Margaret River is a small town in the South West of Western Australia, located in the valley of the eponymous Margaret River, 277 kilometres (172 mi) south of Perth, the state capital.
Vines from the roadside.
The surrounding area is the Margaret River Wine Region and is known for its wine production and tourism, attracting an estimated 500,000 visitors annually. In earlier days the area was better known for hardwood timber and agricultural production.
The mixed walking and biking trail from Ellen Cove leads around Mount Adelaidewhere Princess Royal Fortress and the National ANZAC Centre are located, and ending in Albany.
After our lunch we started on the mixed walking and biking trail from Emu Bay, the Ellen Cove Boardwalk climbs above the rocks of Point King, following the coast around the Princess Royal Harbour to the Albany central business district. The trail stretches for three kilometres, and features spectacular views of the Princess Royal Harbour. It soon became too hot to continue at around 30° so we strolled back the way we came.
Intrepid photographer.Building the shark netting.Maureen with Emu Point with the new shark enclosure being built in the background.From July to October Southern Right Whales congregate here.Humpback Whales also pass close to shore during the Australian winter.The gently sloping track.
Baudin was the man France held responsible for its failure to colonise Australia. Rumour has it that Napoleon Bonaparte said of him: ‘Baudin did well to die, on his return I would have hanged him.’ How unfair that would have been, for Baudin’s expedition was the first great French success after so many dismal failures.
NICOLAS TOMAS BAUDIN 1754 – 1803
Such were the effects of the ‘poison pens’ raised against him and poor Baudin was completely unable to defend himself as he had died in Mauritius on the return voyage.
Baudin was at the end of a long list of French explorers who set off for the south land and never returned. La Perouse, d Entrecasteaux, Dufresne and St Allouarn had all gone before him and had all died before making it home to France.
Two summits make up the Albany Heritage Park. At the top of Corndarup, Mount Clarence, the ANZAC Desert Mounted Corps Memorial is a copy of the original statue erected in Suez in the 1930’s. From Memorial Place you’ll get incredible views of the Sound, and from Apex lookout on the summit, and a 360 degree view of Middleton Beach and incredible views over the Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound.
The Waler Horse is a horse breed that originates in Australia, and was recognised as a breed around the 1850s. They tend to be between 15-16hands and are often referred to as ‘walers’. They are believed to have a bit of thoroughbred, timor pony, arab and Cape horse in them. Hence the breed is very diversified and used in a lot of different disciplines.
For the first world war, around 140,000 waler horses were sent to be used in the war overseas, as they are a tough hardy breed. However only one waler horse returned back to Australia after the war. That horse was called ‘Sandy’ and was returned to Australia as he served as the horse for Major General Sir William Bridges. Sandy was eventually put down in Australia due to age and health issues.
They were originally called New Waler Horses as they originates from New South Wales. However they are today only recognised and referred to as Waler Horses.
Waler horses are known for living in the wild in australia, the same as brumbies. In theory they are the same breed – however a waler horse has got old bloodlines and were specifically bred for the military. Only a small percentage of the brumby population can be refered to as waler horses as it can’t have any new breeding developed in them.
There was a lot of controvery when around 10,000 waler horses were culled in the Northern Territory in May 2013. (New Kings Canyon). Tax payers resented the $2,000,000 it cost. The motives of the culling was to reduce numbers and to preserve the breed