20121203 NSW Wagga Wagga

20121203 It’s sad to leave such a great camp location especially since I was beginning to get use to the very cold water only, we are running out of supplies.  We head back to Wagga Wagga to restock our supplies and check out some sites.  There's the bridge I read about, pull over Des, and surprise, surprise he did so I took my photos and headed to town. After shopping we went in search of the Quinty Cake and Bake House built in the early 1900 but couldn't find it, not even the information center could help so we left for Gundagai stopping on the way to check out the RAAF Heritage Centre.

Wagga Wagga is the state’s largest inland city nestled on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River.  The Wiradjuri were the largest Aboriginal tribe in New South Wales and it is from their language the city is named.  The word “Wagga”, means crow and repeating it means the plural, hence “the place of many crows”.   In 1829 Charles Sturt was the first explorer to visit the site and squatters followed not long after and in 1849 became a village which grew quickly and by 1870 the town was gazetted as a township.  During WW1 the town was the starting point for the Kangaroo recruitment march, one of a series of snowball marches conducted in NSW during the war where groups of recruits would march towards Sydney and appeal to men in the towns along the route to join them and enlist in the Australia Imperial Force.

Hampden Bridge

Constructed in 1894, it was the first of engineer Percy Allen’s 33.5 span timber truss bridge, he designed the third of the five standard timber truss bridge designs developed in NSW.  He based his design on the American Howe bridge but exploited the superior strength and performance of Australian ironbark to reduce it to the barest essentials, in doing so he devised an efficient and graceful truss bridge design.

Built in the Victorian style, Wagga Wagga Railway Station was opened in 1879 and was designed by John Whitton, who is affectionately known as the ‘Father of the N.S.W Railway’.

The railway houses over 500 historic railway items from catering to stationary equipment through to communication devices and mechanical

The Council Chambers

 Built in 1881 this majestic building is the heart of the city’s precinct, originally the City’s town Hall and Municipal Office as well as the seat of Local Government until 1999 when it was converted into the Museum of Riverina.

The Chisholm Fountain

 Originally presented to the Wagga Wagga hospital by Frederick Chisholm in 1885, which soon after he was elected president of the hospital committee,Gee I wonder way.  Later moved to the Victoria gardens in 1929 after the hospital was moved, then after months of restoration it was mover to the Victoria Memorial Gardens in 1977.

Jolly Swagman

 The bronze statue was created by Aurel Ragus for the memorial gardens in honour of those who served and died in WW1.

St Johns Church

 I hate the bloody tree in front of old buildings.  The first church on this site was begun in 1850 and was declared a parish in 1855 and the first service was held in 1860.  Being too close to flood waters the old building was demolished and a new one was designed and built and finished in 1876.

St Andrews Presbyterian Church

The original presbytery was built around 1871 and was a one storey  brick building that was incorporated into the centre of the present building completed in 1902.

RAAF Wagga Heritage Centre Showcases Air Forces history, along with representing the significant involvement of the RAAF in the Riverina Region of New South Wales.  The static aircraft display next to the Heritage Centre, represents over 50 years of RAAF flying history.

English Electric Canberra

Designed in U.K & named Camberra in a ceremony on 19-01-1953 by Sir Robert Menzies.  48 Camberra were constructed in Australia replacing the Avro Lincolns which were heavily involved in bombing operations against the communist forces in Malaya.  Then leaving for Phan Nang in 1967, during it's stay the squadrons Camberra's flew 11,696 operational missions dropping 76,389 bombs, she retired in 1982.

Mirage 3 Jet Fighter

One of the most successful and widely used French built aircraft; the single seat/engine fighter was developed for high altitude, all weather combat, but has been employed in ground attack, nuclear strike, and exploration and training roles.  Its first flight was in 1956, a great year.