Australia Day Hats

These hats were a popular item last Thursday at Australia Day celebrations by Dromana pier.

Popular hat styles
Children and adults alike
Wear the flag for shade

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Green and Gold

Interesting headgear worn on Australia Day - last Thursday.
The green and gold are Australia's sporting colours.

Fun kind of costume
An artificial mohawk
Quite a character


The green singlet indicates that he is a competitor in the Australia Day fun run from Dromana to Rosebud - along the foreshore of Port Phillip Bay.

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Transporter

Transporter at Point Nepean on the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula.
Point Nepean is 90km from Melbourne and represents a stunning landscape with Bass Strait waters on one side and Port Phillip Bay on the other.
The area also has historical significance, representing the early settlement of Victoria - including a quarantine station - and a defence position featuring a series of tunnels for the manning of guns.
More details on the Parks Victoria website and the Victorian government's website HERE!
This transporter is used to move from one point of interest to the next.
You may also choose to ride a bike or walk the 6km hilly terrain (or more if you take sidetracks to points of interest!)

Funky travel mode
A tractor becomes a star
Leading to more stars


A view of the some of the hilly terrain over which the transporter travels.

The waters on the left are Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait is on the right just outside the picture frame.
Another view - capturing the transporter travelling through this terrain with the Bass Strait waters and Port Phillip Bay waters visible - is on my Greyscale blog HERE!

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Reflections on the Move

Young people enjoying sailing the Dromana waters close to the beach and under the watchful eye of parents nearby.

Enjoying waters
Quietly paddling a dream
Some joys of the young

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Australia Day Skies

Yesterday was Australia Day - celebrating our founding in 1788.
And day dawned on the peninsula with a softly romantic sky.


The kookaburras wandered in to greet the morning with us.


By 8am, the Dromana pier area on Port Phillip Bay was buzzing with activity.
Many prepared for the fun run to Rosebud.
Some had already begun at Safety Beach - the longer run.
And the sky was the clearest blue.


By the time the crowds gathered, especially to hear the music, just wisps of white cloud appeared.


Some preferred to escape the crowds and enjoyed sailing.

Blue skies and blue seas
Our Australia Day seemed blessed
Great to be outdoors

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The Cheesecake Shop

The Cheesecake Shop at Mornington has its own special delivery van.
I love the caption "Cake Cab"!
Quirky!

Cheesecake on the run
Service with a cheesy smile
Mornington icon

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Waters of The Rip

Entrance to Port Phillip Bay - The Rip - as viewed from Point Nepean on the Mornington Peninsula looking across to the Bellarine Peninsula and the Point Lonsdale lighthouse built in 1902.

Deceptive waters
So blue and gem-like one day
Wild and rough the next

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Very Strange!

In the bushland element of the Enchanted Maze Garden, Arthurs Seat are many sculptures hidden in the foliage or marking the tracks.
Some are faces sculpted from wood while some are metal birds and some are simply eccentric!
This one seems the latter.
Even if you don't like what you see, it makes you pause and take a little time to wonder.
And that is the purpose of this amazing garden!

A toothpaste design
Like bold stripes squeezed from a tube
Fanciful concept

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Yellow Metal Monster

A rather dramatic yellow contraption involved in the restructuring of the old Mornington pier (on Port Phillip Bay), so popular with fishermen.


And this one seems to be on standby - perched high on a nearby small pier.
Not quite sure why!

Bold yellow monster
Ugly process of progress
Small necessity

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This Could Be Demeter or Ceres

A touch of shadow shapes round a sculpture at the Tyabb Art and Craft Village.

Gathering wheat sheaves
Demeter of our old legends
Symbol of Nature

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Enchanted Mirror

This large framed mirror has recently been installed as a new garden feature in the Enchanted Maze Garden, Arthurs Seat.
It rests near the lake in the garden.

Enchanted mirror
Like a strange moody painting
Never the same art

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Skies Over Airport at Tyabb

Recent skies over the tiny Mornington Peninsula Airport at Tyabb
which hosts an airshow in March of each year.

In 2012, it will be on March 4.

Where metal wings dream
A busy airport though small
Freedom of flying

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God's Kitchen

This sign hangs before a well-trimmed hedge in the heart of Mornington.
God's Kitchen is in a heritage listed 1876 church.

Am I welcome here
May I have some soul food please
My hope is hungry

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Classical Beauty by Water

One of several white statues near the small lake in the Enchanted Maze Garden, Arthurs Seat

O silent lady
Do you dream of other days
Bathing in beauty

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Kirk's

Kirkpatrick's Hotel (also known as Kirk's) is on the Esplanade Mornington overlooking Port Phillip Bay.
The building style seems to be like a meeting of worlds.
Classical style columns are set in a very modern piece of architecture.
The external colour theme is black and white with a touch of red in the umbrellas.


Even the side wall incorporates a column feature.

Bold, stylish facade
Column inserts and dark glass
Touch of red contrast

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Museum Outsiders

As I was wandering Mornington Main Street, I was surprised and amused to see this sight.
Outside a museum for the historical society was a large number of bikes.
No! They were not visiting the mellow yellow precinct of the museum.
They were enjoying coffee at Gloria Jean's next door.

Gathering of bikes
Museum patrons they're not
Just coffee junkies

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Memorial Shadows

In a few sunny breaks, during the past week, I wandered a few places on the peninsula that I have not explored.
Mornington and District Memorial Park was one of them.
It is set back a little from Port Phillip Bay and Main Street Mornington, but still easily accessible.
MORNINGTON'S Memorial Park in Barkly Street is unique in Australia as the only place with memorials for every major conflict [since the Maori Wars of 1863-72] involving Australians. Ref: Peninsula Weekly


I liked how the tree branches seemed to reach across the sign.


There were seats with signs for individuals like this one.
Sir Edmund was an army doctor (in World War II) and humanitarian who died in 1993.
He was given a state funeral in Melbourne.


There were many seats with signs for groups like this one.

The shadows of wars
The battle may be ugly
But souls become light

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Palm in Reflection

A view of the Martha Cove marina with one of many palm trees reflecting in the water.

Like an island scene
A palm tree and water views
Waiting for romance

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Skies Over Security

Here is the industrial home of ExxonMobil.
Opened in 1970, the Long Island Point plant, situated near Hastings, 75 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, plays a vital role in the Bass Strait production line. Long Island Point carries out the final stage in the processing of the gas liquids (ethane, propane and butane) and stores crude oil prior to distribution to refineries in Australia and overseas.
More on ExxonMobil's website.

Cold metal landscape
Gases silently process
For life and lethal

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Welcome to Dromana

In the summer holiday season - through the Christmas period and till the end of January - Dromana flies holiday flags along the main street.
This is the 2011/12 flag.

Holiday colours
Beach and hinterland symbols
Inspiring welcome

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