The Lido Apartments Launceston

Seahorse Farm Part II

by Kate-Me

The most fascinating aspect of the seahorse’s life is that the female deposits the eggs into the pouch of the male, and that’s her only role to play. She’s then off the scene entirely, leaving the male to fertilise the eggs and then carry them around for the 6 weeks of their incubation. After hatching, the seahorses are immediately left to fend for themselves.
Usually around 400 babies are born in a clutch, but the mortality rate is high due to predators, including those of their own kind, who can turn cannibal on the young.

I love the way seahorses love to twine their tails around each other - sometimes this is done for protection, other times it is part of the courtship dance. Even the babies were hooking onto each other in the tank, for something extra to hold on to.

It’s a huge commercial operation which supplies the lucrative pet shop and Aquarium market where the seahorses sell for $Australia $25-$30 each.

WOOLMER'S ESTATE

by balhannah

This Estate is one of the most intact 19th century homesteads in Australia. It was continously farmed by 6 generations of the Archer family since 1817, until the death of the last Heir, in 1994. It remained in the same family for 170 years.

The estate also employed convict labour in exchange for labour for the settlers, and food & clothing for the convicts. The government thought this was a good way to develop colonial infrastructure, assist settlers to develop their land, and to reform convicts through hard and constant work.

As well as the main house, which has interesting pieces inside, there is a woolshed, blacksmith shop, stables, gardens, paddocks and the former chapel.

We did the tour and it was very good, real interesting hearing the history of the family and seeing different ornaments, furniture etc. of the day that we had never seen before, and as others on our tour, had no idea what they were either.
One such outside building was the Smoke House (photo) The men would go in it, then would be towed out into the middle of the river so they could smoke.

Recommend visiting.
The Estate is open daily to the public from 10 -4.30pm.
Tours are at.......11am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm, daily......
The duration of each tour is approximately 45 minutes
(Extra 10am tour October to April)
Accommodation is also available here

Around Launceston.

by australia2

"Grundelwald copy.."

Just outside Launceston is a most unusual sight. A Swiss type of village set in typical Australian
light bushland.
Originated by a certain wealthy businessman who came from Switzerland, or so the story goes.
The houses and tourist type businesses in the village square must only be built in the Swiss style.
It goes under the name of Grundelwald the original of which is in south-east Switzerland.
It is just in the Swiss-Italian Alps and having been to both it is a strange contrast. The Launceston one is fascinating in its way and well worth a visit.

"Cascade Falls (?)."

Lovely spot - water and gardens.

"Stepping off place for the lovely heart of Tas."

Proper photos to come. (Click on this brochure for full view.)
This area is one of the most popular tourist destinations in southern Australia. Wonderful walks. Hard and not-so...