Pombo Mart

The Pombo Mart is an iconic building on the Princes Highway at Pomborneit between Colac and Camperdown in Victoria, Australia. The building began life as a Creamery operated by the Camperdown Cheese and Butter Factory in 1892, and was of timber construction.

The Pombo Mart on the Princes Highway at Pomborneit North, Victoria, Australia

In 1908, Bacchus Marsh Concentrated Milk Co. Ltd. purchased the Creamery and produced Lifeguard Milk. The Nestle Anglo Swiss Company acquired the building in 1917 and the company replaced the timber construction with the current iron building.

The Pombo Mart on the Princes Highway at Pomborneit North, Victoria, Australia

In 1936, the building was re-purchased by the Camperdown Cheese and Butter Factory who operated there until its closure in the mid 1950s. 

The Pombo Mart on the Princes Highway at Pomborneit North, Victoria, Australia

The Pombo Mart faces west, and the colour of the setting sun reflected on the buildings.

Footnote:

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.

© Fred O’Donnell Photography

Acknowledgements

I respect and acknowledge the Gulidjan people as the First Peoples and Traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which I live.

I acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging.

Proudfoots Boathouse

It is described as one of the most recognisable and historic buildings in the Warrnambool region of Victoria, Australia. 

Thomas Proudfoot  had applied for a jetty licence near the mouth of the Hopkins River for the purpose of running a boating business in 1885. However, in 1900, just after the building had been completed he died suddenly. His widow, with two young children, took over the boathouse tearooms and accommodation and ran it for the next 30 years.

The Hopkins River, looking towards the mouth of the river, with Proudfoots Boathouse, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia

Warrnambool, on the Great Ocean Road, situated in south west Victoria, Australia, has a population of about 35,200. It is a popular tourist destination with the Logan Beach Whale Watching Platform on many tourist “to do” list.

Proudfoots Boat House on the Hopkins River, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia

Proudfoots Boat House, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia

Proudfoots Boat House, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia

Hopkins River, looking up stream, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia

Footnote:

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.

© Fred O’Donnell Photography

Acknowledgements

I respect and acknowledge the Gulidjan people as the First Peoples and Traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which I live.

I acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging.

Backyard Honeyeaters

About mid-morning most days, the bird bath becomes a popular spot with the small birds. Most are quite small, but all have one thing in common: they are extremely quick.

White-naped Honeyeater (Melithreptus lunatus) settles here before taking a bath.

White-naped Honeyeater (Melithreptus lunatus) sits on the rim of the bird bath.

White-naped Honeyeaters (Melithreptus lunatus)

The following photo is of a White-plumed Honeyeater which is a first on my backyard birding list. I have seen these birds in other places, but I’m pleased to see it in my backyard.

White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata)

Yellow-faced Honeyeater (Lichenostomus chrysops)

Footnote:

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.

© Fred O’Donnell Photography

Acknowledgements

I respect and acknowledge the Gulidjan people as the First Peoples and Traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which I live.

I acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging.

Bird’s-nest Fern

The Bird’s-nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) was displaying beautifully on this sunny autumn morning.

Bird’s-nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) at the Botanic Gardens in Colac, Victoria, Australia

Footnote:

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.

© Fred O’Donnell Photography

Acknowledgements

I respect and acknowledge the Gulidjan people as the First Peoples and Traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which I live.

I acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging.

Corner Store

As a young child growing up, the corner store was a big part of my family’s domestic life. The supermarket, as we know it today, did not exist. The local grocer supplied our weekly groceries. The corner store was for buying things we had run out of, or for little luxuries, such as soft drinks, ice creams, lollies and other such items.

While the corner store still exists, many of these small businesses are struggling to compete with mega-supermarkets where so many of us do our grocery shopping these days.

On a recent trip to the Melbourne suburb of Yarraville, I took some photos of corner stores.

Corner Store, Yarraville

Corner Store, Yarraville

For the above photos, I used Kodak Gold film loaded in my Kodak Retinette 1A camera.

Corner Store, Yarraville

Corner Store, Yarraville

A few days later, I returned with my Nikon EM loaded with Kodak Tri-X 400 black and white film.

Corner Store, Yarraville

The corner store in the above photo is in another part of Yarraville. I have wanted to take this photo for a while now, and I wanted to use black and white film. Its weathered boards and peeling paint cry out to be the subject of a black and white photograph.

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.

Jawbone Reserve – 2

Continuing my walk along the Bay Trail, there was no shortage of water birds on display.

 

Dusky Moorhen,
(Gallinula tenebrosa)

The Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa) was nestled down in the grass and hiding in the shadows.

 

 

Chestnut Teal,
(Anas castanea)

The Chestnut Teals (Anas castanea) were all inactive and enjoying some quiet time.

 

Pacific Black Duck,
(Anas superciliosa)

 

Black Swan,
(Cygnus atratus)

This Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) swam up to me. I suspect it associates people with food and does not have any fear of humans.

Black Swan,
(Cygnus atratus)

Little Pied Cormorant,
(Microcarbo melanoleucos)

This Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos) flew by and I had no time for composing the picture, it was a quick snap and hope for the best. A little way down the path I found it settled on a rock, however as you can see in the picture below, it did contemplate moving on as I approached. Once I had the photo I wanted I continued on and it relaxed.

Little Pied Cormorant,
(Microcarbo melanoleucos)

As I continued my walk a Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes) flew by however the photo I got of it in flight was blurred. However, I did manage a shot of it landing.

Yellow-billed Spoonbill,
(Platalea flavipes)

Jawbone Reserve

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. These images are protected by copyright laws and all rights are reserved. To purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.

 

 

 

Jawbone Reserve

Last Friday, I was able to visit the Jawbone Conservation Park. Weatherwise, I could not have picked a better day. After a week of dull grey skies, Friday was the complete opposite – bright blue sky and warm autumn sun.

I entered from the carpark at the intersection of Maddox and Kororoit Roads and headed east along the Bay Trail.

 

Paisley – Challis Wetlands Stormwater Drain – iPhone image.

 

 

A pair of Black-winged Stilts (Himantopus himantopus) were feeding in one of the wetland ponds.

 

A distant shot of one of the Black-winged Stilts,
(Himantopus himantopus) feeding in a wetland pond.

 

A male Australasian Darter,
(Anhinga novaehollandiae)

 

A Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) – Preening under the watchful eyes of the Australian White Ibis.

 

A female Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) and a Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus)

Further down the trail, a Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos) was busy diving for his dinner.

 

Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)

There are too many photos I wish to share so I will save them for future posts.

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. These images are protected by copyright laws and all rights are reserved. To purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fallen Leaves

Here are some photos that were taken recently at the Colac Botanic Gardens. Autumn is such a great time for photography, especially when there are deciduous trees that lose their leaves, at this time of the year.

Black Tupelo, Nyssa sylvatica, Nyssaceae, Botanic Gardens, Colac, Victoria, Australia

Claret Ash, Fraxinus oxycarpa, Raywoodii, Oleaceae, Botanic Gardens, Colac, Victoria, Australia

Common Linden, Tilia x europaea, Tiliaceae, Garden Origin, Botanic Gardens, Colac, Victoria, Australia

Swamp Cypress, Taxodium distichum, Cupressaceae, Botanic Gardens, Colac, Victoria, Australia

Swamp Cypress, Taxodium distichum, Cupressaceae, Botanic Gardens, Colac, Victoria, Australia

 

Please Note: All photographs appearing on my blog were taken by me. They are protected by copyright laws and all rights are reserved. If you would like to purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.

Black Swan Lake

The following photos were taken on a recent walk along the southern shore of Lake Colac.

It was a bright sunny autumn morning. A bright blue sky was reflected in the lake’s water. A pair of Black Swans (Cygnus atratus) was standing in the shallows, preening. My problem was, my camera was pointed north, straight into the morning sun.

Please Note: All photographs appearing on my blog were taken by me. They are protected by copyright laws and all rights are reserved. If you would like to purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.

Tricky Light

It is autumn in Australia now. The sun is much lower in the northern sky. The late afternoon sun can be rather harsh and cause problems for the photographer shooting into the sun, as I discovered a few days ago.

The above photos are all of a Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans) in my front garden.

Please Note: All photographs appearing on my blog were taken by me. They are protected by copyright laws and all rights are reserved. If you would like to purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.