Friday 10th January - Gundagai
Clive put the air-con early this morning to keep the van cool while I slept, as they said that it was going to be a hot day. Well they were right. 19.6 overnight and upto 47.1 out the back. It was HOT! After turning the van air-con off, we went for a drive around Gundagai. First stop was the statue of Dad, Dave, Mum and Mabel, from the long running radio series. Then to the Memorial of the Great Rescue of the 1852 flood. Then to the old Court House and Jail, where you can do a tour but we didn't. Next stop is the Prince Alfred Bridge, so named after Prince Alfred who was the first member of the Royal Family to visit Australia. The bridge was completed in 1867 and has a total length of 921 metres. Alongside the bridge is the Railway Viaduct, which was built in 1903. Crossing the Murrumbrigee River, it is the longest ever timber truss bridge built in Australia, measuring 809 metres. Since 1979 funds are still being raised to restore these bridges to their former glory. As you can see from the photos, this looks to be an expensive job. Down to the riverbank, sits the Old Mill building, right alongside the Murrumbridgee. Given how dry it is and the fact there is a road now running along the river bed, we can only assume that the river flow is controlled some how further upstream. The Gundagai Railway Station was built in 1886. This branch line connected with Cootamundra, some 52km away. Extensions were added to the railway station in 1962, making it the longest timber railway station in NSW. The Centre of OLD Gundagai marker sits in the middle of the Murrumbridgee River. The town was re-built after the flood of 1853, when it was re-located to higher ground. There is also the Old School Cairn on the river bed too. After years of petitioning for a school, the National school was built. This comprised of two rooms. During the flood, the school was washed away killing Master and Mistress McKenna, their five children and two other students. A quick stop off at Wollies and then back to the van. It's now 37 inside the van and the air-con is on. At 2.14pm as you can see, it's 44.9 and still getting warmer. We should have left the air-con on. Some showers at 10pm but it is still 32 outside.