Port Albert, Victoria

On our recent trip to Yarram in South Gippsland, we spent an hour or so in the little village of Port Albert, Gippsland's oldest Port established in 1841, which remains today as one of the few operating fishing villages on the Victorian coastline.

Amateur fisherman have safe and easy access out into Bass Strait from here.

Located some 225 kilometres east of Melbourne, and just fourteen kilometres south of Yarram, it is a delightful village with a number of old buildings from the previous century lovingly restored. Some have a National Trust classification or are on the Historic Buildings Register.

Richard's mother taught here about 80 years ago. We found the schoolground but the old school building has been replaced by a sewerage pumping station. Ah, progress!!!

We thought we would make an offer for this 'house' - we're sure it has potential...lol.

However, since it's priced at $1.5million .........!!!

Actually, there is quite a bit of land with it, all designated for building blocks (about 6, I think) so ultimately it will be worth much more for someone with the money to realise its potential ... but that won't be us!

Moruya

Moruya is a small town on the southern coast of New South Wales. It is blessed by spectacular scenery, beaches and river. The town has all the facilities one needs for everyday living, as well as a very comfortable climate through all four seasons.

In fact, it's the area in which I wanted to live ......

...... until my recent visits to Victoria.

Decisions, decisions, decisions !!!

"I've been everywhere, man...."

Well, maybe not everywhere, but I've been South, West, North and East - and now I'm home again!

The trip down south into Victoria was lovely, the 'Made in Ballarat' concert was wonderful (of course), the trip back through Castlemaine ("Hello, Catsmum"), Daylesford, Bendigo, Shepparton, Wangaratta and home to Canberra was long, and generally interesting, and the trip East to the coast was relaxing.

The weather in Victoria was mainly overcast and drizzly so very few photos resulted. Even when it was fine enough for photos, I was too lazy to get out of the car and take them. Richard did offer many times to stop on Sturt St. in Ballarat so that I could take photos of the stunningly beautiful old homes. I'd rather have bought them than photographed them though.

But I did manage to take some of the lovely 1890's cottage where we stayed for two nights.

I may not have taken many photos in Victoria - perhaps I was saving myself for the coast, where I took nearly 200, about half of which are of the ocean, but hoping for a glimpse of the migrating humpbacked whales - so 'stay tuned'.

Heading South ..... again!

Just heading back to Victoria for a few days - looking for my heart...lol.

Also looking for some more photos.

Be back soon!

Heading North

We recently spent a few days in Victoria, a small southern State with some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable.

These photos were taken between Healesville and Mansfield - from just north east of Melbourne into the centre of Victoria.

As you can see it was a typical wintery sky, and we did pass through a few showers, but since I think clouds are every bit as attractive as any other scenery, I was happy with my lot that day.

Along the Maroondah Highway

Fungi in a park at Healesville

A Billabong - a section of creek cut off from the main flow.

The main street of Healesville. This little town is famous for its wonderful wildlife sanctuary but we didn't visit there on this occasion,......

...... we just had morning tea in the park, and then rummaged through the offerings in a secondhand bookshop.

White straw-necked ibis,

Crimson Rosellas and ....

King Parrots feeding in the park at ...

Maroondah Dam.

Continuing north and over the Black Spur.

I can never tire of these magnificent Eucalypts growing so straight and tall..

and the lush tree ferns.

Marysville.

Typical Victorian scenery. Poplars along the roadside...

farmhouses nestled into the hillside...

meandering rivers....

distant, rolling hills....

river flats....

paradise!

Can you tell that my heart still belongs in Victoria even though it's more than 34 years since we moved from there to Canberra?