Three Urban Reserves 2017

Today we're heading out onto a circuit that Sally took us on back in 2014. We'll follow almost the same track covering three reserves.

We park at Cornelian Bay and head for the tunnel under Brooker Ave.

Across the playing field and through the tunnel

We walk parallel to Brooker Ave

Mt. Wellington in the distance under cloud

We make our way along Queens Walk to Risdon Rd., heading left past the attractive Georgian house below.

Originally called Poplarville because of the poplar trees around it

Later it became known as "The Pines" because of the two Norfolk Island pines in front. It was originally built circa 1844 by Henry Pierce, a former convict.

It has an interesting history and if you CLICK HERE you will be taken to the 'On The Convict Trail' blog which is very interesting.

Shortly after passing The Pines we turn right onto a short footpath leading us into Wilmslow Ave. which we follow to the end at Tower Rd/Bowen Rd. Here we cross and start the track leading along the New Town Rivulet.

I crossed the road to take a photo, some of my loyal walkers blindly followed

New Town Rivulet

We're passing behind New Town High school

Passing under the grandly named Intercity Cycleway - this runs beside the railway track - we come to New Town Rd. crossing into Creek Rd. which we'll follow for a while.

The church and the older building are part of St. Johns Park

Castle Zayee. For sale again, I seem to remember it was originally built to display a doll collection

Brookside Cottage included

 We continue on, entering John Turnbull Park where we have Morning Tea

That's the back of the Lion Dairy plant

Tea finished we walk a short distance through the park to our next road crossing at Augusta Road. This is my first chance to confuse the group.

We cross the road and walk through the car park of the Lenah Valley sub-branch of the RSL. At the rear we bear left and start up a grassy slope leading behind older houses.

 This is about as close as we get to bush today. This is the Haldane Reserve. (1)

The RSL (Returned and Services League of Australia) is just behind us

We enjoy a little spring colour as we go

We head right to cross through an old orchid

There are new houses being built up on our right. 

Remains of old orchid

The wild life enjoy the run of the valley as it gives them access to many interesting gardens.

Finally, we turn uphill, cross Pottery Road and enter Doyle Ave.

Doyle Avenue

The only wildlife we'll come across for some time

River Derwent in the distance

We finally reach a roundabout, turning right into Giblin Street. On the way up the street, we pass the interesting old house below, just crying out for restoration.

Potential project

As we stand outside, discussing what could be done and admiring features (original wrought iron) a voice suddenly shouted out at us. I don't know what he said, but he was somewhere on the veranda. On we went.

We continue up hill towards some gates which cause some concern as the gates are locked and we can see no way we can exit the street. Will we have to go back?

All is revealed when we finally reach the gates which lead to an old quarry, there is a concrete path leading up to Mt. Stuart.

There is a path, we don't have to turn back

Up we climb, passing an entrance to Mt. Stuart Park. As I was looking at the map while typing this, I realized how much land goes with that old wreck of a house. Someone is going to have a lot of money someday.

The path reaches Keith White Crescent which widens out and gives us some views over Moonah and Lenah Valley.

Keith White Crescent

Finally, we reach a roundabout at the top to make our way into Gillon Crescent.

We follow this a short way, turning off right in to Clift Street, past Mt. Stuart Primary School.

View over Hobart. Right turn ahead

 Walking down past the school, we come to the next reserve. Providence Valley Reserve. (2)

Before we reach the entrance we have the chance to view an award winning architect designed home.  A bit of pipe, two old caravans joined by a garden shed. On we go.

Interesting

Let's get back to reality

I stop to take the photo below of spring blossom and I become aware that the noise of the children in the school ground appears to be getting louder. Not sure what's going on, I turnaround and find a very large group of children and teachers are coming around the corner behind me. This is the second recent walk we've encountered school groups. Why aren't they in school learning to read!

Spring blossom

One side of the reserve has interesting rock formations

The following is taken from https://westhobart.wordpress.com/ and gives a hint of why this area was called Providence Valley.

"One of the earliest grants made in this part of town covers land common to both West and North Hobart. It was made in 1822, to William Shoobridge, and covered the area bounded today by upper Elizabeth, Arthur and Mellifont Streets, and Mount Stuart Road. The name it held for many years was Providence Valley, apparently given by Shoobridge (a very religious man) after he had been shot at by bushranger, John Logan, while working on his crop of hops. The bullet is believed to have been deflected after striking a metal carpenter’s rule in Shoobridge’s thigh pocket, thereby probably saving his life."

On we go, exiting the reserve into Cato Ave and than Rupara Ave. All down hill and everyone is relaxing until we reach Valley St. and I turn left. A short distance along there is a lovely uphill concrete path with scattered steps. This takes us into the Leonard Wall Reserve. (3)

Up into Leonard Wall Reserve

I can't find any history re the Leonard Wall Reserve beyond an article in Trove which mentions the death of a well known Ornithologist who was born in 1921. Perhaps it was named for him.

Any information will be gratefully received.

Bob caught taking a shortcut!

We exit onto Mellifont Street and cross over into Lower Jordan Hill Rd. which we follow down.

A assure everyone I know where we're going and thanks to Google Earth I know there is a right of way between houses beside number 5.

There are some lovely old places in this area of Hobart.

Now in Swan St. we're heading down towards the throbbing centre of North Hobart with more people and traffic.

Top of Swan St.

This is being repurposed, The sheeting around the edge of the roof doesn't do it for me

 I had planned to make sure all of us walked in a disciplined group. Not exactly military with hiking poles over shoulders, but not wandering about.

It didn't quite work out

We reach the North Hobart Post Office and cross the street into Federal Street which will carry us down to the Brooker.

Heading down Federal St.

Unfortunately, the temptations of the big city are too much for some of us. I suddenly realize that a couple of walkers have gone AWOL. I soon find them, though.

Wayne & Peter, you've been rumbled!

Their packs appeared to be suspiciously heavy.

Next, Bob requests a photo outside of the shop below. We all know of his love of dogs, which is why he wanted his photo taken beside "dogs business". Each to his own.

On we go, turning left on the Brooker at the old Hobart High and taking the footbridge over to the Domain.

No need to tell them to break step, they were never in step

It's close to lunch. so when we reach the Five Ways athletics fields, Bob suggests going into the sheltered stands for a comfortable spot, which we do.

There is a lot of development going on up here and you can read the sign below for your self.

Lunch

The ladies had several fairly average looking males running around the track, the gentlemen had a rather attractive young blond woman who spent our lunch time running practice sprints in front of the stands. I have to ask, "Was this planned, Bob?"

Lunch finished, I ask Bob to lead us down and through the Botanical Gardens, one of the best sights in Hobart.

It was only after I took this photo that I realized there was a bloke almost flat on the ground, weeding around the statue's feet

Spring colour

We exit onto Lower Domain Road, turn left on the Cycle way until we find the start of the footpath leading back to our cars.

Tasman Bridge

Beside the Derwent

Cornelian Bay

It only starts to rain just as we reach the cars. We had 15 walkers and covered 12.94km in 4:10 hrs. I enjoyed the walk as I like looking at the older areas of Hobart.

Many thanks to Sally for taking us back in 2014 and giving me the idea for this walk.

I did learn one thing. Take Bob into the bush and you've got Buckley's of getting him lost. Take him into the city and it's a different matter entirely!