Sovereign Hill Highlights - The Township

Sovereign Hill, is an outdoor museum, a tourist attraction that I finally, after 20+ years in Australia, came to visit.  Its quite an interesting place to spend the day.  It allows us to literally step back in time, to view and experience Australia's exciting goldrush days.

Sovereign Hill, is set on a former goldmining site. It recreates the first ten years of Ballarat after the discovery of gold in 1851 when thousands of fortune-hunters rushed to the Australian goldfields in search of riches.  They come from all over the world, including China.

It is an award winning outdoor museum that recreates in fascinating detail, the hustle and bustle of life in the 1850s of a typical gold mining town. There are much to see and do here.

web-site: http://www.sovereignhill.com.au/

There are working shops, hotels, schools, a theatre, crafts, a wheelwright, a candlemaker, a confectioner and steam-driven machinery. You can see how gold is smelted into a gold ingot, venture underground on a fully-guided gold mine tour or catch a horse-drawn coach and tour the Township.

The shops along the Main Street are based on those known to have existed during the 1850s. Most are open for business, selling the types of goods that were required on the goldfields .....such as pots and pans, shovels, picks.

There is even a shop that sells lollies for those who have a sweet tooth. Today, you can watch Sovereign Hill's famous boiled lollies being made right before your eyes. The lollies are made and sold at Charles Spencer's Confectionery Shop in Main Street and at the Sovereign Hill Gift Shop.

You will also find on the Main Street costumed ladies and gents who are happy to entertain with the latest gossip or a tale of life in the township. They are also happy to pose with you for a photo .....or what they call a "pictorial image of thyself".

Many of the costumed staff are volunteers, who comes in for a day or two, to act out some of the behaviours and prejudices of the 1850s. There is also a section of the township, devoted to the early Chinese fortune-hunters, many of whom choose to stay on and settle in or around Ballarat.

There is also the excitement of the Red Hill Gully Diggings where you can pan for "REAL GOLD".

Yes, there are many who seek their fortune here, even today, but very few if any, actually finds it.

One can only hope that one is one of the exceptionally few. Do I have to repeat that?

To pass the time in the township, there is always the theatre, the hotel and the pub. There is also the bowling alley, with a cold beer in your hand while waiting your turn at the bowling ball.

Right photo shows a lady in costume working at the candle factory. There are no electricity at the time, at least, I do not think so. It is also a popular create your own candle sticks tourists spot. You pay for the privileage.

At night, it is said that Sovereign Hill presents a spectacular, multi-million dollar sound and light show, called the "Blood on the Southern Cross". It is the dramatic re-enament of the story of the 1854 Eureka Uprising. Sadly, we could not stay to see that show. Oh well, maybe next time.

Daylesford Highlights - Daylesford Lake

When you park your car and walk towards the lake, you will find that the central focus of the Daylesford Lake is the cafe. Almost everything revolves around this cafe and you cannot help but notice the cafe even as you walk around the lake. Anytime is a good time for a bite or a drink and you call it you brunch or lunch. Seated outside and you get to view the many activities in and around the lake, not restricted to only the bird lifes.

Beside the cafe, there is the playground for the children to tire themselves out and for those more incline to relax with a book, there is also a small book store next to the playground that serves coffee and muffins.

It is a must thing to do, to walk round the lake. It takes about 20 - 30 minutes to compelete depending on your pace. But speed is not everything when doing this.

It is an opportunity to "catch-up" with your partner or friends, talking about "serious matters of life" or just to know the person. The sights and birdlife may be a slight distraction from your thoughts and discussion .....but I think are a welcome distraction.

If you are a budding photographer, there are some interesting view of the place to try out your skills, as atest by my photos here. Learning. More to learn I'm sure.


You will not be alone in the walk as there are others who to enjoy such moment of peace and tranquility, enjoying the moment and taking in the sights.

Enjoy!

Daylesford Highlights - Convent Gallery

The Convent Gallery is sits on the crest of Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens, over looking Daylesford.  It is a 19th century mansion, with retail areas, a Mediterranean restaurant, a bar and lounge, a restored chapel, nuns museum, two stunning glass fronted function space and even a penthouse apartment, surrounded by six acres of gardens.

It was built as a private residence during the Gold Rush era around the 1860's, bought by the Catholic Church as a convent and boarding school for girls in the 1880's which was closed in 1973. In 1988 it was bought by Tina Banitska, an artist and ceramicist, and used it as an art gallery.

We quite enjoy our time at the gallery, having lunch at the Bad Habit cafe. There is also a bar lounge called The Altar, but it was closed at the time. Interesting names chosen for the cafe and bar lounge.

Web-site: http://www.theconvent.com.au/

The Art

The Convent Gallery is a major regional gallery situated in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia. It is also an award winning tourism venue that exhibits both contempary and traditional artwork. It focus on work of both established and emerging local, national and international artists, presenting a diverse range of art work.

There are other pictures of the paintings, sculptures and prints, but these are the only two works that I've chosen for this posting.

Art is really in the eyes of the beholder. :o)

The Gift Shop

The gift shop specialises in a variety of jewellery, pottery, glassware and ceramics for those who are into the arts.

You will find also, local produce, home wares, body products, lady accessories, books and some interesting gift items on display. There is always a sale section if you are looking for a bargain.

The Garden

One of the attractions of The Convent Gallery is the garden surrounding the building.  There are several interesing eye catching artwork, sculptures mixed in with the flowers and green plants. It is worth the stroll around the garden and take in the air, colours and sounds of the birds among the bush or tress.

Daylesford Highlights - Sunday Market

Daylesford is nestled in the foothills of Victoria’s Great Dividing Range, with lakeside walks, historic bushland, natural mineral springs, unforgettable wineries and stylish day spas. It is renowned for its spa and wellbeing offering.

However, for this holiday excursion, the day spas and mineral springs that dot around the town and Hepburn Spring were not part of our iternary for the day.

The Daylesford Sunday Market was our first place of interest when we got to Daylesford. It is located at 18 Raglan Street (Midland Highway) and has plenty of FREE car parking available .....however, one tip for travellers, get there early. It operates each Sunday from 8.00 am to 3.00 or 4.00pm at Daylesford Station (rain, hail, shine or snow).

The market has a wide variety of stalls selling everything from books to spare parts for the car, fresh local produce, clothing and collectables. As far as collectables are concern, one man's trash is another man's treasure.

You can even set up a stall there, if you have something to sell. You will have to get there at about 6:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings to ensure a stall site. At the time, it'll cost you $20.00. Interested? Call (03) 5348-3503 for more information.

Oh! did I mention that it is at the Daylesford train station. It also double up as a heritage railway museum.

God's Post-It Notes

Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

Some people are kind, polite and sweet-spirited, until you try to sit in their pews.

Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.

It is easier to preach ten sermons, than it is to live one.

When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on the front door forever.

God Himself doesn't propose to judge a man unitl he is dead, so why should you?

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

Peace starts with a smile.

Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

If God is your Co-pilot, swap seats!

Prayer: Don't give God instructions, just report for duty!

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, It's about learning to dance in the rain

You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.

Contributor - Anonymous

Lost Kingdom

Luke 19:10 (NIV)
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Have you ever had one of those moments when certain words was shared with you that for the next 48 hours or so, you find those words repeated again and again and expounded upon from peoples' sharing, from scripture and even from the Christian TV channel, that you feel the word come alive. Well, I call such a moment a Holy Spirit (HS) encounter.

A couple of days after my last posting on GIGO, I had the "chance" to re-visit Luke 19:10 (NLT).

Luke 19:10 (NLT) "And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost."

This time however, I found the words from the NIV, different to that which was used in my posting.

Luke 19:10 (NIV) "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

What do the word "lost" here, means? Certainly the NLT version do suggest, Man's relationship with God that was lost at the garden of Eden and that the Son of Man came to seek such lost person/people, to restore that relationship.

However, focusing on the NIV version, what does it mean by "...save what was lost"?

Yes, it does also suggest Man's relationship with God that was lost. However, the revelation that was share with me, was that the word "lost" also refers to the "Kingdom of Heaven" or "Kingdom of God". The two phrases have been used interchangeably in the Gospel.

This would be for me, very much the nature of God to give and to bless, always double in portion or in abundance (John 10:10). The Son of Man came not only to restore the relationship between Man and God, but also to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to Man.

In the four Gospel, Jesus during his ministry made several references to the Kingdom of Heaven being near or is at hand. He uses this term to express God's future promise salvation for His people. He also said that the Kingdom of God is within you.

Luke 17:20-21 (NIV) Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The Kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the Kingdom of Heaven is within you."

Here is some of what it means to have the "Kingdom of Heaven" within you;

• Matthew 3:2 - Repentance
• Matthew 18:3-4 - Child-like, Humble
• Matthew 5:10,20 - Righteousness
• Matthew 7:21 - God reign
• Romans 14:17 - Living in the Holy Spirit
• Matthew 16:19 - Authority
• Matthew 6:9-10 - Heaven on Earth
• 1 Corinthians 4:20 - God's Power

There are probably more to this, but it will be for another time.

So what have you heard about Jesus?

You would have heard that, Jesus, the Son of Man came to restore the relationship between Man and God, and to bring the "Kingdom of Heaven" to Man. It is these two truths, that brings about the transformation in our lives and as the "Kingdom of Heaven" is within us, the transformation happens from our inside out.

GIGO

Luke 19:10 (NLT)
And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.

GIGO is an old data processing acronym in the 1970s' or 1980s' that stands for "Garbage In Garbage Out". It means that the quality of any information that can be derived by the computer is as good as the quality of the data that is put into it

I much prefer to define GIGO as "Good Input Good Output".

In much the same way, this phrase I first heard expressed by a Singaporean pastor, describes how our lives can be shaped by what we put into our lives and that always begin with what we believe in;

"Right Believing produces Right Living".

Many of us want to live right, that is, right with God, right with our family and love ones, right with friends and right with those we work with or encounter everyday. To have the right living, don't we have the belief that we need to do the right things, set the right examples, have the right connections and work hard to provide the right things for our love ones. However, do you find that in our concern with right living, it makes us focus more and more on ourselves and the things we struggle with that we lose focus on those who are really important in our lives and ending up not living right.

One of the stories in the Bible that best provide an example for this life's motto is the story of Zacchaeus the Tax Collector in Luke 19:1-10. Zacchaeus is a rich man hated and shunned by the people of Jericho, seen as a sinner by his fellow Jew and a collaborator with the oppressive Romans.

Yet Jesus invited himself to Zacchaeus home. Here is where the two opposites meet.  The "chief of sinners" and the "Chief of Love". In the brief time spent with Jesus, who without accusations, condemnation or judgment, but instead showed Zacchaeus, grace and honour by spending time with him, brought about such a transformation that no man would have expected of him. He not only gave half his wealth to the poor, but to those he overcharge their taxes, he gave them back four times the amount and this, according to the Jewish law (Exod 22:1; Num 5:6) was twice the restitution required of him.

Salvation has come not just to Zacchaeus but also to his house (Luke 19:9), that is, to all the members of his household. The Greek word for salvation is "sozo" which also means to prosper, preserve, heal and make whole.

This is the main message of the Gospel - "And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost." (Luke 19:10)

Find out who Christ is, what He has done for you and what you have in Him. Believe Him! This believing will produce in you the right living.

Consider Luke6:43-45 (NLT) which is part of "The Beatitudes" teaching of Jesus

43 "A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit.
44 A tree is identified by the kind of fruit it produces. Figs never grow on thornbushes or grapes on bramble bushes.
45 A good person produces good deeds from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil deeds from an evil heart. Whatever is in your heart determines what you say.