Struan House, Launceston. Tasmania.

So amazing as one starts researching a building, you never know what you will find.  This is such the case for me.
I was passing by the Supreme Court here in Launceston so took some photos with my phone, and wanting to find out what year it was built.

Built in 1870-1871 for the wealthy Scottish Colonist James Robertson who was against bringing convicts to Australia.


In 1893 the building was used as a private maternity hospital and in 1929 was acquired by the Tasmanian Government for use by the Launceston Supreme Court.

Note the Arch!
A boyfriend long ago, had to take me to the Police Station. My late dad was a Detective Sergeant at that time, so he was working evening duty.  The Police Station  was behind the building.
It was there underneath that Arch I had my first kiss :)

Amazing, same Arch today.

Apparently there is some stained glass somewhere. The building has certainly changed.

The left side of the building where the arch is.

Across the road.

Down the street opposite the Supreme Court.

The Launceston City Clock

Looking the opposite way.

Near Westwood, Tasmania. Australia

Westwood is not far from Launceston towards the west.
My husbands Ancestors lived there, and Samuel was born in England in 1789, his wife Margaret, was born in 1820 in England the daughter of a Soldier.
A big age difference.  People today would say he's a cradle snatcher :)

Westwood is a farming area.

At a farm gate there is this statue done with a chainsaw.

Back when I took this photo there had been a lot of rain - more than I can say for now.

Map of Travels.

We bought a large map about 2004 and filled in 'black' the roads we have travelled within Australia. I share this map so it can be seen where we have been.  We don't travel on roads that are not bitumen. There are a few roads that we haven't marked.

My husband and I have travelled on some of these roads many times both motel/hotel and a caravan which we sold in late 2008 or early 2009.  I haven't included my home State of Tasmania.

After a 6 year break from a caravan, (we have been travelling in the vehicle to Queensland since) this year we will travel again within Australia later in the year having family stay in our house whilst we are gone.

The Gulch, Bicheno, Tasmania.

Gulch means a deep V shaped valley formed by erosion, this can be said of the East Coastal Village of Bicheno.
A small fishing village where abalone, crayfish, trevally, scollops and crayfish can be caught.
The population increases in the summer time with holiday maker.
We as a family when our two sons were in Primary School stayed in a home there for a holiday in the summer, and it got so windy that it blew the little ones off their bikes, it was a real problem getting back to the cottage, but we did.

This is where the fishing vessels sail.

The blowhole, of course better when the sea is rough.

Punchbowl, Launceston. Tasmania.

The Punchbowl is just a few klm from home.  It's a great area for family picnics, with gas barbecues, swings and things for the children, along with a big pond and a large grassed area for cricket and football, even soccer, table and chairs to sit on.

Took one of the grandchildren there this week and these are some of the things we saw.

A few of the ducks which we are permitted to feed with bread.

A worker cleaning the fallen autumn leaves.

Denison Beach, Bicheno.

Denison Beach is not too far from Bicheno on the East Coast of Tasmania.
You will see no 'chairs' to lay on, or umbrellas overhead - if you did it would be rare.  We Taswegians like to feel the sand between our toes and on our towels.  Those that don't like that feel do something else usually.   The beach is just a very short walk from the highway.

A lot of footsteps, lots of people but not a sole to be seen.

Birthdays

 We have at the moment a couple of the grandchildren staying with us.....till Monday night (tonight) :) They came mid week.  Having heaps of fun with Miss 7 and Miss 8.

A 'thing' I did when Netfix arrived in Australia was to join and it's one of the best things I have done.  Not being a good movie person I now find them interesting, and have been watching several movies.
Our internet service provider has given many Australians 'free' data.  We were given 300GB free making in total 500GB each month, and if we were to go over the limit the speed is slowed down.  So far no problems with Netflix streaming, hope this continues.

As I mentioned a few posts back it was two of our grandchildren's birthdays..

Miss 6 turned 7, and Miss 2 turned 3.

Miss 3's birthday cake, heavily iced and a lovely mud-cake.  (a type of chocolate cake)

Miss 7 with her icecream cake.

Elephant Pass, Tasmania

The Pass must be shaped like an Elephant....it has hairpin bends and is hilly. At times when looking down the side of the road one can see the top of the tall trees well below the road.
The terrain, trees and more trees.
There is a Restaurant about halfway which proves to be popular for light meals, known for their delicious pancakes.

Photos below are part of the highway towards the end of the Pass, and after a few more hairpin bends it's WOW!, you can see the sea.  East Coast of Tasmania.
If looking on the map below you can see Bicheno, and that was where we were headed.

Fog, mist, rain.

Map of Tasmania (old one) which I scanned...it can be enlarged if wished to.

Fingal, Tasmania, Australia

Fingal was founded in 1827 as a convict station and is approx. 232m above sea level, with a population of 366 people...so another small town along the highway to the East Coast of the Island.

By the time we reach Fingal on Easter Saturday is was raining...Fingal is noted these days for The World Coal Shovelling Championship.

There is coal in the area and I presume that it's mined, as I haven't heard anything to the contrary. A Company applied to open a new mine but there were people protesting regarding that.  It was peaceful and I don't recall it being on the news.

Below is the Post Office just an office in the front of a house.  I expect the 'first' post office is gone.

St. Peter's Catholic Church.

The back of the church - needless to say I took these from the vehicle as I didn't wish to get wet.

This building houses a small food store on the main highway.

Avoca, Tasmania

Avoca is 81 km (50 ml) from Launceston with a population of 123 people in the village including surrounding areas.  One passes through this small town on the way to the East Coast, and of course there are other roads to take. This area is also known as the Fingal Valley.

John Wedge a surveyor and explorer named the town in 1825 and called it St. Paul's Plains.
Inspired by the Thomas More poem 'The Sweet Vale of Avoca' the village was renamed in 1837 to Avoca.  Avoca's namesake is in Country Wicklow in Ireland.

We travelled through Avoca on Easter Saturday.

3 tame sheep greeted me when I got out of the vehicle.

St. Thomas' Anglican Church on top of the hill, the river below.

A Rural View x 2 photos.  It is said if there are many berries it will be a cold winter.  

A home we found off the main road.  There are not many street in Avoca.

A Post Office was opened in 1832, the above building is (Circa 1850) and was the Parish Hall.

There is a mine in Fingal, the next town to the east, and it's there a coal mine exists.  We were wondering if this big load came from there.

Happy Easter 2015

Have a lovely Easter to each and everyone who passes my way and for those that don't, may they also have a great Easter remembering what Easter is about - I always remember the Religious side, unfortunately there are those that don't.

Here in Australia and on the island where I live many people go away to have a holiday, this being called Easter Holidays.  Good Friday is the only day all the shops are shut, but I expect I could find 'one or two' open.

Two of our grandchildren have birthdays this Easter, one on Saturday, the other on Sunday...new age will be 7 and 3 years of age.  Growing up fast.

I like making graphics when I get time and I made this one before the painting commenced.

I have two first names as you might know.  I changed to my middle name when I was 7 years old. All my cousins call me by my first name, and the remainder call me by my second first name.....just thought I would mention that as it's confusing for some at times, but not for me.  I answer to both :)