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Tag: History

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Tocal Homestead New South Wales

Tocal Homestead

Tocal Homestead New South Wales

Located in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, the Tocal Homestead is a historic house and associated buildings originally established in 1822 by J. P. Webber. In 1834 the property was sold to Caleb and Felix Wilson, who commissioned the homestead as a country retreat from their Sydney business.

Subsequently the farm was leased to the Reynolds family who occupied it for two generations adding many of the wooden buildings to the farm. In 1926, four siblings of the Alexander family purchased the property. The last, C.B. Alexander died in 1947, leaving all of his properties tied in a complex will which stipulated that it was to be used for destitute and homeless children. Eventually this became the Tocal Agricultural College, now run by the NSW Department of Agriculture. The college is located not far from the homestead and is now an important educator in the agricultural industry.

An additional stipulation of the will was the allowance of his two nieces Myrtle and Marguerita Curtiss be allowed to live out their lives at the homestead. This they did until 1985 when they died within five days of each other.

Getting There

Located a 15-minute drive from Maitland, the homestead is well sign posted and easy to find. During our visit, it was only open on Sundays from 10:00AM to 3:00PM, but check their website for updated times and dates.

Tocal Homestead

The tour of the homestead is self-guided, with a map and personal audio player provided at reception. This allows you to self-pace around the property, taking your time at places of interest and moving on from others. The descriptions of each room, their uses and furnishings were excellent.

Tocal Homestead
Tocal Homestead
Main entrance
Main entrance
Book collection
Book collection
Lounge room Tocal Homestead New South Wales
Lounge room
Family room
Family room
Family room
Family room
Family dining room Tocal Homestead New South Wales
Dining room
kitchen
Kitchen
Looking down the staircase
Looking down the staircase
One of he Curtiss sisters' rooms
One of he Curtiss sisters’ rooms

Alexander was keen to use new technology, installing electricity in the homestead. Not only did he purchase a generator, but also sufficient battery storage in case the generator failed.

Lister engine and generator
Lister engine and generator
Battery storage for the generator Tocal Homestead New South Wales
Battery storage for the generator

Internal Lift

Another innovation Alexander adopted was the internal lift so that the upper floor could be accessed as he aged. Unfortunately, on one night while alone in the house, one of the Curtiss sisters was trapped in the lift. She had to wait until the staff arrived in the morning to let her out.

Internal lift Tocal Homestead New South Wales
Internal lift

Farm Buildings and Equipment

Designed by architect James Blackett the largest barn has amazing internal framework for the roof is a work of art. As you walk around, you get to meet some of the animals as you walk past the pig stye and chicken run.

Near the homestead is a garage with a 1929 Rolls Royce Phantom in immaculate condition, along with the first tractor used at Tocal, a Twin City 17-28 imported from Minneapolis USA.

Bull barn Tocal Homestead New South Wales
Bull barn
Barn
The Blackett Barn
Inside the barn
Inside The Blackett Barn
Horse stables
Horse stables
Webber's cottage
Webber’s cottage
Webber's cottage
Webber’s cottage
Garage Tocal Homestead New South Wales
Garage
Pigs Tocal Homestead New South Wales
Pigs
Tocal's first tractor a Twin City 17-28
Tocal’s first tractor a Twin City 17-28
1929 Rolls Royce Phantom Tocal Homestead New South Wales
1929 Rolls Royce Phantom

Wedding Venue

The homestead is a popular wedding venue, with its wonderfully decorated rooms and gardens.

Fig tree in the homestead garden
Fig tree in the homestead garden. A favorite spot for wedding photos.

Visitors’ Centre and Cafe

At the end of the tour, we went back to reception where we ordered a Devonshire Tea. The little cafe overlooks the surrounding farmland and was very relaxing.

Devonshire Tea
Devonshire Tea

Dornier Do 24 Flying Boat in German Service

Dornier Do 24 N-1 KD+GJ

Dornier Do 24 Flying Boat in German Service

Designed to a Royal Netherlands Navy requirement for a replacement of the Dornier Wals being used in the Dutch East Indies, the Dornier Do 24K first flew on 3 July 1937. The Netherlands planned to operate up to 90 Do 24K flying boats, however when Germany invaded in 1940, only 37 had been delivered to the East Indies.

Post-invasion the Dutch production line was resumed and an additional 159 Do 24s were built in addition to 16 incomplete airframes at the factory. A second production line was started at the CAMS factory at Sartrouville, France, during the German occupation. This line was operated by SNCAN and produced 48 Do 24s during the war and another 40 after the liberation of France, which served with the French Navy until 1952.

The two prototypes were used by the Luftwaffe during the invasion of Norway to transport troops to Narvik.

The aircraft captured and produced in the Netherlands were pressed into service with Seenotstaffeln (air-sea rescue) and deployed in the Arctic, Baltic, North Sea, Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean, and Black Sea. They were also used as transports, notably for keeping contact with the troops left behind on the Aegean Islands and Crete, and for supporting the Kuban bridgehead in early 1943.

Dornier Do 24K

Dornier Do 24K-1
Dornier Do 24K-1

Dornier Do 24N

Dornier Do 24 N-1 KD+GJ
Dornier Do 24 N-1 KD+GJ
Dornier Do 24 N-1 KD+GJ
Dornier Do 24 N-1 KD+GJ
Dornier Do 24 N-1 KD+GJ
Dornier Do 24 N-1 KD+GJ
Dornier Do 24 N-1
Dornier Do 24 N-1 D-AEAV of Seenotdienst

Dornier Do 24T

A new Dornier Do 24T-3 is run up outside the CAMS factory in Sartrouville, near Paris, on the Seine
A new Dornier Do 24T-3 is run up outside the CAMS factory in Sartrouville, near Paris, on the Seine
Dornier Do 24T-2
Dornier Do 24T-2
Dornier Do 24T-2 CM+IH at Kirkenes
Dornier Do 24T-2 CM+IH at Kirkenes
Dornier Do 24T-1 5W+GU of Seenotstaffel 50
Dornier Do 24T-1 5W+GU of Seenotstaffel 50
Dornier Do 24T-1 behind an Italian CANT Z.506
Dornier Do 24T-1 behind an Italian CANT Z.506
Dornier Do 24T of Seenotstaffel 3 arriving at Schellingwoude, the flying boat base of Amsterdam in The Netherlands.
Dornier Do 24T of Seenotstaffel 3 arriving at Schellingwoude, the flying boat base of Amsterdam in The Netherlands.
Dornier Do 24T
Dornier Do 24T
Dornier Do 24T-1
Dornier Do 24T-1
Dornier Do 24T-2 (CM+IA) flying over Lake Constance, where Seenotstaffel 9 held a training camp during the severe winters of 1941 and 1942
Dornier Do 24T-2 (CM+IA) flying over Lake Constance, where Seenotstaffel 9 held a training camp during the severe winters of 1941 and 1942
Dornier Do 24T-2 CM+IM with a broken tail
Dornier Do 24T-2 CM+IM with a broken tail
An abandoned Dornier Do 24T-2 (CH+EV) at Mersa Matruh harbor, Egypt
An abandoned Dornier Do 24T-2 (CH+EV) at Mersa Matruh harbor, Egypt
Sunken shipping at Mersa Matruh, Egypt, in November 1941. A wrecked Dornier Do 24T-2 flying boat (CH+EV) is on the right.
Sunken shipping at Mersa Matruh, Egypt, in November 1941. A wrecked Dornier Do 24T-2 flying boat (CH+EV) is on the right.

Dornier Do 24MS

Dornier Do 24T-3 converted to a minesweeper
Dornier Do 24T-3 converted to a minesweeper

Miscellaneous Dornier Do 24 Photos

Dornier Do 24 Engines
Dornier Do 24 Engines
Dornier Do24
Dornier Do24
Dornier Do24
Dornier Do24
Dornier Do24
Dornier Do24
Dornier Do24 V1
Dornier Do24 V1
Dornier Do24 with Blohm & Voss BV 138 flying boats
Dornier Do24 with Blohm & Voss BV 138 flying boats
Dornier Do 24s of 9. Staffel and an Arado Ar 196 in front of their hangar at Kiel-Holtenau
Dornier Do 24s of 9. Staffel and an Arado Ar 196 in front of their hangar at Kiel-Holtenau
Dornier Do 24 at Schleswig in North Germany after the war had ended
Dornier Do 24 at Schleswig in North Germany after the war had ended
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Mount Stromlo Observatory Canberra

Laser range finding facility

Mount Stromlo Observatory Canberra

Devastated by a severe bushfire in 2003, the Mount Stromlo Observatory no longer undertakes active astronomical observations. Instead, it has become the headquarters of the ANU (Australian National University) Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Despite the destruction caused by the bushfire, the ruins of the observatory domes are worth visiting.

History

The first telescope installed at Mount Stromlo was the 9-inch Oddie Telescope (so-called because it was gifted to the Commonwealth by James Oddie, a wealthy Victorian businessman and philanthropist.). Following the Oddie’s findings that this was a suitable location for an observatory, the Commonwealth Solar Observatory was established in 1924. Up until the Second World War, its primary focus was solar and atmospheric physics.

During the Second World War, the observatories’ workshops manufactured gun sights and other optical equipment.

Post war, the observatory commenced the study of stellar and galactic astronomy. Renamed The Commonwealth Observatory it continued these studies until 2003.

2003 Bushfire

On 18 January 2003, the devastating Canberra firestorm hit Mount Stromlo (which was surrounded by a plantation pine forest), destroying five telescopes, workshops, seven homes, and the heritage-listed administration building. The only telescope to escape the fires was the 1886 15-centimetre Farnham telescope.

The fire was so intense it melted the optical glass of some telescopes. It was decided that the observation domes and telescopes would not be rebuilt and all observations are now undertaken at the Siding Springs Observatory. However, the workshops were replaced and now produce state of the art astronomical instrumentation.

Getting There

Driving to Mount Stromlo takes around 20 minutes from Canberra, with a carpark located next to one of the burnt-out domes. The last section of road is two-lane but narrow and winding. Cyclists use this section so be careful if you need to pass them on either the uphill or downhill section.

What to See

Unfortunately, both the Visitor Centre and Cafe were closed during our visit (January 2024). However a self-guided Heritage Trail loops through the area, enabling you to see experience the area. Walking the trail takes you past all of the domes, several of which are accessible. Information boards placed throughout the observatories’ ground detail the history of the area and the devastation of the 2003 fires.

The damaged caused to the area is very sad, considering the amount of scientific work that was undertaken here. Preserving the ruins however was a great idea, as you still get a feel for what was achieved as well as the loss.

Small outreach telescopes are available for hire with a private star gazing session. Public star gazing is available from April to September each year.

Dome of the 74 inch reflector Mount Stromlo Observatory
Dome of the 74 inch reflector
Laser range finding facility Mount Stromlo Observatory
Laser range finding facility
Outreach telescopes used for public outreach and education including public stargazing nights
Outreach telescopes used for public outreach and education including public stargazing nights
The repaired dome of the Reynolds Telescope 30"
The repaired dome of the Reynolds Telescope 30″
Commonwealth Solar Observatory and observation dome Mount Stromlo Observatory
Commonwealth Solar Observatory and observation dome
Ruins of the 50" Great Melbourne Telescope
Ruins of the 50″ Great Melbourne Telescope
Inside the ruins of the Yale Colombia Telescope
Inside the ruins of the Yale Colombia Telescope
Looking out of the window in the Yale Colombia Telescope
Looking out of the window in the Yale Colombia Telescope
Inside the ruins of the Yale Colombia Telescope
Inside the ruins of the Yale Colombia Telescope
Storm Trooper mural at Mount Stromlo
Storm Trooper mural at Mount Stromlo
Man on the Moon sculpture
Man on the Moon sculpture

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