After visiting Broken Hill we were ready to make the long drive up to the dead center of Australia, to see Ayers Rock in Ularu. Interestingly enough, we got a call from our relocation consultant advising us of an open house that we should see the next day. Pretty much a house in our price range, in the area we liked, about twice the size of the other houses we had been considering. We turned the car around and headed straight to Melbourne.
After 7 more hours of driving we stopped off in Bendigo (an active gold mining town), just two hours outside of Melbourne. We woke up in the morning and saw the first mining tour.
After 7 more hours of driving we stopped off in Bendigo (an active gold mining town), just two hours outside of Melbourne. We woke up in the morning and saw the first mining tour.
Unlike most touristy things, this gold mine was fully operating. Our tour guide was late to work so the manager of the mine took us through. The kids got to operate the machinery...which I am sure is not routine! We all put in ear plugs and the kids hammered away.
once above ground we panned for gold.
The tour guide liked olivia so much he gave her a rock with gold in it! He called her his little geologist because she loved identifying quarts, pyrite and gold and could tell the difference!
panning for specks
Before heading out we also saw the Chinese Museum. Bendigo's gold rush was only made possible by the huge Asian migration during the 1800's. The Chinese were the labour force during this time period and still make up the majority of the people in this town. After Bendigo, we finished our outback tour and hit Melbourne with an hour to spare before the open house.
Here Stan is showing the kids how to climb up the plastic lotus flower. Almost there Melbourne!
1 comment:
Boy, how fun was that, going into a gold mine? With parents as you two, Olivia, Mary,and Thomas are learning by leaps and bounds! It is fun learning about Australia, via the Swintons. Thanks for sharing!
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