Jean writes:
We spent the morning in the town itself before driving to the lakes area just to the south. The town and environs are at the southern end of a volcanic region, which has some large crater lakes.
The whole area is made up of sedimentary rocks (like the limestone in evidence at Robe) laid down on the sea bed millions of years ago. The area was uplifted and volcanic activity took place, leaving some basaltic rocks, as in Mount Gambier, and granite, as in Victor Harbor.
Some of the volcanic activity around Mount Gambier was quite fierce, producing ash and bombs which were deposited in layers around a fissure, producing the craters.
Groundwater levels are high, allowing lakes to form. The most spectacular is Blue Lake, which is breathtaking. We saw evidence of the reason behind the name, although apparently the water gradually becomes less bright from March onwards until it is quite grey in the winter.
We spent the morning in the town itself before driving to the lakes area just to the south. The town and environs are at the southern end of a volcanic region, which has some large crater lakes.
The whole area is made up of sedimentary rocks (like the limestone in evidence at Robe) laid down on the sea bed millions of years ago. The area was uplifted and volcanic activity took place, leaving some basaltic rocks, as in Mount Gambier, and granite, as in Victor Harbor.
Some of the volcanic activity around Mount Gambier was quite fierce, producing ash and bombs which were deposited in layers around a fissure, producing the craters.
Groundwater levels are high, allowing lakes to form. The most spectacular is Blue Lake, which is breathtaking. We saw evidence of the reason behind the name, although apparently the water gradually becomes less bright from March onwards until it is quite grey in the winter.
We took to the road on our way to Hamilton to stay with Geoff and Sue, Marie's in-laws. They have a large garden with trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables and fruit, including some tasty mulberries.
We had the pleasure of wine and nibbles outside before a delicious meal.
Dave writes:
United artists
A brief hark-back to Mount Gambier where we started the day with a quick visit to a local art gallery.
Current exhibition features the years before and after 1901 when the regions of Australia formally united and became part of the Commonweath.
At that time it was quite common for Australian artists to travel to London and Paris which were seen as the hot spots. A rite of passage.
Some even made it down to St Ives in Cornwall and the artists' colony there.
One such artist was described in the exhibition as a "romantic realist. " Can there be such a thing?
Anyway a nice exhibition and the pleasant lady on reception used to work in Reading!
United artists
A brief hark-back to Mount Gambier where we started the day with a quick visit to a local art gallery.
Current exhibition features the years before and after 1901 when the regions of Australia formally united and became part of the Commonweath.
At that time it was quite common for Australian artists to travel to London and Paris which were seen as the hot spots. A rite of passage.
Some even made it down to St Ives in Cornwall and the artists' colony there.
One such artist was described in the exhibition as a "romantic realist. " Can there be such a thing?
Anyway a nice exhibition and the pleasant lady on reception used to work in Reading!
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