April 3, 2021

Tocumwal abuzz with visitors soaking up this glorious weekend.

January 17, 2021

Murray River running pretty full

January 10, 2021

Paddling down the Murray River

November 29, 2020

Combatting COVID

On Monday, 137 days since the New South Wales Government closed its border with Victoria due to COVID19, the border reopened. 28 separate NSW police deployments along with army personnel manned the Tocumwal checkpoint 24hours/day, mostly doing 5-7 day stints. As a memento of their time stationed in our area cricket bats where handcrafted & signed by police from some of the deployments & are now on display at the Tocumwal Visitor Information Centre. 

Such a lovely way to commemorate the upheaval of the last few months.

 

November 2, 2020

Reutilise Ute Sculpture in Deniliquin is by local scrap metal artist Stuart Taylor. 

It is part of The Long Paddock’s ARTback outdoor sculpture series located along the Moama to Wilcannia touring route.

 

October 6, 2020

The view from Morgan’s Lookout near Walla Walla, about 1½ hours drive east of our farm. 

So named after notorious bushranger Mad Dan Morgan, who used the rocky outcrop to evade police in the 1860’s.

 

September 6, 2020

Father’s Day = Finley Show Day. 

Most agricultural shows cancelled this year due to COVID, Finley Show Society decided to hold its show online. With over 400 pavilion entries and 95 livestock entries locals got onboard this novel way of enjoying the show. Well done to the committee for continuing the spirit of the show in 2020.

 

August 30, 2020

The Depot at Deniliquin only opened in February and houses an impressive historic vehicle & memorabilia collection. It is well worth a visit if you are ever in the area. 

July 27, 2020

Finley Bowling Club’s new mural by the very talented Damien Mitchell.

July 13, 2020

Another beautiful local mural recently completed by street artist Damien Mitchell. 

This one is on the wall of the Finley Bowling Club.

June 25, 2020

 A recently completed mural in Shepparton titled “Stay the Duck at Home” was painted during COVID19 restrictions by local artist Tank and depicts self-isolating ducks in their caravans.

May 24, 2020

A walk down the street alongside Boomerang Motors, Finley, and the eyes of Bob Brooks follow you. This recently finished mural is by the very talented Wagga Wagga born street artist Damien Mitchell and is a tribute to the founder of the mechanical business established in 1967.

February 9, 2020

The cute local wildlife

November 28, 2019

Tocumwal Blowhole

The blowhole is a deep hole on a granite outcrop only 5kms from our farm. 

Unlike coastal blowholes it doesn’t blow out water but it has been known to gurgle and bubble at certain times of the year.  

Local Indigenous, the Ulupna and Bangarang people, believed the blowhole was connected to the Murray River, 10kms away, by an underground stream through which a native spirit would travel.

November 10, 2019

Koala spotting at Long Beach, Ulupna Island.

Ulupna Island is a river island in the Barmah National Park just over the border in Victoria.

August 16, 2019

 Tocumwal streetscape mural

 Started in 2007 to commemorate Tocumwal’s 150 years, the mural on Tocumwal IGA’s façade was painted by the Riverina Arts Group. 

 When the store expanded so did the mural.

The murals depict Tocumwal’s history.

July 23, 2019

Liberator bomber wall mural 

This nearly completed mural on the back wall of our local supermarket in Tocumwal pays homage to the wartime history of the Tocumwal. 

An aerodrome, known as McIntyre Field, was built at Tocumwal in 1942 as a heavy bomber base for the United States Army Air Corps and spanned 5,200 acres. Such was the emergency to have it built to defend Australia from the Japanese who at that time were bombing Darwin, that landowners where given 24 hours to vacate their farms. It was only 5 weeks of construction from farm land to aerodrome when the first plane landed on the main runway. McIntyre Field also became the training base for Liberator bomber crews with 54 Liberators stationed there. 

The mural is being painted by Dave Monks of Tiger Signs.

June 17, 2019

Alongside the Murray River... not far from our farm.

April 12, 2019

 Enjoyed having a coffee this morning with Lorie of Twice as Nice Gallery& Cafe. 

Lorie, a local from way back, has just started his epic trip around Australia raising funds for Eli’s Gift, a charity that helps out families of very sick children. His beautifully restored 1949 Leyland Sydney double decker bus has a top speed of 45kms/hr… it will be a slow journey, meandering from town to town. 

Lorie is heading east, hoping to be in Albury over Easter. So, if you see his bus in your travels make sure you pop in for a coffee, a chat & make a donation to a very worthy cause.

March 10, 2019

When the Murray River Rod Run comes to Tocumwal with a Saturday Cruise Night the streets are filled with classic cars and plenty of admirers.