creating new wetlands by constructing artificial ponds, marshes, and swamps.
- Implementing conservation programs and policies to protect wetlands and their associated species and educating the public about their importance
- Collaborating with local, state and federal government and other organizations to protect and implement conservation plans.
It’s important to note that preserving wetlands requires an integrated approach involving different stakeholders and a long-term commitment to ensure the sustainable use and protection of wetland resources.
The Rone Time Exhibition spans eleven rooms of the long-abandoned third wing of the heritage-listed Flinders Street Station.
Internationally renowned Rone (real name Tyrone Wright) is a Melbourne-based Australian street artist known for his large-scale mural paintings. Rone has created works in cities worldwide, including Melbourne, Sydney, Paris, and New York, often featuring portraits of women. He is known for his ability to create a sense of emotion and movement in his pieces which have also been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide. Additionally, his work can be found on the streets in many major cities.
Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station sits on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was the first steam rail station in Australia, and today, it still serves the entire metropolitan rail network. Opening in 1854, it is the oldest railway station in Australia, still in operation. It is also the busiest railway station in Australia’s second busiest city, with millions of passenger movements per year. Due to its age and architecture, Flinders St station is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and, with its famous clocks, is considered a Melbourne cultural icon.
Previous Exhibitions
Rone has developed a stellar international reputation over the last twenty years. Previous installations such as Empire in 2019 (in the decaying Burnham Beeches mansion), The Omega Project in 2017 (A house about to be demolished) and Empty in 2016 (the Lyric theatre just before demolition), transformed abandoned and derelict spaces into hauntingly beautiful odes to the past. Time is no exception. It is Rone’s most ambitious project to date and the culmination of three years of work.
The Time exhibition by Rone celebrates Flinders Street Station’s grand scale, history and character, reimagining a period of Melbourne’s past long lost to progress. The immersive exhibition is inspired by an era when European migrants powered the city’s booming manufacturing industries, capturing the beauty in a forgotten, mid-century, working-class life.
The ballroom
The Flinders Street Station Ballroom is located on the third level of Flinders Street railway station. The ballroom was built in the 1920s as part of a redevelopment and was used as a venue for dances, balls, and other social events. However, the ballroom was closed to the public in the 1980s and has since fallen into disrepair. In recent years, efforts have been made to restore and reopen the ballroom, but apart from Patricia Piccini’s exhibition, A Miracle Constantly Repeated, it remained closed. Time, however, takes you through the ballroom plus ten additional closed-off rooms that have also been hidden away for half a century.
For years, I had heard all these stories about the mysterious ballroom above Flinders Street Station. I always wondered how much of it was truth and how much was urban myth. I was desperate to get in there,’
Rone
Rooms with History
Time is also a nostalgic love letter to Melbourne of the 1950s. Hence, each carefully curated room offers up a fictional history of the era. Large-scale portraits of model Teresa Oman, who has worked with Rone for over ten years, appear hauntingly on the walls. For Time, Rone put together a team of more than 120 professionals who worked for several months to complete Time’s delicate and intricate installation process. Because of the sheer scale of the exhibition, behind the scenes, the installation required scenic artists, lighting designers, heritage experts, riggers and many more.
Time Capsule
The exhibition is beautifully and authentically done. As you wander from room to room, becoming immersed in the installation, you forget it’s a fictional history. It’s not hard to imagine that if you rolled the clock back and stepped into postwar Melbourne of the 1950s, this is precisely what these hidden, upper floors were like. You begin to feel like you have just stepped into a time capsule with rooms frozen in time.
For instance, there are administration rooms with the typist pools of yesteryear, the lamps still burning, and a sewing room that is turning out uniforms with cobwebs undisturbed on the cotton reels. Classrooms for apprenticeships and mailrooms with massive canvas mail sacks and letters strewn on the floor. Coupled with haunting music and evocative lighting, the sets ooze history.
Further on, there are cardigans over the backs of chairs—a cup and saucer on bench. A switchboard with snaking cords connecting the outside world to the workers within, with one last incoming call blinking on the switchboard, never to be answered. A handbag hangs a coat hook, and a phone is left off the hook. Moreover, it brings to mind a disaster where everyone suddenly up and ran out, never to return. Chernobyl or On The Beach by Neville Shute, anyone?
In the background, music, by composer Nick Batterham plays, spilling from a gramophone in the ballroom – and from tiny speakers hidden inside answering machines and other objects. No part of the immersive experience is overlooked. For example, if you listen closely as you walk the corridors and rooms, you will actually hear a ghost train rumble through in the distance.
Behind the Scenes
While everything looks as old as the building – a lot of it was made for the exhibition. However, the pieces were designed and crafted to look old and authentic to the era. Numerous items were also sourced from Op shops, garage sales and gumtree. Twenty-four truckloads of props were delivered to Flinders Street, and everything needed to be brought up to the third floor. Specifically through narrow doors and up a tiny elevator or multiple flights of stairs. All the while life continued to hustle past on the busy street, coupled with an adjacent working train platform right on their doorstep.
The Newsagent
Just before the door that takes you to the Time exhibition is ‘the newsagent’. Here, an empty shopfront has been transformed. It’s now part retail, part exhibition and is free to visit.
Rone ~ Time Exhibition runs until April 23rd 2023. The exhibition is mainly sold out, with a few tickets remaining at rone.art for March and April.
Sunflowers are known as ‘happy’ flowers due to their association with the sun. While not as plentiful in Victoria as the spring canola fields (the primary location of sunflower fields in Australia is NSW and Qld), there are still a few sunflower fields in Victoria to satisfy photographers. Western Australia also has an emerging sunflower industry.
Sunflowers are giant, bright, beautiful flowers popular with photographers worldwide. In Australia, they bloom from January to March. The meanings of sunflowers include happiness, optimism, honesty, longevity, peace, admiration, and devotion. No other flower exceeds it for its ability to make people smile. Popular with nature photographers and photographic enthusiasts, sunflowers look great, either as a single flower or in their thousands in fields.
Ethical Sunflower Photography
Photographing sunflower fields full of blossoms has become popular in recent years due to social media posts. However, that popularity has also brought out thoughtless photographers who ruin it for the rest of us. Like Canola fields, the critical rule when photographing sunflower fields is remembering the Do Nots.
Sunflower fields are farms on private land. However, some sunflower farmers will allow visitors into portions of their fields while protecting other fields. Visitors can take photos and pick the flowers for a per stem cost.
Grow Your Own
Many Sunflowers can be successfully grown in suburban backyards, from giant to dwarf types, such as Dwarf Sensation. For those who suffer hayfever or bee problems, you can even get pollen-free varieties such as ‘Teddy Bear’, though they look more like chrysanthemums than sunflowers.
Plant the seeds in late spring or early summer when the ground is starting to warm up—plant in well-drained soil enriched with some compost. Place them where they get six to eight hours of sun daily. They can even be grown indoors if you place them near a north-facing window!
Plant each seed 60cm apart and 2cm deep and give them deep regular watering in the mornings. They will flower in 8-10 weeks. Companion planting works well for sunflowers next to cucumbers, melons, sweetcorn or squash. However, keep them well away from potatoes and beans because sunflowers release toxins that will inhibit the potatoes and beans.
Fun Facts
- The tallest sunflower recorded was 9.17m tall (30 whopping feet!)
- sunflowers are the national flower of Russia and Ukraine
- the seeds are full of calcium
- each sunflower can produce 1000-2000 seeds
Where to find them
I know of three Sunflower Fields in Victoria that allow the public and photographers to visit. In no particular order, they are:
*Pick Your Own Sunflowers*
One of the largest fields in Victoria is Pick Your Own Sunflowers at Dunnstown. Entry is $5 per person, and kids under five are free. Pack your camera, bring your scissors or secateurs, have cash on you to pay for your sunflowers, and you are set for a great day. Leave your drone home as they are not allowed. Booking online is highly recommended, though you can sometimes pay at the gate.
*Sunflowers of Timmering*
Another great field was Sunflowers of Timmering, corner of Thornton Road and Webb Road, Timmering. However, they recently announced there would be no sunflowers this year. Due to the impact of floods across the region, they lost most of their crops, and to feed the livestock, they have had to replant on all available land. Unfortunately, this left no room for sunflowers. However, mother nature notwithstanding, they plan to be back in 2024
*Greendale Sunflowers*
Set in the rolling hills of Greendale near Ballarat, you will find Greendale Sunflowers at the corner of Lidgett’s Lane and Ballan-Greendale Road in Greendale Vic. The latest news is they expect to open in mid-February 2023. Usual hours are open Thursday and Friday from 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $5 per person, with children under five free. Sunflowers are available for sale at $2 each. Bring your own secateurs or hire for $2 a pair. Cash only.
Update: Greendale Sunflowers closed permanently in March 2023
Note: all pricing is at 2022 prices and is subject to change. It’s also a good idea to take gardening gloves or a bucket or roll of newspaper for your sunflowers. The sunflowers are pretty hairy and can be prickly and uncomfortable on your hands.
Photography tips and ideas
Sunflowers always turn their faces to the sun throughout the day, so it helps to consider the sun’s position when deciding on the background of your image.
- Close’ fill the frame’ images will bring out the detail of the flowers
- Use a macro to photograph just the very centre of the flower
- Don’t forget the back of the sunflower – they are just as interesting as the front
- Look for sunflowers that haven’t bloomed yet – they also make a great image
- Take a portrait or selfie against or in field of sunflowers (if permitted)
Safety First
When heading out to shoot in Victoria sunflower fields, be mindful that you are entering a working farm. Wear closed-toe sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Being summer, snakes are possible. Keep a watch out for wriggly sticks! Bees love sunflowers, as the sunflower provides nectar and pollen. Be careful not to disturb the bees. But then, it’s also a great way to get Bee images.
Cactus Country at Strathmerton is a Victorian Tourism Awards Gold Winner. It is an Australian desert landscape with more than 4000 cacti and succulents, and it abounds with photo opportunities when the cactus is flowering.
History
Cactus Country started as a collection of Cactus plants owned by Jim Hall’s Father. In 1979, when Jim’s father decided to sell, Jim and his fiancé Julie purchased the collection, tended the plants for the following four years, and propagated new seeds. They also planted mature specimens allowing the cactus to grow faster.
In 1983, Jim and Julie purchased the peach orchard that has become Cactus Country. They bulldozed the trees and began creating gardens. In 1984 they bought a second collection from the estate of Mr Ed Kroemer. Kroemer was a bachelor from Loxton, SA, who had travelled the world collecting cactus plants. Kroemer wanted his collection to stay together, and his family approached Jim and Julie. Since then, the gardens have grown from ½ an acre to over 8 acres.
With the growth, the name has been changed to Cactus Country, and Jim and Julie continue to expand the garden.
Cacti Vs Succulents
All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. Cacti have needle-like spines and fleshy stems. They also store water and are capable of photosynthesis – the process whereby plants utilise sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and energy in the form of sugar.
On the other hand, succulents store water and nutrients in their fleshy leaves. Outdoors, cacti can live for hundreds of years. However, indoors their lifespan is reduced to 10 years or more. As they don’t drop leaves like a typical plant, the damage remains visible for the life of the plant every time they sustain damage from knocks or scratches.
Cactus Blooms
All cacti flower, with some creating large and impressive blooms. Cacti only flower on new growth. Many cacti won’t flower until they reach maturity and grow at least two metres tall. In Mexican culture, cactus blooms signify love. They believe that when a person sees a blooming cactus, someone close to them will get married soon.
In Native American culture, it is believed that the cactus represents warmth, protection, and motherly love. This is because cactus plants survive in harsh conditions; thus, they’ve become a symbol of unconditional, enduring maternal love.
The Garden
Laid out with mostly circular paths, it is easy to cover the entire garden in an hour. Spring is the best time for photographers as the cactus is flowering.
The café
While the garden is worth a visit, unfortunately (and this is solely my opinion and experience), the same cannot be said for the café. The coffee and cactus cake (made from prickly pear) was delicious, but the margaritas (way too tart) and slushies (over-the-top sweet) were not. In fact, if you are looking for lunch, the only menu item is nachos. Another group near us ordered coffee and had it with the food they had brought along from home — they had evidently been there before and were aware of the limited options.
Cactus Country – Location and pricing
4986 Murray Valley Hwy, Strathmerton VIC 3641
Entry is $20 for adults, $17.50 for seniors and $10 per child
Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm
4986 Murray Valley Highway, Strathmerton 3641
The rainbow bee-eater is an impressively beautiful bird. Their plumage is green, blue, chestnut and yellow; they have slim bodies with slender curved bills and distinctive streamers extending from their tail.
Appearance
Rainbow bee-eaters are medium-sized birds measuring 9-24 cm in length to the tail tip and weighing around 27 grams. They have a long curved bill, a long tail and streamers. They have a golden crown on their head, and their red eye is set in a wide black stripe running from their ears to the base of the bill, which is edged in a narrow blue line. Their yellow-orange throat has a broad black band separating it from their green breast.
While the upper parts are green, they have copper flight feathers tipped in black and bright orange and underwings with a black edge. The bee-eater’s lower abdomen is blue. Female rainbow bee-eaters are similar to males but have shorter, thicker tail streamers. Juveniles are duller and greener and lack the black chest band and long tail streamers.
Habitat
The Rainbow Bee-eater is widespread throughout Australia, except in desert areas. They can be found in woodlands, open forests and cleared areas, often near water and farms with remnant vegetation, in orchards and vineyards. They will also use quarries, river banks, cuttings and mines to build their nesting tunnels.
Diet
Rainbow Bee-eaters eat all insects, such as dragonflies, beetles, butterflies and moths; however, they mainly eat bees and wasps. They have excellent eyesight and can spot a potential meal up to 150 feet away. Once they have spotted their prey, they swoop down from a high perch, snatching the insect on the wing in its long, slender bill. The bee-eater then carries their meal to a perch, where they beat the insect against the perch before swallowing them.
While immune to bee and wasp stings, they still rub them against the perch to remove the stings and venom glands before eating them. Rainbow bee-eaters can consume 700 bees daily, making them an apiarist’s enemy. Conversely, they also keep locusts, hornets and wasps under control.
Breeding
Rainbow Bee-eaters are migratory birds and move north, forming small flocks over winter. However, in spring, they return to breeding their areas. Rainbow bee-eaters are monogamous and mate for life. Once they have selected a nesting site in a sandy bank, they dig a long tunnel leading to the nesting chamber and line it with grass. The tunnel can be up to 90cm long. The female will lay 3 to 7 glossy white eggs, and both parents share the 24-day incubation period and will feed the young.
Threats
Hatchlings are at risk from cane toads, dogs and foxes.
Healesville Sanctuary is situated in the Yarra Valley wine region at Badger Creek, Healesville. Unlike Melbourne Zoo, which has exotic and Australian animals, Healesville Sanctuary exclusively deals with native Australian animals. Thus, the sanctuary is perfect for overseas visitors who want to experience Australian wildlife up close and personal. Visitors can also take part in feeding the kangaroos and, for an extra fee – cuddling a koala or patting a dingo.
History
Dr Colin MacKenzie founded Healesville Sanctuary initially as the Institute of Anatomical Research in 1920. The 32 hectares (78 acres) site had formerly been part of Coranderrk, an aboriginal reserve. In 1927 the sanctuary was transferred to Healesville Council. MacKenzie was knighted in 1929, and in 1934 the council renamed it the Sir Colin Mackenzie Sanctuary and opened it to the public. Finally, in June 1978, the sanctuary was transferred to the Victorian Zoological Parks & Gardens board.
Habitats
The sanctuary is in a natural bush setting with paths winding through different habitats housing wallabies, wombats, dingoes, kangaroos, and over 200 species of bird.
Main Track: this will take you past the emu, reptiles, amphibians, and the ‘Land of the Parrots’ walk-through aviary. The aviary is home to budgerigars, Red-Tail Cockatoos, Eclectus Parrots, Lorikeets, Zebra Finches, and Regent Parrots. Also on the main track is the Flight Arena, where you can sit and enjoy the ‘Spirits of the Sky’ show daily at 12 pm and 3 pm featuring a wedgetail eagle, black buzzard and parrots.
Woodland Track: this track features forest animals such as wombats, wallabies, and lace monitors, as well as kookaburras, pelicans, barn owls, and Tasmanian devils.
Dingo Country: The dingo country track takes you through the dingo habitat. Their habitat is a high, rocky exhibit, offering visitors a chance to see the dingoes up close and learn about their history. Dingoes are related to the Indian Wolf; however, they became genetically distinct after their arrival on the Australian mainland around 5,000 years ago.
Wetlands Track: this is for all the waterbirds, such as black swans, royal spoonbills, etc.
Visiting the zoo
Healesville Sanctuary is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
Adult entry is $42; Seniors are $38, and Concession is $31.50. Children under 16 are free on weekends, public holidays, and school holidays. At all other times, children are $21. Entry is free for zoo members.