Clermont - 20th & 21st February

For us, camping cheaply is the aim, but we came to Clermont and with no other options available, we had to pay $30 per night. Way too dear for this camp site. Some people will keep driving if the camp fees are over $25, we arrived too late in the afternoon for that option.  Well, that's another item for the travel memory bank. On the Sunday morning we went for a slow dog walk into town. We had only gone about 200 metres towards town when these two Australian Terriers and a very obese Dachsund came running and yapping to the front fence. While we were suitably distracted by all this commotion, a Blue Heeler from the neighbouring property opted for the stealthy rear angle attack, running out of it's yard and tackling Lizzie, taking a mouthful of her left shoulder. No blood was drawn but Lizzie is extremely tender around that shoulder region and yelps if we place too much pressure on the area while lifting her into the van or car. I reported the incident to the local council on Monday morning, an officer recorded all the details but who knows whether any action will be taken. They will most likely give a warning to the owners and wait until something catastrophic occurs.

The main street of Clermont.

The main street in the other direction.

I didn't know Jude had a business going here in Clermont.

At the bottom end of the main street there is extensive parkland along 'Hoods Lagoon'. Here a small waterfall flows into this pond then into the lagoon.

Hoods Lagoon to the left.

Hoods Lagoon to the right.

A windmill further along Hoods Lagoon.

There is a walk way the full length of the lagoon. Walking along this path you discover little treasures like this monument to Mary McKillop.

Also there is this memorial to John Sing who enlisted into the army during WW 1. He was a marvellous marksman and was made a 'Sniper' and put into a 'foxhole' similar to this one. The rifle is protruding through a steel plate with a 2 inch square hole cut into it. He is credited with 150 successful hits but is thought to have achieved far more than this. He served in Gallipoli and France.

There is a monument to the first inhabitants in the area. There is an interesting story on the plaque attached to the wall. Several of the Elders were captured and chained to a tree, they 'Sang' for a catastrophe to befall the white man. They 'Sang' for three days and on the third day a massive flood hit the town, completely destroying it. The present town of Clermont is built on higher ground.

This replica tree stump is positioned on what was the corner of the main streets in the old town. The white line is the flood height.

Further testimony of the destructive floods. This is a replica piano in the tree but the plaque under the tree displays an original photograph of a piano trapped 32 feet off the ground, in the fork of a gum tree.