The past proudly displayed at Moruya

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We woke at 8.30am and rechecked the van. The area was still damp but not soaking. There was water debris covering the yellow wheel chocks and up to 4 inches of the tyres. Some of the campers near us were busy hanging stuff on the airport perimeter fence to dry, but with 98% humidity, I doubt it will work!

After watching a little yellow Gyrocopter do some “touch and goes”, we closed all the vents and windows in the van just in case it started raining again, as forecast, and set off for the Moruya Country Market. Many of the stalls were the same as at the Candelo Market last week, although there were a few more fresh produce stalls. Unfortunately, the handbag lady wasn’t there so I couldn’t try and get my bag. Barry did spot some belts for $6 (which I needed as my $2 Vinnies belt was already breaking!). I found one that was long enough to go around my paunch. It looked like leather but I doubt it is for that price – let’s hope it lasts a bit longer than the previous one! I also bought some fruit and veg, which we then took back to the van.

In the afternoon, we went to see the Moruya Museum, which was in an old house with a metalwork balcony and fence. It was run by the local Historical Society and was very well laid out. Each room had appropriate, mostly donated, furniture, fittings and accoutrements in it which were well labelled and interesting to read. The Parlour was very formally decorated but cosy; the Dining Room and Kitchen had the usual items in; and the Laundry, off the kitchen, still had a concrete clothes boiler in one corner and a large concrete trough and hand cranked water pump in another. There was a room on the Mezzanine devoted to military memorabilia and then upstairs were the Nursery, with some toys, baby clothes and a really strange cot with a metal flyscreen covering it; and the Master Bedroom, which had the bed and furniture as well as a range of outfits on dummies and personal knickknacks in glass cases.

Outside was a huge Abernathy Stonemason’s Lathe that had been used to turn columns up to 1.2 metres diameter, 6 metres long and weighing 18 tonnes for some of the civic buildings in Sydney. There was also a lot of information on the granite that had been quarried in the area and was used on the piers of Sydney Harbour Bridge. They were obviously very proud of this.

After seeing the Museum, I wanted to take some photos of the wooden sculptures that were all along both sides of the main road. Some were good but some had rather odd faces, while some were of animals and fish. At least they added interest to the street. We finished up at the Air Raid Tavern Cafe and had yet another iced coffee each (they do go down well on hot days!) and listened to the 1930s and 40s music they were playing. Very restful.



After all that walking, I was exhausted and everything ached so we went back so I could lay down for a bit, with a slight detour to take a photo of the wonderful road sign at the entrance to the airport road, warning about parachutists. We do have some great road signs in Oz.

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Photos

Moruya Museum
Baby's cot covered with mesh

Moruya Museum
Information ticket next to baby's cot

Moruya Museum
Abernathy Stonemason’s Lathe used to make granite columns up to 1.2m diameter x 6m tall

Moruya Airport
Street sign next to the airport - Beware falling people!