Last Day in Tassie

In Oatlands, we found the cold weather we had been lucky to miss all week.

Grey skies, rain, and an icy wind; the stone buildings look far from cosy, they just look cold.

The sign on the gateway informs us that this was the gate to the Oatlands gaol, erected in 1834. In 1939, someone thought it appropriate to re-erect it as the gate to the school.



Elm cottage looks surprised to see any tourists.

Cruise

Took a boat like this for a cruise off Bruny Island.


Saw seals, albatross and gannets in a feeding frenzy.


Saw amazing rock formations.


And visited some Australian fur seals.

Fantastic day!

Around Hobart Town

Do some shopping at Salamanca market, look at Mt Wellington in the distance.


Follow the sculpture trail around Battery Point.

This is called "Gift from the Earth", by Keizo Ushio of Japan. In fact it is not one of the sculptures which make up the trail. The trail is more informative than artistic.

Check out an antique shop or two.


Finish the day with chips from one of Hobart's floating fish'n'chip shops.

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens in Hobart are superb, even in the middle of winter. Just about every plant is labelled, and there are many special sections to keep you interested. Here are a few highlights.

The wonderful conservatory.


In the rhododendron garden, a fantastic vireya from New Guinea, Rhododendron tuba, was covered in flowers.

By the lily pond, another flowering shrub caught my eye — and my nose! The perfume from this Luculia pinceana from Nepal is lovely, and the flowers are delicate beauties.

Now I want to find one for my own garden.

Hobart's botanical gardens are brilliant!

If the Sun is Shining

Sundial made of farm equipment in Valentine Park at Campbell Town.


It works but has a problem at this time of year. To read the correct time, you sit in the seat, and turn a dial to position a shadow cast on the disk by the cog at the very top. However, this week the sun was so low that when you sit in the seat, your own shadow covers the disk.

It makes an interesting piece of sculpture, anyway.

Launceston

Visit to Franklin House, built by convicts in 1838. This view is from the back garden.

Inside I liked the old sewing machines:

After I had taken this photo I noticed a sign saying that it is National Trust policy not to allow photographs inside their properties. Oops...

Craft - Wonderful and Wacky

Visited Home Hill, the home of the Lyons family; former Premier and Prime Minister Joseph , the first woman elected to the House of Representatives Dame Enid , and their 12 children. The house is still full of the family's belongings. I loved this gorgeous table that is made of various Queensland timbers.


Later a stop at Railton, town of topiary.

Not all the topiary is as cute as the elephant. For example, the Tassie Devil has a little way to go: