20ten Sites

1. PORT ARTHUR, TAS
Australia was colonised by convict settlements and Port Arthur is the most infamous of the convict prisons. The site was a penal prison in 1830 with working flour mill and canary expanding into the fully prison site of which the ruins remain today. It closed in 1877.

There are many ways of experiencing Port Arthur; self guided tour, guided tour ghost tours. There is also cruises and dining options available. One highlight is the Isle of the Dead Cemetery Tour, the site of over 1000 convict burials.

Port Arthur’s notorious history unfortunately continued in 1996, when Martin Bryant went on a crazed shooting spree on the site. At the end of his rampage 35 people were killed, 21 were injured and countless others left with emotional scarring. A Memorial Garden offers visitors the chance to pay the respects to the victims of Australia’s worst mass murder.

Web
www.portarthur.org.au
Costs
Bronze Pass (½ day) $28/$23/$14
Silver Pass (1 day) $66/$61/$48
Gold Pass (2 days) $98/$93/$76
After dark (inc meal) $57
Isle of the Dead Tour $12/$8
Getting there
1.5hr drive from Hobart following the Convict Trail Route along the Tasman and Arthur Highways.
Tassie Link bus service runs regularly from Hobart.

2. OLD GUM TREE, SA
This is site of Governor Hindmarsh’s Proclamation of South Australia on 28 December 1836. Originally believed to be a red gum, the tree died (not surprisingly) a long time ago. A concrete replacement was constructed in 1963. With increasingly rigid water restrictions in South Australia fauna sculptures might be the future of gardening.

Not worth the trip alone, thankfully Glenelg offers many other sites of interest and a lot of shopping. It is worth the joining the self-guided Proclamation Trail and Discovery Trail from Mosley Square.

Web
http://glenelgsa.com.au/proclamation
Costs
Free
Getting there
Drive from Adelaide CBD along Sir Donald Bradman Drive, turning left onto Military Road following the signs to Glenelg shopping precinct.
Catch the tram from King William Street in the city to Mosley Square

3. ST PHILLIPS MONUMENT, NSW
This memorial marks the site of Australia’s first church, which was also Australia’s first school. The Anglican church was built and paid for by the Reverend Richard Johnson in 1793. The original building was burned down only five years later being rebuilt on another site. The third reincarnation of St Phillips now stands on York Street at the Rocks.

For the average traveller, unlike a true historian or religious scholar, the monument does not likely warrant a special trip. However if in the area it is worth stopping for a few minutes taking a photo or two and reading the inscription

Web
www.yorkstreetanglican.com
Cost
Free
Getting there
Located at the corner of Hunter and Bligh Streets, just a quick walk from Martin Place Railway Station or the City Centre Monorail Station
It is just off Pitt St in the heart of Sydney CBD

4. BOTANY BAY, NSW
Botany Bay is the birthplace of modern Australia. For Australia’s Indigenous communities it might alternatively be seen as the beginning of the death of their Australia. The First Fleet landed in Botany Bay in 1788 marking the beginning of European settlement. This means that the first people to make up the general public were convicts, their guards or government officials.

Now the bay is a National Park, divided into two halves. The southern section, Kurnell is where Captain Cook landed, the northern section La Purouse is where the French arrived just days after the First Fleet. Fishing is permitted, with a licence. Botany Bay is a great place for snorkelling and scuba diving and whale watching – best vantage point is Cape Solander. Do not expect much more than a plaque to mark this significant place in Australia’s history.

Web
www.botanybay.nsw.gov.au
Cost
Free
Getting there
To Kurnell, take the prices Highway veering left onto Rocky Point Road then left onto Captain Cook Drive
Buses are available to La Perouse trains service Cronulla Beach, near Kurnell

5. USS PEARY MEMORIAL, NT
Northern Australia suffered bombing raids from February 1942 to November 1943, during WWII. The biggest attack occurred over Darwin during the initial attack. USS Peary stationed in the harbour is one of 8 ships sunk during this raid. The salvaged gun from USS Peary now stands as a memorial on the cliffs of Darwin Esplanade and points towards the location of the scuttled ship.

Further remnants of the bombing are also on display in the hangar in Parap behind Sir Ross Smith Ave and is a museum operated by the motor Vehicles Enthusiasts Club.
Cost
Free
Getting there
Take Bus 6 from Darwin Interchange

6. CAPTAIN COOK’S COTTAGE, VIC
This is Captain Cook’s family home. Not that he is likely to have ever lived in it as records show it was most probably owned by his parents while he was off sailing and then “discovering” Australia. The cottage was shipped from Yorkshire England and rebuilt in Melbourne in 1934 to mark the centenary of the founding of Melbourne. Not that Cook was directly responsible for the founding of Melbourne in fact he died some 55 years prior.

Despite the irrelevance of its current location and the fact that it has been rebuilt so many times throughout its history that it is unlikely to contain any of the original building materials it is a great reminder of Australia’s colonial history.

The cottage contains a number of displays of Captain Cook’s life

Web
www.cookscottage.com.au
Cost
Entry $4.50/$2.70/$2.20
Tours from $4.15/$3.30
Getting there
Tram 48 or 75 from Flinders Street Station or the free City Circle Tram will get you to the “Treasury” stop and it is just a quick stroll through the gardens from there.

7. BRADMAN MUSEUM, NSW
Sir Donald Bradman is arguably the best cricketer in history and unquestionably the best batsman ever with a career test batting average of 99.94.The museum, in his childhood hometown of Bowral pays tribute to the life and career of this Australian sporting icon.

The museum contains over 8000 pieces including clothing and equipment worn and used by Sir Bradman during his illustrious career as well as photographs, scorecards awards and memorabilia from both Bradman’s career as well as world cricket in general.

The museum is located adjacent the Bradman Oval, where The Don first played cricket and where his ashes along with those of his late wife Lady Jessie Bradman were scattered and opposite the Bradman family home.

Web
www.bradman.com.au
Cost
Entry $15/$10/$6
Getting there
Located roughly halfway between Canberra and Sydney along the Hume Highway. In Bowral all signs point to the Bradman precinct.

8. MELBOURNE CROCKET GROUND, VIC
www.mcg.org.au
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is a venue unparalleled in sports history in Australia, if not the world. It hosted the first Olympic Games to be held in the Southern Hemisphere (1956) and the first ever international cricket test match (1876).

The MCG has played host to countless VFL and AFL (Aussie Rules Football) matches and grand finals and was recently the main stadium for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

The National Sports Museum is now located at the MCG

Web
www.mcg.org.au
Cost
MCG Tour $20/$16/10
NSM Entry $15/$11/$8
MCG &NSM $30/$23/$15
Getting there
10 minute walk along the banks of the Yarra River from Federation Square
Trams 75 and 48 stop at Jolimont Station then walk across Yarra Park
Any train going to either Jolimont or Richmond Stations
Enter the MCG through Gate 3

9. OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE, ACT
Opening in 1927, this building was only ever intended to be temporary with a life of 50 years. Like so many government promises the timeframes blew out and what was temporary start to appear permanent. The new Parliament finally opened 61years exactly (11 years late) after the original building.

One of the most famous events to take place in Old parliament House, and on its steps was the dismissal of the Whitlam Government in 1975. Now open to the public, tours will explain the history, operation and some of the secrets of the House.

Web
www.moadoph.gov.au
Cost
Entry $2/$1
Getting there
Action bus routes 2, 3, 6 or 934

10. KATA TJUTA NATIONAL PARK, NT
The most obvious feature of this National Park is Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock), which is the world’s largest monolith. Although open for climbing the indigenous Elders, traditional owners of the land ask visitors to respect their culture and not do so. With a height of 346m (95 storeys) the rock can be a strenuous climb with at least 35 people dieing in their attempt.

Instead of climbing, visit the cultural centre or join in a guided walk. Visitors can learn about the cultural importance of the site and view some of Australia’s most treasured rock paintings depicting the historic life and environment of the area. The walk around the base of Uluru is 10.6km a shorter 2km walk is also available.

It is worth spending a day in the park to witness of the stunning beauty of the rock change colour from a bright orange through to a deep blue/purple as the light changes throughout the day from sunrise – sunset. It is also spectacular during a storm. Accommodation options are available.

Web
www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru
Costs
Park Entry $25
Walking Tour Free
Camel Tour $99
Getting there
Located 440km south west of Alice Springs it is easiest to join a bus tour from there.
Driving from Alice Springs travel south along the Stuart Highway then right onto Lasseter Highway and keep driving
From Adelaide travel north along Part Wakefield Road which onto Eyre Highway which will become the Stuart Highway just outside of Post Augusta, drive and drive and drive then turn left onto Lasseter Highway and drive some more
Flights are available from most capital cities to Connellan Airport, just outside the park and then hire a car (prior booking recommended)