Saturday, 19th February 2022.
We’re only down the road from Stath. Maybe twenty minutes. Frank Potts Reserve.
It’s a nice tidy and shady place with a hand pump style flushing toilet. Just one and there is now about fifteen vans and tents here. We are on The Bremer River which is currently dry but has all the associated foliage which makes it difficult to access.
We are also about 700 metres, so the sign says, from town. We came through town earlier but were focused on looking for the park.
Minimal set up. Have not put out the awning or completely disconnected. Just undid the ball, put the jockey wheel on and wound it up to level it.
We inspect the one and only toilet and discuss the potential line up, given the number of vans, which by the way is increasing as we speak.
A walk into town past a winery and a wine house come brewery. (?)
Almost exactly nine minutes later we hit what appears to be one of the only two commercial facilities in town. The first, The Bridge Hotel. We have googled it and it appears well appointed, except no accommodation.
It is Saturday and the weekend always seems to be two touring days of classic cars.
N.B. A classic car is an older car, typically 25 years or older, though definitions vary.[note 1] The common theme is of an older car of historical interest to be collectible and tend to be restored rather than scrapped. Classic cars are a subset of a broader category of “collector cars” (which includes both restored classic cars vehicles and newer exotic vehicles). A subset of what is considered classic cars are known as antique cars (manufactured before 1980) or vintage cars (manufactured pre-World War II. (Wikipedia)
Another definition of vintage car. noun BRITISH an old style or model of car, specifically one made between 1919 and 1930.
We spot some classics. A Morris Minor and a Citroën. I think it’s a 2CV.
N.B. Autoweek The Citroën 2CV Was Created to Get Rural Europe off Horses. (Googled)
And a Mini Moke! … AND …this one is a ‘Californian.’
N.B. The Moke was built in Australia from 1966 to 1981 where it was originally marketed as the Morris Mini Moke and from 1973 as the Leyland Moke. (Googled) The badged Moke Californian arrives in 1977 creating a notable deviation from Moke’s established commercial looks. … A standard MOKE badge above the grille and Californian decals on either side of the bonnet, white bumpers, wider wheels and blue trim being distinguishing features.
… and incidentally, a modern Mini.
Second commercial property, The General Store.. We managed to grab some milk before the early afternoon closure. Not open Sunday.
We continue up the street on our excursion walk.
Langhorne’s Creek Memorial Hall.
N.B. Langhorne Creek is named after Afred Langhorne, a drover who used to bring cattle from NSW and water them here. The place where he used to cross the Bremer River was named Langhorne’s Crossing. When a Bridge was built and the town surveyed in 1849, it became known as Langhorne’s bridge. A few other locations were encompassed and the area then became known as Langhorne’s Creek and then Langhorne Creek.
Further up the road, barrels for sale.
Lovely old church….
…. AND we had our own ‘Sir Lancelot!’
The name Lancelot is primarily a male name of French origin that means Land. Also, Sir Lancelot, one of the knights of the Round Table in Arthurian Legend. (Googled)
NOW, here’s a real entrepreneur, two fold. Firstly, they are selling eggs irrespective of day or time. and secondly …
… they grabbed and used a real estate open inspection sign.
We come to a Park, and lo and behold, it’s called Alfred Langhorne Park. How about that?
Good spot with books available …
… and extensive info booth …
.. with all sorts of local, useful info including phone numbers of outlets. Very helpful.
There is a large grape vine area adjacent. The sign says, ‘Bushfire Last Resort Refuge.’ Top of the list on the terror situations is being caught in a bushfire. When all else fails, at least you can stand in a large vacant area with more or less nothing for the fire to burn. It works. If there’s a fire, would you rather be in a gum tree forest or a grape vine forest?
Can’t beat nature. This is the humble gum nut flower.
Here is a sculpture in the park called, ‘FLOW.’ The artist is Agnessa Petrova. from Bulgaria. She is apparently well sought after for her talent.
I am not going to be cruel here, but I will make a simple ‘own opinion’ observation. If she is an appreciator of art, wouldn’t just a bit of hair conditioner and make up improve her most personal art piece? She doesn’t look like a successful artist. She looks like a medieval washer woman.
This old hall at closer look is a gallery.
This is on the door and according to the sign, it should have been open, but nay, it was not.
Interesting building and part sign on the top.
A closer look reveals it must have had a small shelter added and the uncovered part was rendered. So I googled what it could have been and … behold ….
Langhorne Creek Oddfellows Hall
Opened 5 Sep 1870, random stone walls with rendered quoins, used for Anglican services for many years until St John’s opened 1929, served as community hall until Soldiers Memorial Hall built 1934. Projection box added 1930s for showing of films. “The Hall is an exceedingly neat and unpretending edifice, with just sufficient orament [sic] to avoid excessive plainness.” [Southern Argus 10 Sep 1870]
On the street walk return journey, another old building, used to be a school I think, renovated and used for community activities. Obviously, for the benefit of renovators, they did the salt damp.
More flowers.
a side view of the Langhorne’s Creek Memorial Hall. opposite the pub but showing the towns very progressive dump point. Progressive because a town with only two commercial tourist/consumer orientated facilities has allowed for caravanners and campers.
Near the river. Obnoxious weed ‘Morning Glory’ has a pretty flower but is a pest.
We saw this head stone on the way into town. Now it is on the right side for us to inspect. Damn sad. 1878, two small boys returning home from an errand heard a baby crying by the river. They got dad and he recognised the baby and took it home to the Burley family home. They found the three eldest children, all daughters, were missing.
They returned to the spot and later found all three had drowned in about 2.5 metres of water. It was thought one fell in and the others perished trying to save her, leaving the baby on the bank.
The father had just taken over the Bridge Hotel and was in Adelaide in hospital after an accident. They thought better to not tell him at a crucial recovery stage.
The girls were approximately 10, 8 and 7 and the baby on the bank was 12 month old Robert. They were of seven children.
The headstone was relocated to Langhorne Creek in 2017 (close to the drowning site) after the lease had expired on the grave site.
The Burleys had three more children but they all died very young. The family moved to Adelaide in 1880 and Mr Burley took over the John Bull Hotel in Currie Street. Mrs Burley fell from the top floor of the hotel and died, just 36 years old.
Very sad and an example of hardship suffered by settlers.
We dropped in at the Brewery on the way back. Quite pleasant grounds and people sitting around happily swilling ale. It’s not made there. Made at Clare I think? Anyway we moved on to ‘home.’ By the way Frank Potts introduced wine grapes to the area. That’s worth at the very least a reserve being named after him. Perhaps it should be Langhorne Potts Creek?
Anyway, a nice day. Showers, chicken schnitzel and veg for evening meal. A few movies flicked between including The Magnificent Seven then ………….
zzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzz
