20220519 NSW Mallanganee, Drake & Tenterfield

20220519 Arriving in Mallanganee we set up then Des opens our first beer of our trip as we take over the picnic area, as we do. It was only 12 months ago we stopped here for the night and trust me, the town hasn’t changed apart from the Post Office/ Shop owner’s who don’t seem to be very popular with the locals.  Since we missed lunch we decided to check out the locale pub for dinner and as we wondered across the street we herd our name’s called out, Des, Leonie, your a long way from the Redlands, we look at each other thinking, who the hell is that, it turned out I use to baby sit this fella when he was just a wee lad, talk about a small world.

It took me a while and many questions later, but I finally figured it out, James Lang lived just down the road from the Redland Bay caravan park in the late 70’s to early 80’s and he was a friend of my nephew’s, Shane, Brett and Mouse (Wally Lawton Junior) but I’m bugged if I can remember babysitting him. We had a good catch up chatting about the old days but there was no escaping before getting my photos for my blog.  Well! that had him stuffed, what’s a blog say’s James, I think our Jame’s has been living in the bush a tad too long.😅😜

THE WATERMELON SAGAR

One of the locals gifted James with this, not so nice a looking watermelon for a good dead, in which our James tried his dam-nest to give away, only to be knocked backed with each try, and trust me, he tried his hardest, but it was his to keep as he packs up to head home.  

I have a sneaky feeling his chooks scored the juicy delight.😉

20220520 We woke to a drizzly day but that didn’t stop Des from taking advantage of the facility and cooked up a storm of bacon and eggs before we packed up and head to Drake, a small rural town of around 400 people, just east of Tenterfield. It was in the 1880s the town boomed with the discovery of gold west of the village, at what would become known as the Fairfield diggings. By the end of 1886 the town began to grow and more permanent buildings were replacing the temporary tent village. Drake has transformed many times following the rise and decline of certain industries, such as mining, timber and grazing but today the Pub, a Post Office and a Convenient Store that looked closed.

The Lunatic Pub, look guy’s, I found Mr have a chats new home and he’s made a new friend, now he can talk his head off, as he doe’s.😆

So much for no dog’s, as soon as we walked in we were greeted with a very friendly pouch that was keen to follow us home.

Well I found my place at the Lunatic Hotel and a new friend, he obviously doesn’t know me very well, ha Lisa.

The outside heater, and trust me it is much needed out here.💨

The Tenterfield Saddler was made famous by Peter Allen's tribute to his past and grandfather George Woolnough in the 'Tenterfield Saddler', but it was much more than just a song, from 1908 to 1960 the saddlery on High Street was the key meeting place and where saddler, George Woolnough did his trade. Over the years the building has been used as a bank, private residence, and saddlery. Immortalised by Peter Allen's song.

Patented 1886, she’s a weapon, that’s for sure.

Tenterfield Saddler, this museum is full of leather goods and historical tools.

The Tenterfield Beer from the 1800s.