Another curiously named historic site:
This 1000 Pound Bend is so named after either the cost of repairs and insurance when two coaches collided, or the cost of constructing the road through hand-hewn rock at this troublesome spot.
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I'll return to some more curious historic sites further down the page. In the meantime, I'd like to briefly chat about Wombats. We saw evidence of a lot of them when we stopped by the Tambo River (in part one), and the surrounding area.
Here's a photo of the Common Wombat, the species who lives in this part of the country. I've also inserted a link to the Australian Museum for those who wish to know more about this short, stout and solid marsupial, who's also earned the nickname "the Bulldozer of the bush"!
| The Common Wombat (Photo borrowed from Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary) |
[Warning.... some may choose not to look at the next photo]
| We found lots of evidence of wombats. Their scats are cube shaped (so that they stay in the same spot and don't roll away), thereby, marking the wombats' territory. This lot was smack bang in the middle of a bridge over the Tambo River! I included this photo because those of us who follow Laura of ForestWalkArt blogspot, know she'd be interested ;-) |
When wombats want to go somewhere, they just go... nothing stands in their way except, perhaps, solid rock.
Farmers' fences are undermined, pushed out of shape, treated with complete disregard, much to their annoyance. It not only wrecks their fences, but it leaves openings for predators, and other unwanted fauna, to access their paddocks and stock.
Many methods have been used to try and deter wombats from ploughing straight through fences. One is incredibly inhumane and cruel and I'd hate to think it's still being used these days.
On the other side of the road, and a bit further north, from where we stopped by the Tambo, we saw another type of wombat-proof fencing.
| This sort of wombat-proof electrified fencing went on for kms - in both directions! I did read that it only takes a few days for the wombats to learn to avoid it, so then it works on a visual warning basis, rather than a physically preventative one. |
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Back to the curiously named historical sites:
Left of Top Photo (Battle Point): was named after a fight between two bullock drivers or road foremen.
Top right (Haunted Stream): was named after its connection with the murder of Ballarat Harry. (Couldn't find out anything further about that story... think I'll leave well enough alone anyway!)
Bottom right (Dead Horse Flat): after a horse which was dragged along for some distance, dead, after being tied by a halter, while still alive, to the rear of its owner's wagon.
Bottom Photo (Devil's Backbone): after the tortuous nature of the country.
We continued north, passing through open country with mountains on either side of the river valley, to Ensay, which is a small town now, but once celebrated for its wool production.
It is at the base of the Nunniong High Plains sitting alongside the Tambo and Little Rivers. The aboriginal name for Ensay is Numblaminjie, meaning "black fish".
| Ensay Town Centre Not my photo [source] |
Hungry. Thirsty. The Cafe is open. I couldn't wait to check it out.
| Pies, sauce and coffee - yum. |
Refreshed, and homeward bound.
We spied this wooden charmer giving everyone a big smile as they passed.
| No clue as to her story. She just is! |
Next time we'll venture further up The Great Alpine Road and see what we can see.
Hope you enjoyed the drive with us!