Elaine's run to Alison House

19 February 2024 / Story by David Gazzard, Photos by David Gazzard and Denise Birrell

Elaine’s Run to Alison House Wyong

To see all photos on Flickr click here

It was the day before our run when Jen rang and said ‘There is a sign saying the farmers market is tomorrow at Speers Point Park’. This was the starting location and a market meant that it was no good for this as the traffic and parking would be bedlam.

So, a new starting point was arranged at a park in Booragul with new run sheets made and all registered was notified, I just hope they would all read their emails…Luckily all turned up.

13 cars and 20 members started, including Kay and Mark from Sydney and a new member John Oliver, all welcome.

Our route of 63 kM took us across to Rhonda Road, a good short cut to get over to Wakefield Road and down to the Freemans Waterhole. Through Cooranbong and onto Mandalong Road and Jilliby. These are always a hit as we drive amongst the farms and many trees with overhead canopies providing some shade., although a few potholes to avoid. On to Wyong and Alison House.

Alison House is a museum run by the Wyong historical society and was originally a homestead to the Alison family that purchased the land in 1875 and built the homestead.

It had many owners and purposes over the years including a dairy, market gardens a boarding house and a flower farm.

In 1988 the property was bought by the Wyong shire and the Wyong District Museum and Historical society (WDMHS) leased it to conserve the homestead and turn it into a museum with displays of Wyong shire memorabilia over the years.

The displays are extensive with all sorts of things, clothing, photos, models, tools, machines, an old Mack Fire engine they are restoring, well worth the $5 entry fee. We pondered one machine labelled chicken plucker and there was many theories about where the chicken went in or was held. Not to be missed was superman in the phone booth and someone ended up in the stocks . . hmm me

They have some picnic areas so after our inspection of the displays we settled into having lunch and a social chat about all things MX-5.

Well done to the WDMHS as we had an interesting day.