Trial Bay Gaol

Well we finally made it. Hubby and I took a day off together and drove down to South West Rocks to look around Trial Bay Gaol and the surrounds. It is a great place to visit and very interesting. 

Trial Bay Gaol was established in 1876 as an experimental Public Works Gaol where the inmates would construct the breakwater. It took ages to build due to the difficulties in cutting the rocks to build it and closed in 1903. After that is was used for a couple of years during WW1 as an internment camp. 
http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/zivillager/history.shtml
http://www.afloat.com.au/afloat-magazine/2012/february-2012/Trial_Bay_Gaol#.UkKnuoZmj0s

Overlooking the entrance to the cell blocks

Bakehouse

Bathhouse

Butterfly

One of the cells

Replica of the life of internee Kurt Wiese - who decorated his cell with stencil friezes

View to guard tower

View from the top

Where the Internment Hospital was

Kicking back with a kangaroo

Smoky Cape Lighthouse                   

Pelicans on the boat ramp

Arakoon Cemetary

Scribbly gum - eucalyptus signata
These scribbles are made by the scribbly gum mothhttp://www.csiro.au/Outcomes/Environment/Biodiversity/Scribbly-gums-interpreting-their-scribbles.aspx

Strawberries for lunch

Water birds - grey stork and ibis

Rainbow lorikeet

Scaly breasted rosella

Scar treehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarred_tree

Hubby took Riki to work with him today and found a scarred tree. These trees have scars from where Aboriginal people cut out a section of bark to make canoes, shelters, shields and containers ('coolamon')

And I am  a bit bummed at the moment as I have the flu but the Coffs Harbour Buskers Festival is on at the moment. Here is a link to the home page with some videos http://www.coffsharbourbuskers.com/, 

Well it's almost time for Riki to go home :-( I can't believe the 6 months has gone so quick. Hopefully she has lots of great memories!!