On our walk this morning, we had to avoid barking dogs rushing at fences. We bought coffees on our way home to enjoy with our sourdough toast. With my extra walking this afternoon, I have done 8 kms today. Bluey only did the first 2 kms.
At the Visitor Information, we got some maps and information about walks and drives around the local area. Our first stop was the Victorian era Railway Station which opened in 1884. After the line closed in 1989, the station was used as a restaurant, but that has since closed, and the building is boarded up. There is an interesting form of ventilation on part of the roof.
Many of the commercial and retail buildings along Grey St are historic. Most facades are well preserved, but at street level most of the buildings have been “modernised”. One exception is this 1870 former jewellery store where even the glass frontage and doors appear to be original.
These are some of the most impressive buildings – the town hall, the NAB, the Great Central Hotel established 1874, and The Bank Guesthouse. The town hall is described as High Victorian “grand” town hall, with features from the French Renaissance and Italianate styles.
A few buildings still have their original slate roofs. Part of the roof of St Joseph’s Catholic Church shows the build up of lichen that can damage slate roofs.
The former convent was relinquished by the Church in 1995. It has since had three owners but needs a lot of work on the 31 bedrooms.
Strong winds and a little rain brought the temperature down to 20°. Our neighbour kept coming out checking his awning. I helped him take it down with his wife holding the other end of the roller.
We wasted money having dinner at the Hereford Steakhouse. There was only one other couple eating there. The “decor” was plain brick walls, and the “ambience” was created by a television in another room broadcasting the cricket. My steak was OK, the beans under cooked, and the diane sauce gluggy. The dessert described as berry tirimisu consisted of hard biscuits covered in jam, a couple of strawberries, and leftover glace cherries, all smothered in cream.
Committed Travellers 