The former Clunes Post and Telegraph Office was constructed in 1879 by Messrs Lewis and Roberts to a design by the Public Works Department.
Now privately owned as a residence, it is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register for its preserved example (Renaissance Revival style) of the design of the era. It replaced the original post office, a much smaller building, erected in 1861.
The former Clunes Post and Telegraph Office
Footnote:
Please Note: I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.
The Clunes Town Hall and Court House, designed by Percy Oakden, was constructed by William Cowland in 1872-3. It is a distinctive Victorian Free Classical style building.
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Footnote:
Please Note: I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.
There are birds who pick a mate and many remain together until “death do us part”.
The photo below is a portrait of a mated pair of Galahs (Eolophus roseicapillus) an endemic species of Cockatoo recorded only in Australia. It is coloured grey and pink. There are three races: Race roseicapillus; Race albiceps; Race kuhli.
Galahs, Eolophus roseicapillus, Victoria, Australia
Forming permanent pairs, Galahs become mates for life. Both sexes incubate the eggs and care for the young. Their young will have duller colours with grey about the face and breast. Up to 50% of Galah chicks die in the first six months.
A Juvenile Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus)
Baby Galahs are easy to recognise, besides their cuteness, have much more grey in the plumage.
Little Corellas (Cacatua sanguinea)
Little Corellas (Cacatua sanguinea) are believed to mate for life. They start breeding at the beginning of a prolonged wet period. This summer, here in Australia, has been affected by the La Nina weather phenomenon and record amounts of rainfall have been recorded. It also means cooler temperatures, particularly in my part of Australia. My guess is, that this should be a good breeding season for Little Corellas.
Little Corella,
Cacatua sanguinea,
Barongarook West, Victoria, Australia
Please Note: I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.
Now home to the real estate office of Ray White, this building, on the corner of Ryrie Street opposite the Post Office was designed by the architectural firm of Alexander Davidson and Co. It was commissioned in 1878 by local grocer, Richard Clarke.
86 Ryrie Street, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
It was built in 1880, on the south-west corner of Ryrie and Gheringhap Streets, which was the former site of Clement Nash’s monumental mason’s yard.
The local newspaper, the Geelong Advertiser, described the premises as an “imposing structure”.
“The building, which is to be erected after the Byzantine style of architecture, is to be of brick on bluestone foundations, the outside to be cemented, and there will be pressed cement enrichments in the cornices and string cause. The front of the store is to have an ornamental cement parapet, and there will be two mansards in the roof fronting Ryrie-street.”
86 Ryrie Street, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
From here, Richard Clarke, who had arrived in Victoria from England in 1851, conducted his wholesale and retail business. He sold groceries, wines and spirits, not just in Geelong, but in the surrounding country districts. Business began at the new store in early 1879.
Source: Trove: The book of Geelong its people, places, industries and amusements
The Prickly Paperbark Tree (Melaleuca styphelioides) is a small to medium size tree native to eastern Australia. The following photographs are of the flowers of the Prickly Paperbark Tree I have growing in my backyard.
My Lilly Pilly (Syzygium smithii) tree has burst into flower. The cream-white flowers appear in panicles at the end of branches.
Common Lilly Pilly (Syzygium smithii)Common Lilly Pilly (Syzygium smithii)
The above photo, shows the glossy dark-green leaves of the Common Lilly Pilly. New growth has a reddish tinge. As Australia moves from summer into the cooler months the flowers will be replaced by red berries.
Common Lilly Pilly (Syzygium smithii)Common Lilly Pilly (Syzygium smithii)
Please Note: I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.
In 1900, William Leggo, began his association with the store at 88 Ryrie Street, Geelong.
This site had previously been owned by Thomas Barber Hunt whom, it appears, to have established the Australian Produce stores from this location before 1874. In 1911, William Leggo purchased the property from Thomas Hunt’s Estate.
In 1922, in anticipation of admitting his son James to entering a partnership with him, William Leggo engaged Geelong architects Laird and Buchan. They designed a new two storey brick shop with the name of the family business, W. Leggo & Son, Grocers, emblazoned on the building’s parapets.
Ironically, Leggo never operated his grocery from his new building. The business was sold to Robert Dawson and Arthur Skirrow. Leggo retained ownership of the building and it became widely known as Leggo’s Building.
W. Leggo & Son Grocers Building, Ryrie Street, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Source:About Corayo: A Thematic History of Greater Geelong
The Bottlebrush Kunzea (Kunzea baxteri) or Crimson Bottlebrush, a member of the Myrtaceae family, is native to the south-west of Western Australia. Like many other popular native plants, they made their way into Australian gardens on the East coast through specialist native nurseries which became popular from the 1970s.
These specimens pictured below, were growing at the entrance to the platform at the Colac Railway Station.
I received a nice surprise, yesterday, when I went for a walk in the local Botanic Gardens. The iconic Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) in all its brilliant glory. This tree was immortalised in the song “Flame Tree” by the Australian rock band Cold Chisel.
This particular tree was planted in 2001 to celebrate 100 years of Australian Federation after being donated by the Friends of Colac Botanic Gardens.
Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) in flower at the Botanic Gardens in Colac, Victoria, AustraliaIllawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) at the Botanic Gardens in Colac, Victoria, Australia
Acknowledgement:
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.
Please Note: I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.
Further, to my previous post, the hybrid Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans x Platycercus eximius) turned up at the feeding station recently. He didn’t stay long, however, I was lucky enough to snap this photo before he took off again.
Crimson Rosella,
Platycercus elegans,
Barongarook West, Victoria, Australia
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.
Please Note: I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.
A collection of photographs describing the natural beauty and wildlife of the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh and beyond.**** All pictures are taken by yours truly with Canon Powershot SX50HS****
fredodonnellphotography 