The Richardson's Adventures

Our holiday to Western Australia was initiated from the idea of taking our boys on a extended holiday prior to starting school. We have been camping in tent's, and more recently we had a camper trailer for 3 years. While the camper trailer served us well ( over 30 camping trips ), we have upgraded to our off road caravan. The caravan makes life easier for the overnight stay, quick pack up, and it also has air conditioning. Our holidays have been booked for 2 1/2 years and we have been planning in some sort of fashion since. We have upgraded the car to give hassle free motoring, not to mention the great V8 rumble.

Tuesday, 31 May 2011

Fremantle

Woodman Point (our camp)

Woodman Point Beach
We had a quiet morning, then spent the afternoon exploring the local Woodman Beach.  We then went to the park where the boys were exhausted and slept in the car on the way home.

******
We forgot to mention last night after the Fremantle Prison tour, the boys fell asleep in the car and then we transferred them into bed without dinner and in their day clothes. That's a first!!!

Woodman point
If you look closely, the above building is surrounded by fencing made with heshian bags filled with cement.  There are several of these buildings down the coast line.  They were designed and constructed by the US military in World War II.

US military ammunition bunker
  The design was purposefully built to direct an explosion vertically.  If one were to be hit by enemy fire, it would not affect the other ammunition bunkers.  Today the camp kitchen is built inside this one photographed.  Doesn't say much for the campers and there cooking.



Monday, 30 May 2011

Fremantle Prison

The entrance to the Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison (holding cells)
The middle of the building that juts out,  second floor (where the arch windows are) is where the church is. 

The Church is an ordained church even today
The church's commandments in the background was hand painted by a prisoner who was a professional sign writer.  His paint was obtained by the local aboriginal people in the late 1800's.  The 6th commandment was slightly altered to; thout shalt not murder, instead of thout shalt not kill.  The Archbishop that inspected the mural questioned this (the sign writer stated, most men in here have kill someone)!

Wrought iron gates
The entrance to the church was specifically built for a man that was a couple of inches shorter than the top of the door's entrance.  The door had lock and key, which the priest refused to lock the church, and stated that this is to be opened for anyone to come and go as they wish.  Originally built as a Church of England denomination.   Where the red curtains are in the background, were for the worst of worst criminals, and then later used for different religious denominations.


Convict settlement (Class 1) were children as young as 9years old  to 18years old were held.  They lined up in the mornings and received their buckets to wash in and wash their clothes in.  Jacob and Zachary are demonstrating this very well for us. (This bucket was also used for toileting at night time).



 
Prisoners playground (No Grass)





Fremantle Prison, originally known as the Convict Establishment, was built by convict labour between 1852 and 1859 from limestone quarried on site.  Original holding cell for convicts.

Modern version of a prison cell.  
Fremantle prison was decommissioned  in Dec 1991.

Prison Art
There were two particular notable artist in Fremantle prison in later years.  This is just to show the mural  on the prisons cell wall of this artist.  He never went to sea but just drew from description. 


Zachary putting Daddy into solitary confinement.  Oophs, Jacob has spotted Mum.


The hanging gallows 



Fremantle Maritime Museum

   HMAS Ovens was the 3rd of 6 Oberon Class diesel electric patrol submarines

Torpedo 
Initially 6 forward and 2 aft weapon tubes, discharging Mk8 and Mk23 torpedoes forward and built for Mk20 (anti-sbumarine) torpedoes aft.  Later 6 forward tubes discharging Mk48 torpedoes and encapsulated Harpoonj anti-ship missiles.


Top Torpedo is Mk 48 and is still used today (but an updated version)

Torpedo shoots

Torpedo loading gallery
The bed to the right was used for SAS soldiers.  They would photograph the location of were the soldier would be or would be dropped off.  They developed the photo in the submarine's dark room and then find the soldiers location.

Sleeping quarters/dining room

 Cook's kitchen 
A crew of 62 men and this is the kitchen the cooks had to work within.  There were two cooks on board with a four hourly shift rotation.



Fire in the hole
On the top two panels, down in the bottom right hand corner, you'll find the torpedo fire button.  These two screens operated the perspective sides of the submarine.



Sunday, 29 May 2011

Fremantle

Market galore
We arrived in Fremantle late in the afternoon.  We were quick to explore the city.   Jeanette, I  finally had my first market fix for the trip.  A very small scale of the Victorian Markets with less, fresh produce available.

Fremantle wharf


Maritime Museum

Saturday, 28 May 2011

Bunbury, Mandurah

Mug Shots
  Hair cuts were in order, therefore all ears are now lowered.   Jacob also had a few, off days, health wise, as we visited the local GP for a volcanic, about to errupt,  infected blister on his heel. 

                               Thrombolites




Board Walk out to the Thrombolites


Dome Thrombolites

Uninvited lunch guest
We spent the day at Mandurah where we sent up for an impromptu picnic.  In the background is Mr. Percival, whom only a few minutes early, snatched unexpected neighbouring picnickers, chicken from there plate.  This bird doesn't know what it's up against with the Richardson boys!!!  Zachary was wondering what pelican would taste like. Mmm!

Fun in the park at Mandurah
Refreshments after a big play

Wednesday, 25 May 2011

Bunbury, Donnybrook, Gnomesville

             Marlston Hill Lookout, Bunbury

Preston Vale Vineyard
As most people know this is Steven's vineyard investment.

252 Hectares (~60 acres)
Preston Vale vineyard is laid out using 2.5m rows and 2.0m spacings between vines giving 2000 vines per hectare




This is the dam that irrigates the vineyard.  When the dam is at full capacity it can supply water for four years without significant rainfall.








Water level of the dam
In the background you can see a jetty that shows the depth, the dam can rise to.

                               Gnomesville
Hilarious, must see.  If you travel with your gnome and need to give it a new home!

Pick the gnome

Donnybrook Apple Fun Park 
Donnybrook has the "Biggest Free Entry Fun Park" in all of Australia.

                                         Challengers 

Hours of Fun

Astronauts in their rocket ship

Tuesday, 24 May 2011

Bunbury

Leschenault Inlet
We arrived in Bunbury on the 23rd May 2011.  Steven needs to have the car serviced at Brunswick Diesel where we bought the car from.  The boys and I explored the town of Bunbury. To the left of the boys is the caravan park where we are staying in.  NICE VIEW!

Koombana Channel (Bunbury's town centre in the background)
We walked from the caravan park into town along the walking trail which follows the Leschenault Inlet and then crosses over the Koombana Channel.

Sunday, 22 May 2011

Busselton 22nd May

                                   Zachary asleep
Today being Sunday we spent our last day in Busselton exploring Geographe Bay shorefront.   We ventured for  ~ 2 hour bike ride, stopping for morning tea/lunch.  On our return trip, Zachary fell asleep in his bike seat.



Afternoon on Busselton Jetty
After the boys had there day rest, we ventured back to Busselton Jetty for the last time.  We all walked to the end, and had afternoon tea and threw in a line.


Our last cast