It wasn’t so cold last night at 9° minimum. We ran the diesel heater on low all night to make sure we didn’t freeze.
It didn’t take long for us to pack up and hit the road. The first half hour driving along the Maroondah Hwy was troubling, with idiot drivers speeding when overtaking. We turned off onto the Euroa Mansfield Rd and lost the Melburnians heading home after their long weekend.
At Euroa, we stretched our legs and admired a few of the well-kept heritage buildings. The former National Bank building is now a private residence. There are some interesting architectural features on the veranda. The inserts on the beams supporting the veranda appear to be etched glass.
This was the third National Bank to be built in Euroa. The second bank was robbed by Ned Kelly. The third cost £5,000 in 1885.
Another decorative building I admire is the Euroa Post Office, now operating as a post shop. Either side of the crown are various symbols such as a harp and a lion, but I do not know their significance.
We continued on, driving C class roads through interesting towns towards Bendigo. Our caravan park choice has been good, as the staff are friendly and the facilities excellent. While here we will spend a couple of days with my sister who came up from Melbourne on the train. She wanted to watch an AFL match today on TV, so I took her to the Hotel Shamrock which has a large sports bar.
The hotel building is dramatic, with some well preserved features inside and out.
There are several other grand historic buildings near the hotel, such as the court house with its weird figurines on lamp posts.
The Visitor Information Centre is located in the former post office, a grand example of the Renaissance Revival style of architecture.
One of my favourites is the 1908 Art Deco Colonial Mutual Life Building.
We had dinner with my sister at Hotel Shamrock, but the architecture was more interesting than the menu.
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