Welcome to Life Images by Jill

Welcome to Life Images by Jill.........Stepping into the light and bringing together the images and stories of our world. I am a photographer, writer and multi-media artist.
Focussing mainly on Western Australia and Australia, I am seeking to preserve images and memories of the beautiful world in which we live and the people in it.

Welcome!

Welcome!
PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO GO TO MY RED BUBBLE STORE.

Monday 13 May 2013

Paperbark cathedral - Leschenault Estuary, Australiand, Western Australia

Only about 5 minutes drive from our home is Cathedral Avenue which runs along the edge of the Leschenault Estuary at Australind.  Beautiful old paperbarks (which are natural to the area along the Estuary) arch over the old road like the roof of a cathedral. I love walking along here, and as it was a beautiful morning on Sunday we drove out to Cathedral Avenue for a walk. 
It is a great place for children to ride their bikes.


This was the original Old Coast Road. The road has now been diverted around this section, so you can walk or cycle along here quite safely. You can park at either the southern or northern end, and if you like walk both ways beneath the cathedral of trees or walk one way along the foreshore path, and then back through the trees.

In the bottom left picture, if you look into the distance, you might be able to see the Bunbury port facilities. It is so lovely to have a place to walk like this so close to home. I love the blue on blue effect of the top image. You can how the paperbarks cling to the edge. During winter storms they would be inundated by the rising water.


 The birds were enjoying the morning too - 
An eagle was fishing, swans were gliding, parrots were chatting, cormorants were sitting in their tree, pelicans were duck diving, and an ibis was stalking in the shallows.


and the kangaroos were looking, grazing and hopping. You often seen them in the paddocks along this stretch of road, so it is a good place to take overseas visitors (or city people!) to see kangaroos. 


On one side of the road is the Estuary, and on the other farm land. I often wish we had bought a block out here before it became a popular place to live and the prices skyrocketed. I would love to wake up in the morning and see the water and be able to walk along here every day. There are quite a few horse paddocks out here on the flat.


 I love the texture of the paperbark trees.   And surprisingly there are even a few olive trees. (although I took this pic last year - they are not fruiting at the moment)


Other good walks in this area are along the shores of the Collie River on either the Clifton Park side or the Eaton side, and also along the Leschenault Estuary waterfront and Collie River mouth at the Grand Canals.  

Do you have a favourite nature walk not far from you?

The Leschenault Estaury is popular for crabbing, fishing, prawning, boating, sailing and windsurfing. There is a boat ramp, car park, playground and public toilets are opposite the Australind shopping centre and numerous picnic and BBQ (wood) sites are scattered along the foreshore. 


The European history of Australind goes back to 1803.  

(Taken from the website of the Australind  Family History Society)

The Inlet on which present day Australind is located was named "Leschenault" by French Explorer Lieutenant de Freycinet, who charted the Australian coast in 1803 in the company of Nicholas Baudin. The land around Port Leschenault was explored by the Swan River colony's Surveyor General, John Septimus Roe, in 1830 and was further investigated by Lieutenant Bunbury in 1836

 After Captain Stirling began a settlement at Perth in 1829, a few settlers came to the Bunbury region from about 1831.
 However, in London in 1840, a town and farming enterprise was being planned, to be created at Australind. The company acquired some 103,000 and another 63,000 acres of land in the area.
 
To read more of Australind's history please click on the links -
the Australind Family History Society - Australind Family History Society
and Harvey History On Line - Harvey History Online

 You might also like -

Cathedral Avenue and Australind Pioneer Cemetary  
Dryandra Woodland in the early morning light
A walk in Yalgorup


26 comments:

  1. There's something so archetypally Australian about those paperbarks, isn't there?! Pilchard is jealous as hell to see Red Capped parrot in your photos - that's a 'lifer' for him! I see a trip to the Leschenault estuary in our future ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh is that what they are! thanks! Look me up if you are in town. cheers and happy travelling Red.

      Delete
  2. Lovely Jill. It must be magical to be a child riding a bike down that lovely tree covered walkway -- it is like a cathedral. (It would feel pretty magical to this old lady if I walked down it....reminded me of some places in the deep south US, where roads are lined with live oak trees dripping with moss.)

    Your birds are wonderful and I can only imagine coming across your marsupials!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great tour!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'd forgotten what a delightful walk this is Jill. The cathedral aspect to the avenue of trees is so apt, and how wonderful to think that this was once the old coast road. The variety of wildlife is so interesting, especially if you keep your eyes open, and I'm glad you've tempted 'Red' over this way with your photos of a 'lifer'!! I love the way you weave personal narrative with historical facts and interesting snippets of information - not to mention the evocative photography.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Jo. It is such an easy place for us to get to for jut a short or a longer walk, depending on where you park.

      Delete
  5. You live in a beautiful place!

    ReplyDelete
  6. A wonderful collection of photos of life in your world. Thanks for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jill, you are really lucky to be living is such a beautiful place...I envy you...thanks for sharing. Great shots!Have a great day!

    Shantana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes we are very very lucky - and also so lucky to be able to travel and see all the amazing places around Western Australia and Australia. I still have places I haven't visited yet!

      Delete
  8. What a lovely walk, especially when combined with the waterside. That really is a splendid Melaleuca avenue.
    I love driving home between arching river red-gums. We have a population explosion of kangaroos that wreck all our fences and gobble up the grass that our cattle and sheep need. I think we made our farm too inviting for them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes I am sure the kangaroos must be a nuisance along here, although many of the properties are for horses, or just people wanting a bit of space. I have no idea how they keep the kangaroos out of their gardens! However, for me, it is lovely to be able to see them.

      Delete
  9. Hello Jill, the paperbarks are lovely. It is great the avenue is closed to traffic, it looks wonderful to walk there. I love all the birds and the kangaroos. Wonderful post, thanks for sharing. Have a happy week!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Jill,
    Oh my goodness, I can't believe you're surrounded by this spectacular nature - the paperbarks arch, the lake, the birds, the kangaroos... Simply heavenly nature. Divine photos.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love all the Australiana shots, especially the bird collage. Paperbarks are gorgeous aren't they? And the olive photo is superb!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Such beauty and peace in these images. and the Paperbarks are magnificent. Have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
  13. How lucky of you to be near all of this glorious scenery. Those paperback trees are beautiful and really like those texture photos. I love all those birds and all those kangaroo pictures. What a treat to see all of them in the wild like that. Beautiful photos.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I didn't realize what paperbarks were. How beautiful.
    I'm also surprised by how the landscape changes to reveal different inhabitants - from kangaroo to birds. Beautiful.
    I can see why prices skyrocketed. You're right, it'd be lovely waking up there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. years ago people used to peel bark from paperbark trees to make pictures using different coloured pieces of bark (it has fine layers) - myself included - sad to say. I wouldn't dream of doing it now.

      Delete
  15. When I lived in Vancouver I could slip out my back door and walk into temperate rain forest in about 20 minutes. I miss that a bit (not the rain part)and fortunately in Calgary I have a beautiful river walk just 8 minutes away. A walk in nature helps keep me sane in a city.

    Love the texture on those paperbark trees.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes, I agree, getting out and going for a walk in the bush or along a beach soothes and calms the soul - there should be more of it!

      Delete
  16. What a beautiful walk, Jill - and with kangaroos and horses to boot. My 11-year-old would happily come along on this one. There are several gorgeous walks near my home, as the forest is just 10 minutes away. My favourite goes through an ancient dramatic canyon.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Beautiful, beautiful photos! I don't know which I love more - the trees, the birds or the kangaroos!! I have never seen black swans before - they're lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I could just settle down and stare at the beautiful blue water and sky, I love these photos and getting to see a part of your world. Amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Kangaroos always make me smile! What a lovely treat for the eyes -- beautiful. How blessed you are to live here.

    On a side note, I often wonder if people in other countries enjoy the wonder of their home. Obviously, you do. I'm so glad -- thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to my blog. Thank you for stopping by and for taking the time to comment. I read and very much appreciate every comment and love hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return.