Mount Gambier, South Australia

Our new members from Australia wanted to share with all of you, some of the beauty of their country. They sent a Tourist booklet, so we all could take a brief trip there. The Southern coast of Australia has spectacular beaches and rugged limestone coast lines, and is known for it's grape vineyards, and caves.

Blue Lake

Mount Gambier, where Dawn Day and Julie Lloyd live, is built on the slopes of an extinct volcano, which has transformed itself into three lovely lakes. Blue Lake being the most spectacular of the three. It is a sober grey during the winter but in the warming of Spring, it mysteriously turns a beautiful turquoise blue.  There are numerous caves and sink holes in the area, one sinkhole is located in the middle of the city. The Umpherston sinkhole directs

storm water run off down into an underground system. The impressive area is surround by a lighted platform suspend over the cave and  flooded with light at night. The entire area is surround by a beautiful rose garden.

Sitting on the edge of the lakes  is a tower erect to overlooking Mount Gambier. It was erected in 1904 to commemorate the sighting of Mount Gambier by Lt. James Grant of the ship, "The Lady Nelson". The Centenary tower celebrates it's 100th birthday this year. Dawn Day tells me she can see her home from the tower.

Near Blue Lake there was a Obelisk monument erected, (erected in 1877) known as Gordon's Leap. Adam Lindsey Gordon, poet, steeplechaser, trooper, politician,  took his famous leap (1864) on horseback over old post and guardrail fence onto the narrow ledge overlooking Blue Lake.

Population of Mount Gambier is 27, 400, it has many Hotels, golf course, shops of all kinds, Lewis Museum, Aquifer tours, Laughton Park Gardens and Percy Possums Hidaway, Paper mill and the Granny Apple farm ( my favorite apples).

Thank you Dawn and Julie for the nice tour