Is that a Coolibah tree beside the abandoned house? Every Australian knows about Coolibah trees because the bush ballad Waltzing Matilda is nigh on our unoffical national anthem but most of us live nowhere near the inland where they grow. Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong, Under the shade of a Coolibah tree, And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled, You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me. Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me, And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
"To muse, to creep, to halt at will, to gaze ... such sweet wayfaring"
William Wordsworth
But it makes for a glorious photograph.
ReplyDeleteLetty in Ararat will love this ... I will give her a nudge.
You use a lot of corrugated tin for the sides of buildings. We usually save it for the roof. I'm a huge fan of rustic buildings and these are top of the line. I wonder what it's like to be living in these old towns, if anyone is living there?
ReplyDeletePJ, mostly we use corrugated iron for roofs but in some parts of Australia (not a lot) it is on the sides of buildings as well. This seems to one of those parts.
ReplyDeleteThis particular building however has timber walls. We call it weatherboard don't know if you call it that over your way.
There certainly are people living in these towns. We don't have many ghost towns like I have seen in the USA. The population will typically be small (say 500-600 people), proud of their place, very community spirited, and have lived there for generations. I grew up in such a town.
There are modern amenities in the towns, I have chosen to photograph the buildings that show a more interesting history.
Would like to see this house restored but, as Julie says, it makes a wonderful photo.
ReplyDelete