Batemans Bay Museum

22 June 2021 / Story: Bill Short; Photos: Anda Clayton

Batemans Bay Museum & Lunch – 17/06/2021

 Rose, Geoff, Anda and Brian from South Coast met Jan and Bill from Illawarra at the Milton Heritage Bakery for coffee and cake.  And “heritage” sets the theme for the trip.

 Coffee duly consumed and we set off for Batemans Bay to meet Jon and Mal from South Coast together with Annie & Lawrie from Wagga who are members of the Canberra Chapter.  Woohoo, a three Chapter event!

 Batemans Bay has evolved as a result of periods of timber cutting and milling (the first major industry of the area), gold prospecting, farming and now aged care.

 First stop is the Old Courthouse Museum which is situated on a large block close to bushland and next to the Water Gardens.  The Old Courthouse was built in 1905. 

 We had a guided tour of the Museum which now comprises several connected buildings, including the Courthouse, the former Nelligen one-room School House, the Police Station and Residence and a collection of outbuildings containing antique machinery and tools associated with the local timber, farming and fishing industries.

 The local history of the Batemans Bay area is on display with examples and exhibits of the early days of European settlement, Aboriginal heritage, medicine, education, crime and punishment, industry, military history and domestic arrangements.

 Tour over and it is off to JJ’s at the Marina, a seafood restaurant overlooking the harbour, for lunch where we all ordered something different. Rose & Jan ordered milk tea in a pot which was duly served.  Excuse me, but could we have our milk?  Oh dear, the milk was in the tea pot with a tea bag in it!!! Yes Rose & Jan were served tea made with water and milk on the side.

 A pleasant drive on a sunny day with quite a few police on patrol and not too many hold ups due to roadworks.

 

Bill Short