We went for a short drive to check out a few locations today. Travelled from Rainbow to Kenmare then Brentwood (not much left just a fence where the school was and another where the Baptist church was with a marker) Then we travelled west to the point where the 142 meridian crosses the 36th parallel. This was the point where the survey started for the netting fence in 1884. You can see the full article under the netting fence in the History/Mallee section.

We also checked out a location where there is supposed to be a cottage from the 1800’s on a sand dune not far from Lake Hindmarsh on the Werrap road, but couldn’t get to it as the dune is surrounded with a crop and they haven’t harvested it yet so we will have to return later.

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Went to Birchip. Big mistake.

We used to travel to Bayswater to purchase their vanilla slices as they won the best in the bakeoff and their slices were great. We thought we were safe now that we lived so far away from Bayswater but we have discovered that the Birchip bakery has stolen the trophy that used to sit behind the counter at Bayswater.

After an obligatory taste test that required several samples. We discovered that we agreed with the judges. This may not be good for the waistline if we pass that way too often.

At least they are a reasonable distance away so I can’t get an urge and duck down the street.

Check them out at.

Sharp’s Bakery

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We went for a drive today temp outside was 33 to 35 all day but cool in the car. First after the morning cappuccino to start the day, we just couldn’t resist the strawberries and of course we had to finish the punnet didn’t we.

After deciding that we would have to return after our drive for another punnet to have with cream tonight. we headed off to Jeparit to talk to the Pioneer Museum about the travellers we have been sending their way.

We decided to check out the state of the wimmera river at the weir and discovered the old trestle bridge built for the train to Lorquon opened 10 December 1912. It was another line decommissioned on 8 December 1986 when the Cain government closed 15 lines across the state, This ill informed and short sighted decision saved money in the rail system but caused a massive increase in road maintenance and the toll as hundreds of trucks replaced the rail. This also had the effect of causing the demise of many small towns.

No tracks left but the line and towns have been added to my to do list for the future.

Now we need to think of where we will have lunch and we selects Warracknabeal. So off we go but as we travelled along the back road Sue noticed a sign on the fence near an old church so we stopped to check it out and to our surprise we have stumbled across another ghost town with one building left.

Welcome to Peppers Plain.

A football ground, school, church tennis courts and homes. All gone except the church and just inside the Hindmarsh shire so another one to look into.

Then off for lunch, a visit to Brim, Beulah, Beulah West, Kenmare and back to Rainbow where Sue needed another cappuccino to recover from the trip.

Now she is settling into watching TV while I search for information about both the old and new projects.

The squatter section is almost ready to install the first instalment under the history tab and should be posted soon.

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