Model trains at Peterborough, South Australia
Model train at the eastern entrance to Peterborough, South Australia
In recent days I have written about a visit to family in Peterborough in the mid-north of South Australia. On that occasion I took a series of photos of various features of the town.
Because Peterborough is historically an important railway town in the development of our state, locals have made interesting installations greeting people coming into the town on all four major entrances. Here is the third of those, this time on the eastern approach to the town as visitors are coming from NSW including Broken Hill.
I find that these model trains to be quite amusing and delightful, but I wonder what the thinking is with the one featured in today’s post. Is it meant to be a small replica of Sydney Harbour Bridge? Or is it merely a representation of a railway bridge in the district as my wife suspects it might be; she grew up in the town.
I love the engineer waving his shovel – or is he the fireman?
Model train at the eastern entrance to Peterborough, South Australia
Model train at the eastern entrance to Peterborough, South Australia
Model train at the eastern entrance to Peterborough, South Australia
Model trains in Peterborough, South Australia
Model train at Peterborough, South Australia
As I wrote here a few days ago, we visited family recently in the mid-north town of Peterborough, South Australia. While there I took a few photos around the town, something I had neglected to do much of during numerous visits to the town over more than 40 years. Peterborough is rightly proud of its railway heritage and a railway museum features high on the list of visitor attractions.
In today’s post I feature another two shots of one of the four model trains shown in the main entrances to the town. This one is on the road into town from Orroroo to the north. I love the nice touch of the engine driver waving from the cabin, and the signals next to the line.
I will feature more photos in a few days’ time.
Model train at Peterborough, South Australia
Trains of Peterborough, South Australia
Model of a train at Peterborough
On our recent visit to Peterborough, South Australia to visit family I spent an hour or so taking photos around town, something I had not done much of over the last 40 years on our regular visits to the town. I had three purposes in taking a few photos. First, a friend who had visited the town last year had taken many photos but her camera failed to download them. Second, I had precious few photos of the town in my own collection, and third, I wanted to share them here on this site.
Peterborough, in the mid-north of South Australia, was for many years a railway town. Major lines intersect or run through the town. Rail lines from Adelaide to Sydney, Perth to Sydney, and Broken Hill to Port Pirie are the main ones. In years gone by another line ran from there through to Quorn further north in the state. At one time the town boasted three different operating rail gauges: narrow, standard and broad gauge. This made Peterborough unique, possibly in the only place in the world where this happened. Standardisation, and the closing of some lines, has brought this to an end.
Today most trains just go straight through the town. At each of the four main road entrances to the town locals have placed magnificent modal trains on display at the welcome signs to the town. I will feature each of these over coming days.
The model train shown in today’s photos can be found on the south-western approach to the town on the road leading from Clare and Jamestown. The S.A.R. on the tender stands for South Australian Railways.
Model of a train at Peterborough
Martindale Hall, Mintaro, South Australia
No Comments »29th June, 2015; Category: Art Galleries, Clare Valley, Historic places, Museums, South Australia
Martindale Hall, Mintaro, South Australia
On our recent visit to Clare in the mid-north of South Australia we stayed with our daughter. At her suggestion we travelled the short distance to the small historic township of Mintaro, just a few minutes south east of Clare. It actually took us quite a lot longer than the usual 15 minutes because we found ourselves caught up in the South Australian Road Cycling Championships. Because of the hilly terrain the safety cars would not allow us to overtake the cyclists. Despite that, we were only a few minutes late for our lunch booking at the wonderful Reilly’s Wines and Restaurant (highly recommended by the way).
After our delicious and very filling lunch we drove the short distance to Martindale Hall featured in today’s photos. This beautiful old mansion in one of our state’s most magnificent homesteads. Sadly it was too late to do a tour of the inside of the building as it was approaching closing time. This wonderful building gained some notoriety when many scenes of the movie Picnic at Hanging Rock were filmed here.
You can read more on the sign below, or you can access one of several websites featuring this historic spot, including this one.
Martindale Hall, Mintaro, South Australia
Martindale Hall, Mintaro, South Australia
Martindale Hall, Mintaro, South Australia
Martindale Hall, Mintaro, South Australia
Old buildings in Goolwa
Old building in historic Goolwa, South Australia
Over the last few days I have written about a tour of the historic town of Goolwa south of Adelaide. We went with my friend Rod and his wife in their wonderful old 1928 Model A Ford.
During our time in Goolwa we stopped several times to go for a walk, looking around at some of the old historic towns still being used today.
Goolwa was a very important town in the development of South Australia. It was even considered at one point for building of the capital of the state.
The Port of Goolwa served the enormous river boat trade of the Murray-Darling River system, Australia’s major river. Its mouth is a few kilometres from the town. Farming produce and goods for the towns along the rivers were transported in the early days of colonial Australia. The advancing railway network soon brought this trade to an end. Now the river boats are returning as tourist interest in the river system increases. Now many house boats ply these waters.
Old building in historic Goolwa, South Australia
Old building in historic Goolwa, South Australia