Saturday 31 October 2009

The StrawBale House

The StrawBale House actually went up the previous weekend.
We were here to build Ingrid's StawBale Studio!

Which began with some earnest instruction from the apostle Richard.
And then...

An orange view.

A sculptural figure bathing in straw.

All the workers.

With stiff backs.

Laying the FIRST bale!

The Portraits

The Post Portrait.














Tuesday 27 October 2009

Emmdale Roadhouse

Dawn on the Barrier Highway and the B-Doubles gather round the watering hole.




FINI

Nyngan Chopper

At first I thought it was a Vietnam War Memorial but no, it's one of the choppers used to evacuate almost the entire population of Nyngan during monster floods in 1990.
Floods? It seems so inconceivable that there could be that much water ever again.

Monday 26 October 2009

Kinchega

Kinchega National Park encompasses Menindee Lakes and must be beautiful when they are full. The Darling wends its way through the redgums and is quite magical, even when bone dry.

All that's left of The Providence, part of the boiler...here's the history.

"The Providence was one such steamer and became stranded in 1872 for several months. Once water levels rose again the Providence continued its journey along the river towards Kinchega station. Tragedy struck once again when the boiler exploded, throwing one crew member (Gunn, a Chinese cook) into a tree, and killing the crew John Davis (Captain), Edward Sparkes (engineer) and John Roach (fireman). Gunn was rescued, but later died of his injures. All the crew died and are buried by the old Kinchega homestead.

The only survivor was Henry Trevorah, a miner from Wilcannia travelling to visit family. One story says the crew fired up the boiler without checking the water levels after a drinking session in Menindee, while others claim the boiler was faulty and it was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. The boiler remains on the banks of the Darling, and can be seen if you take the Homestead Loop of the River Drive."

On the road to Menindee the sun settles into the dust.


Thursday 1 October 2009

More on The Dying Darling

Finally developed this film which has been sitting in the Rollie waiting to be used up and developed.
Self explanatory really...it's low, it's dry. The centre photo is Willaba Punt Crossing, on the way to Bindara, used to transport sheep and bales across the river...back in the days when there was water!