Tag: #AtoZChallenge

D: Diprodons

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The Diprotodon was the first fossil mammal found in Australia. It is one of our megafauna. It is often referred to as the Giant Wombat. Naracoorte Caves in South Australia are World Heritage Listed and one of the world’s most significant fossil sites. Many bones from the Diprotodon as well as other megafauna have been found in these caves. When we visited we saw some that were being excavated by scientists, which was fascinating.

It has been said that the Diprotodon is the largest marsupial that ever existed. Looking at the Diprotodon head and jaw fossil at Naracoorte Caves was amazing. I still can’t get my head around animals this size roaming around our country. The Diprotodon fossil at Naracoorte was collected in South Australia in1890’s. Diproptodons weighed 2500 kilograms and became extinct about 45,000 years.

B: Big Bogan

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Australians love to laugh at themselves and to build BIG tourist attractions. So when Nyngan in Central West NSW wanted to attract tourists, the answer was simple. Create a big attraction. The town chose a bogan.

Bogan is a common slang word in Australia that means ” an uncouth or unsophisticated person regarded as being of low social status. People from Nyngan have been called bogans for years as the town is on the Bogan River. However, as it happened the river was not named after the people of the area but by Australia’s Indigenous people and for them bogan means “birthplace of a king.”

I loved the BIG BOGAN. He is a blend of two cultures. He stands like a king at the river and is dressed like an aussie bogan. He is 5.96 metres tall and weighs 1500 kilograms. In true Aussie fashion, a few years after the sculpture was built he was given a dog called Rusty to help with his fishing.

A: Australiana Pioneer Village

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The Australiana Pioneer Village has been put together by moving original buildings from the local area a central location. The properties that were moved into the village in 1970 were a mixture from the late 1800’s to early 1990’s. Since 2004 the site has been heritage listed so it will remain in tact for future generations.

It is an amazing display of the courage, creativity and spirit of the Australian pioneers. If they didn’t have something that they wanted they found a way compromise or make it. I loved the the stories that were attached to each of the buildings. I think my favourite example was Case cottage that once a month on a Saturday night took out the middle wall and put it on the front lawn. This allowed the cottage to turn into a dance hall for the locals. They even had a arranged a safe way for single young ladies to safely be transported to and from the dance. Australia’s first Ubers you might say.

The other building I was particularly surprised with was the villages police station. Built in 1888 it was in use at Riverstone until 1970 when it was moved on site. I was 8 at the time so it seems surreal to me that a police station this small was all the area needed.

The sample of hand made whipped butter made during a presentation was amazing. I would love to have the patience to make my own.

The Australiana Pioneer Village is an 100% volunteer organization. It’s slogan is Proud to Preserve the Past. They have done a great job of it and I am very grateful.