After we left Moonan Brook Forestry Cottage in New South Wales we had some where to be up north. And we only had a few days to get there. But I so wanted to stop and look at Wallabadah Primitive Campground because I wanted to check out the display they had in the garden – it was fascinating and I am so glad I made sure we could stop there.
Mind you the toilet facilities are not the best, I think maybe they were going through a renovation stage cause the showers didn’t even have handles on the walls so they couldn’t be used?
How pretty is that cottage? It was so gorgeous to stay there for two nights, and I look forward to the day we can stay there again for at least a week. Mind you winter clothes are a must when staying there in the colder months of the year, and we all were grateful that the beds had “electric blankets” on the beds!
$10.00 Per Night for Camping fee is really reasonable. And it helps to keep the area upgraded. The First Fleet Memorial Gardens do need to be kept up to date, they are very important for our Australian History.
Wallabadah Primitive campground – This is a 3 night maximum camping ground.
Your donation is appreciated and will be used to maintain and upgrade the amenities. Thank you for visiting the Liverpool Plains, enjoy your stay!
We love it when we stop at overnight camping grounds and there is Homeschooling history about Australia! That rocks, and its great to be able to read about The First Fleet.
Gosh that sure is a LOT of people sent from England to New South Wales in 1787. And so many different fleets – some that didn’t even make it.
There are even very young kids sent over on the First Fleet – makes you wonder how kids cold be sent over at such a young age, and how could they get to Australia
The colony by June 1790 was on its knee, According to David Collins by April 1790 the total was –
Pork 23, 851 Pounds – Enough to last to the 2nd July
Beef 1,280 Pounds – Enough to last to the 2nd July
Rice 24, 455 Pounds – Peas and Rice enough to last until 1st October
Peas – 17 Bushels
Flour 56, 884 Pounds – Enough to last until the 20th August
Biscuit 1,924 Pounds
The weekly allowance per man was –
Flour 2 1/2 Pounds
Pork 2 Pounds
Peas 1 Quart or
Rice 2 Pounds
Unaccountably fishing had also become poor and the crops that year had yielded 300 bushels, little more than enough for seed. Hunting had also failed and these men were called in to emply “the seine, hook and lines”
20th April 1790 “These peas were all expended. Was this a ration for a labouring man? The two pounds of pork, when boiled, from the length of time it had been in store, shrunk away to nothing, and when divided among seven people for their day’s sustenance, barely afforded three or four morsels to each” – David Collins.
Wished I had taken notes of what I had read while standing there! That way I could read it all to Kyle and Cameron again. Which means we must return one day.
Have you stayed over night at Wallabadah Primitive Campground? I think you would have to be fully self contained with a shower and maybe a toilet to make the overnight more comfortable as the toilets are a bit of a walk from the camping section.
But I think the information/history of the First Fleet and the colony is really informative, great for homeschoolers!
We Loved Our Short Stay.
We didn’t camp there, maybe next time!
We then headed to Big River Holiday Park Grafton for an overnight stay.
Cheers
Lisa
New Life on the Road
