20121211 VIC Daylesford, Bat Willow, Lavandula Farm
20121211 Arriving in Daylesford we restock our supplies then walk the town, Des finds a hardware store and once again asked for a thermostat lucky the assistance figured out he’s really after a thermometer.
Once, the home of the Djajawurrung Tribe before white settlement when gold was found in 1851 in the bed of Wombat Creek, now Lake Daylesford. With the population rising to approximately 7000, men and woman of all nationalities came to this town of muddy streets and numerous hotels. A huge amount of timber was required for building, fuelling homes and industries, “thus” stripping the land. The Wombat forest took 50 years to recover.
Based on a poem ‘Children on the goldfield’.
Did you see then pass to-day, Billy, Kate & Robin,
All astride upon the back of old grey Dobbin?
Jigging, jogging off to school, down the dusty track-
What must Dobbin think of it – three upon his back?
Robin at the bridle-rein, in the middle Kate,
Billy holding on behind, his legs out straight.
The Royal Daylesford Hotel was originally built in the early gold rush days of the 1850’s and was one of Daylesford’s first licensed establishments and still remains as one of Daylesford’s Landmark building.
One of the many stained glass windows that surrounds the Victorian ere Hotel.
On the LHS is the site of the Post Office built in 1870 and the clock tower is it's outstanding feature.
Frangos & Frangos on the RHS was once used by three separate businesses but is now an award winning establishment, a cafe surrounded by grape vines given it a inviting appearance.
Primary School
Town Hall
The Tree of Knowledge
In the 1920s the elderly and considered wise men of the town would sit on the seat under this tree and discuss the local goings on. Because of this the tree became known as the Tree of Knowledge.
On leaving Daylesford we headed to Mt Franklin but not before we stop to check out the Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm.
Once, the home of the Djajawurrung Tribe before white settlement when gold was found in 1851 in the bed of Wombat Creek, now Lake Daylesford. With the population rising to approximately 7000, men and woman of all nationalities came to this town of muddy streets and numerous hotels. A huge amount of timber was required for building, fuelling homes and industries, “thus” stripping the land. The Wombat forest took 50 years to recover.
Based on a poem ‘Children on the goldfield’.
Did you see then pass to-day, Billy, Kate & Robin,
All astride upon the back of old grey Dobbin?
Jigging, jogging off to school, down the dusty track-
What must Dobbin think of it – three upon his back?
Robin at the bridle-rein, in the middle Kate,
Billy holding on behind, his legs out straight.
The Royal Daylesford Hotel was originally built in the early gold rush days of the 1850’s and was one of Daylesford’s first licensed establishments and still remains as one of Daylesford’s Landmark building. 
One of the many stained glass windows that surrounds the Victorian ere Hotel.
On the LHS is the site of the Post Office built in 1870 and the clock tower is it's outstanding feature.
Primary School
The Historic School was built in the 1870s after the gold rush.
Town Hall
The majestic building was built in the 1880s and is beautiful and lavish inside.
The Tree of KnowledgeOn leaving Daylesford we headed to Mt Franklin but not before we stop to check out the Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm.
On the way to the Lavender Farm I noticed a sign “Cricket Willow Unique Aussie History” what could that be?
In 1902 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground when a wicket fell, Archie Maclaren, the Captain of the English team and Bob Crockett, an Australian umpire, sat on the grass. Out of nothing, Maclaren said, one thing that surprises me Bob is you do not grow the bat willow in this country. I have travelled its length and width and although there are suitable locations I have not seen a single bat willow. Crockett out of politeness than any desire to establish a willow plantation replied: “Why not send me some cuttings?” The conversation may well have been lost yet Maclaren did not forget and six months later Crockett received a note to meet a certain mail-boat to collect some willow tree cuttings. He had sent six cuttings, sealed in a steel tube. On opening, it was discovered that although they had been taken from dormant trees in England, the cuttings had sprouted within a fortnight of crossing the equator. Five cuttings had shrivelled and died but for some extraordinary reason the sixth still lived. It was transported to Shepherd’s Flat, Daylesford Victoria, where Crockett’s brother, a capable horticulturist, nurtured it. The sickly cutting flourished in its new home and lived to become the progenitor of the cricket bat willow industry in Australia, including 5,000 trees that were grown on the estate. It is now the major supplier of bats in Australia. Interesting story ha.
The Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm
This 1860s golden stone building was constructed by Italian-speaking Swiss who came to the goldfield and stayed to farm.
They grew food crops for the miners and grapes for wine and stored them in the cellar for winter. In 1990, Carol White restored the building creating a European garden and productive lifestyle.
Lavender was planted here as an art crop, hand- harvested, distilled and made into beautiful body products.
Roses, my favourite flower and they add a touch amongst the lavender.
How cute, these fellows roam the ground delighting the tourest.
Des in his glory with his beloved Chickens.
The Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm
This 1860s golden stone building was constructed by Italian-speaking Swiss who came to the goldfield and stayed to farm.
They grew food crops for the miners and grapes for wine and stored them in the cellar for winter. In 1990, Carol White restored the building creating a European garden and productive lifestyle.
Lavender was planted here as an art crop, hand- harvested, distilled and made into beautiful body products.
Roses, my favourite flower and they add a touch amongst the lavender.
How cute, these fellows roam the ground delighting the tourest.
Des in his glory with his beloved Chickens.
We leave for Mt Franklin.
Comments
Post a Comment