M is for......

M is for Murtoa.

We headed for here after reading about the "big stick shed". Google this for full information-quite fascinating. Unfortunately,  it is only open on special occasions, like 5th May, so we had to be satisfied with appreciating the enormity of the building.

Just when we though a town could not get more desperate than Minyip, we see Murtoa. Even their two pubs are closed but they hope soon to reopen the Railway Hotel. But the locals were ever optimistic. The caravan park was basic but again overlooked a lake.

We patronised the IGA Express and introduced ourselves to the park manager, a lovely 80+ lady who lives across the road. She was intrigued with what we are doing so is writing a piece for the local paper. She gave us tea and buns but I think we got to know more about here than she did about us. She and her husband ( God rest his soul) were original soldier settlers. She parents operated a boarding house for 30 years in Alexandra, and her grandmother ran the hotel at Merton. She looks after 11 legatee women in the town, is a member of Probis, volunteers at the local museum, writes a bird column for the paper and is teaching herself the violin. She also plays the piano and the flute.  The town has a great viable school to which tow buses come daily form Horsham. She believes it is a shame that none of the teachers actually live in Murtoa. 

 All in all a comfortable night and out little stove did the job. Next stop will be "O" but quite a bit in between. Took a beautiful back road into Stawell - little traffic,no wind and beautiful flora.

We made good time so had lunch and took top the Great Western Hwy for the last 30kms to Ararat. How different was that! The road had a great wide edge but it was incredibly busy with trucks and their incessant noise. But that's all part of the experience.

Along the way  we crossed the 37th Parallel as well as passing through Great Western of champagne fame. Ararat is a sizeable regional centre - maybe this is why the smaller towns are gradually closing up. Everyone is mobile for shopping. It has a varied history including an institution for the insane. Its public buildings are quite majestic.

This was the Town Hall but now a Performing Arts Centre and Gallery.

Set off on a perfect day continuing south....more about that next time.