Rocky Hill War Memorial

Did you know the Goulburn Visitor Information Centre is the top tourist destination of Goulburn according to Trip Advisor?

We woke up to a severely frost impacted  vehicle so after a leisurely breakfast looking up the arse end of The Big Merino, we decided we’d better visit that particular destination (9) while we waited for the car to defrost. A rather interesting (if one eyed) history of the Australian merino industry circa from 2007 awaited inside the frigid merino (a ploy to get you to buy some winter woollies in the store? I only bought a garish 3D postcard of the Big Merino for my mum). We ascended the viewing platform and gazed out the windows that were its eyes but there was nothing photogenic to be seen, only the big box stores, highway, and junk food restaurants we had resorted to the night before.

The car, at least, defrosted, we headed to the Rocky Hill War Memorial & Museum (2), a castle like structure which looms over the township, and promised more steps, and views. We’d never visited the museum before and that was fabulous, at once more intimate and engaging than Canberra’s War Memorial, which is a bit of a shambles while it undergoes expensive and intensive renovations (that will still likely fail to acknowledge the first wars of Australia). The museum is divided into two parts - the new section (in a fancy reflective building), with some fascinating photographic, cinematic and social history exhibits, the original building, a bit of a museum of the original museum, also fascinating, particularly on the role of women (I didn’t get much beyond that room because the rest of my family had tired). 

Anyway, today’s blip comes from that second, “meta” museum, not that we were troubled by admission fees or severe countenances. The young chap who enthusiastically welcomed us was quite the opposite of this fellow.

Following the museum we explored the wetlands we’d seen from the top of the tower (17). Very pleasant and all the time I was there I couldn’t help but think of a friend who moved to Goulburn who I lost touch with, and the I found an article about their upcoming showcase on Gardening Australia, that makes it clear she is involved. Fantastic!


Anyway, good to be back home now.

Thanks Carolina for hosting MM during May.