Farewell Australia

Perth/Fremantle Feb 25- 26, 2013

We had a 24 hours here during our last stop in Western Australia.  We arrived in Fremantle at 4pm on Mondaay afternoon and departed at 4pm the next day.  Fremantle is located on the coast a short distance up the Swan River, downriver from Perth.  The first evening we gathered information for the next day, including train schedules into Perth.  We also walked into town for  look around at the town square.

wild parrot

In the square, there is a beautiful clock tower and an old church.  They also have a lovely park with ping pong tables and chess sets available for use.  The highlight of the evening for me was the large number of parrots (or similar bird) in the palm trees and other trees in the park.  I cannot get over how cool it is too see parrots in the wild.



town square

 

 

 

Fremantel RR station

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

example of Fremantle architecture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first evening, we had a local performance group come aboard.  The Wadumbah dance group demonstrated several of the Aboriginal dances from their ancestors, including the kangaroo dance.   They danced to the sound of the didigeroo.  “C” made it through the whole show for the first time, they are difficult for him to stay awake for since they are one show only at 9:30.  I guess this one really was interesting to him. 

didigeroo player

example of Aboriginal painting



kangaroo dance



 

 

 

 

 

 



Aboriginal dance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Tues morning we took the train up to Perth.  We were meeting my friend from home, Sheila, there.  We had decided to visit the Perth mint based on a recommendation I got off the familytravelscoops.com website.  They recommended it for children and “C” certainly enjoyed his visit there. 

Perth mint

The tour was a brief introduction into gold mining in Australia and pointed out that the 26 largest nuggets found in the world were found in Australia.  With most of them coming from the area we were in and in Victoria.  The have replicas of some famous nuggets including one found in 1931 by a father and son.  Unfortunately they found it that year and not the next when the gold standard was abandoned.  The price they received was about $3000, insignificant compared to today’s value, but enough to buy a hotel in those days.  If it had been 1932 they would have received double that amount.  The mint also has the 2^nd largest nugget remaining today on display, the largest was sold to the Golden Nugget casino for an even $1million when its weight was valued at $250,000.  It is on display in Vegas. 

gold mining camp at mint

The tour included weighing yourself on a scale to see how much you were worth in gold and also a demonstration of gold pouring.  They have been using the same bar as an example for a long time.  They melt it and reform they bar multiple times per day.  The other cool display there was of different uses of gold including the Olympic medals from the Sydney Olympics.  “C” purchased a souvenir coin that was minted there and they engraved it with his name, a picture of a ship and a koala and kangaroo- a great memento of our trip. 



After we finished touring around the mint, we took the local bus that travels around the business district for free.  We all got a bit of a taste of the area before heading back to the train station to return to our respective “homes”.  It was wonderful spending the time with Sheila and I cannot thank her enough for bringing us the items from home.  It was nice to get an update from home and our friends as well.



contrast of old and new architecture in Perth

 

 

 

Perth coat of arms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon returning to Fremantle, “C”, dad and I went into a shop that teaches you how to play a didigeroo.  “C” was a natural at it, I not so much.  We decided to purchase one, figuring it can be hung as art was the passing fancy of playing it subsides.  He is currently planning to try to play it in the talent show aboard the ship.  We shall see how that goes.



It was a wonderful ending to what was a great few weeks in Australia.  Definitely a list of places to visit again.