Visit To The Blue Mountains-Part Three

F Family cabin built in 1887
Oberon, NSW train station now a museum

As I said, we took the long way,stopping at Oberon, and we were thankful for our decision. Oberon taught us a lot about Australian development. Mrs Laurie McMahon, a descendant of pioneers, runs the museum which is dedicated to life in Oberon in yesteryear's. Winter comes with a vengeance to Oberon, at 2000 feet above sea level and exposed to open plains. We were treated to a tour and viewed collected artifacts from the rough days of early settlement, through the advent of the railroad, radio days and up up present times. The farm cabin was in use for almost 100 years and is the real ting. No heat, no plumbing, no electricity even up to the end. It is decked out almost as though you had stopped by at the turn of the century. The railroad doesn't go anywhere. It was built in the early 20s to bring out copper from a local mine. Just as it was completed the copper ran out. And there is an 18 hole golf course that has a unique was of keeping the grass trimmed. Grazing kangaroos. No kidding.

I know this is really out of the way for most tourists, but for the adventurous, give it a try. Or read about it in my book, Our Summer in Australia and New Zealand.

VISIT TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS-PART TWO

Reading room. HYDRO MAJESTIC HOTEL

Near Katoomba, we found the Hydro Majestic Hotel, a massive resort built by Mark Foy in 1904. This is where prosperous Australians "summered" as was popular during that Golden Era. It had a casino, hugh ballroom, pool room, tea rooms for the ladies. therapeutic baths, and looking across the reading room the glass enclosed men's cigar room. There were cottages across the rail line for maids, chauffeurs, valets and governesses...a place they called Siberia.
During WWII it was converted to a convalescent hospital for American serviceman injured in the battle of the Coral Sea. You must stop by and take a walk through, and time permitting some lunch on the terrace overlooking the mountains.
Leaving the Majestic, rather than take to main road to our overnight destination, we drove a circuitous route of 40 miles through open country to Oberon, not something the average traveler would do. We were glad we did. There is more in my book Our Summer in Australia and New Zealand.

OUR GOLF IN AUSTRALIA

Golf was once in the middle of the outback. A $2 sand greens course.

Number 12 at Moore Park a muni with Sydney in the background

Our golfing experience was different from the United States. If you were a casual tourist and golfing as part of a package or a round or two over a several week vacation you might not notice. But over our thirty rounds of golf in Australia, plus another ten in New Zealand, one difference was that we always walked. Not that you couldn't rent a cart, but the culture did not promote riding. That was fine with us. The second big difference was the cost. The culture of golf in Australia is to make it affordable for everyone. Certainly at select clubs and courses one could spend $200-300 a round. But at Moore Park, a respectable municipal course within the Sydney limits and only a fifteen minute drive from our home in the suburb Coogee, the rate was $26 plus $5 for a pull cart if you did not have your own. At another muni., Kogarah, the cost was $23 and included a beer at the clubhouse after the round. At Moore Park a member has no initiation fee, annual dues are $2700 and as a member you only pay $5 a round. Unlimited golf. Part of the reason for golf's affordability is that the government contributes out of public recreation funds. Also there are slot machines at most clubhouses that also defray costs. Australians like to gamble, and "Pokey" machines are ubiquitous at golf courses. Not overdone, and often set aside, but they are there. One of our favorite courses in the Sydney vicinity was St. Michael's, that had 9 holes alongside the ocean...a mini Pebble Beach. Finally, golf is everywhere in Australia. Way out in the middle of the outback there is a now abandoned 9 hole sand greens golf course that cost $2 to play. The town closed down when the trains changed to just refueling on their way across country. Go golf Australia, its everywhere and you won't find better companions.