We left Gorge Rock Pool (near Hyden) to head back to Perth and decided to pass through Yorke on the way. Couldn’t just pass through, ended up overnighting.
A very old town, established in 1831 just two years after Perth and it shows. Some lovely old buildings, one of which houses a great private motor museum.
(one in there for John). Took the heritage drive round town and, whilst interesting, not a lot different to many similar older towns around the country. Nothing that we could say was outstanding but we did have some exception with the sentiment expressed on the above shop front.
Headed back to our new home with Ina and George in Midland. Still lots to see in Perth and we think we’ve covered the best of the south of WA so we’re here till the end of the month.
Back to Fremantle to pick up where we left off a few weeks ago. Got to the prison. Didn’t leave. A very interesting guided tour took us through most of the afternoon. Not sure why the prison closed in 1991 but the guide put it down to sanitary conditions. Apparently the state government decided that slops buckets in all the cells was too primitive and unsanitary for the prisoners and that no television in the small cells was all to much to bear for these pillars of society. 1000 prisoners here, mostly two to a cell. As it should be!
Unfortunately the last flogging on the triangle was before our visit (about 70 years before) but we nearly caught the last of 44 hangings (only 49 years ago). We’re told that hanging is humane! – compared to what? The open doors above and the lit cell are the solitary confinement block but the hammock is a home away from home for the best behaved.
Anyway after a day in prison Ina decided we needed to feel the love of an Alpaca so she demonstrated what a carrot would bribe them to do…
but when I tried this one just smiled at me. Gee, I thought if the Quokka hurt why would I want to love up an Alpaca….
Fellow travellers Eddie and Joyce called a final farewell for Saturday as they set off for parts further north and on summons we headed for the “Lucky Shag” for a last drink. Being near the Bell Tower at Barrack St Pier 
we took advantage of the half price Saturday deal and inspected the works. Beautiful piece of architecture (yes Jane and Justin I did say that). We were impressed and what a great view of the city……
Eddie and Joyce introduced us to the city’s free bus service so we went for a ride with them. Went back into town a few days later by TRAIN and then caught free buses to tour the city. Parliament house question time was the best comic relief for the day, but there were a few other highlights..
(Old London Arcade 1937, Town Hall 1867, Parliament House new part 1962, beautiful lacework 1890’s, The Perth Mint 1862 and local bounty)
Old folks tickets on train for both of us, $8.80, $2.00 to park the car at station for the day and free buses and free comedy show in the public gallery made for a very enlightening, entertaining, inexpensive day out. Whats more, the weather continues to be good.
We’ll see what the next few days bring but by and large I think we are ready to move on.
7 Responses
More classic and odd old cars! And a P76…. nice looking places for sure. Such history that the outer suburbs of Melbourne just don’t seem to have, or have but you just don’t notice. Hope you are having a great time!
Regards,
g@z.
Hi there gypsies! Haven’t looked for a while and it certainly makes for some entertaining reading and love all the pics. You are definitely having too good a time and I am very green.
What’s the schedule now? Across to Kalgoorlie and home? I really think you should go North for the rest of the Winter. Keep having fun.
Love Rob
Only show the P76 for John Fowlers benefit cos he will probably argue that its the best car ever built. But, strangely, they keep turning up in museums only as curios or follies.
Yes, onto Kalgoorlie then back to Adelaide where we have to pull all the clothes out of the cupboards and carefully arrange them on the floor, turn on all the lights and taps and dirty all the dishes in Jane and Justins new house then we have to be back for the elections!!!!!
He He! I love it. Do they know what you have planned? It’s good to have a sense of humour. They’ll just have to make their house ‘parent friendly’ I s’pose. Have fun with it:)
Hi Guys, a message for Jude mainly, although I do have to say I feeling by envious of you being in WA and seeing so many familiar places. By the way my old home is in Yorke somewhere. When mum and dad sold the old house was transported up there. They went to see it once I believe but I don’t know where exactly it is. Anyway, Jude if you get a letter from some folks in Delaware about your Hp shares you may want to follow up about them. Amelia got such a letter saying that they were taking her shares because they had not been ‘active’ for a period of time and they were obtaining them. It is some legislation the city put in place in exchange for giving big companies tax breaks or such for registering in their city. Evidently they make billions out of this scam. They claimed that correspondence with her had not been responded to in 3years but was not true.
I have not received any such letter myself. Just thought I’d let you know.
Cheers,
Judi
I’ve got the HP shares letters and they have sent me a few of them. But I’ve got a massive 3 HP shares so I just don’t care.
Regards,
g@z.
Hi Folks,
Great to hear about your travels around Yorke, and Yes I did love the wonderful P76 (as well as the Healey). The much maligned P76 did have a few ‘finishing’ problems but overall it was a fantastic car. If they had the money to make the next model, many believe the bugs would have been ironed out and it would have been a ripper – but real threat to Holden, hence the bad press we are told.
Anyway that museum seems to have some nice stuff, but sadly I wonder how many get driven? I hope the Healey gets out and about – another great car!
The Bell tower looks fantastic, but did you get to hear them rung up close?
I hope you find good stuff to explore around Kalgoolie if that is your next stop.
Cheers John & Jan