2025 National Rally, Day 3 , 2/4/25

 Free day today, so after a leisurely  breakfast we made our way to "Blundell's cottage to photograph it for our UK friends, Claire and Norman. Unfortunately, it is only open on weekends so we couldn't go inside. 

 The stone dwelling, now known as Blundells Cottage, was built in 1860 to house Duntroon's head ploughman, William Ginn, and his family (1860-1874). It was then occupied by George Blundell, a Duntroon bullock driver and his family (1874-1933) and finally by shepherd Harry Oldfield and his wife Alice (1933-1958). When Harry died in 1942, Alice took in boarders. This included the Sainsbury family, who lived at the cottage between 1958 and 1960.


Various views of Bludell's stone cottage


View across the lake, which of course, wasn't there when the cottage was built

 Then we visited the Canberra Glassworks. The building itself was origonally the Kingston Power House, a coal fired power station and the original coal hoppers add an interesting aspect to the space. Unfortunately there wasn't a lot going on when we visited but would be very interesting when more artists where working. There is an excellent viewing gallery over both the "hot room" where glass blowing takes place and the "furnace room" where furnace moulding and various grinding is done.

 

Outside the Glassworks, originaly Kingston Power Station

Coal chute on the front of the building


Glass blowing taking place

Coal hoppers inside the building

An example of some scientific glass donated by Mr Tuen van Arkel


From there we went to the Canberra Museum and Gallery to see the Sydney Nolan Collection which was given to the people of Australia by the artist in 1974. Originally housed at Lanyan Station (which we visited yesterday), the collection was moved to it's current location due to the risk of bush fires in it's original rural location.

 

Part of the Sydney Nolan collection


Part of Sydney Nolan's "Ned Kelly" series
Original drawing of Canberra by Walter and Marion Burley Griffin

A surprise was a very informative display covering the Mt Stromlo Observatory which was sadly destroyed in the 2013 Canberra bush fires. This also included an interactive display of a supernova where the view changed as you, the observer, moved around the room.

 

A supernova depiction in the Mt Stromlo exhibit

From further way, the display changes as you move

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We then went to the National Portrait Gallery, but I have to see, I found it quite underwhelming although I freely admit I'm not that much into art. 

Maritta waiting patiently for her driver


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