Last Saturday I went for a wander around Newcastle. I walked up around the cliffs. I have to say, I found a lot of it really very spooky. This is the Shepherd's Hill fort area. It was a battery last century, high on Cooks Hill. I believe it had a big gun, but that's no longer there.
From here I wandered down around the cliff and noticed all these flowers attached to the guard fence.
I thought they were beautiful and I have to admit I very naively thought these were memorials to family who's ashes had been scattered at this very picturesque spot.
It wasn't until I had taken some photos that I read some of the plaques and realised they were memorials to people who had taken their own lives at this spot. This gave me the chills.
I thought maybe I shouldn't post about it but have to say I was amazed at my naivety!
The energy of this place really got to me.
From here I kept wandering North down the cliff to a spot called Bogey Hole.
The Heritage Council of NSW says ... "a surviving example of construction from the days of the earliest European settlement in Newcastle, the Bogey Hole is a convict-built baths hewn out of a rock face for the personal use of Major James Morisset, a notable military figure from the early period of European settlement in Australia. Built in 1819, this place is the first recorded European purpose-built ocean pool on the NSW coast".
The waves were crashing and the sun was going down and I have to say, I found this spot very gloomy. There were a couple of bunches of teenagers swimming and climbing around on the rocks, despite all the warning signs. I believe the local council are talking about closing the spot due to the dangers.
I'm sure it's beautiful on a calm day.
Can you imagine how difficult it would be to build it? I'm exhausted just thinking about it!
I just realised it's Friday and I'll feel bad if I don't post a flower for you.
I'll have to go out into the garden and see what's survived all the heavy rain over the last few days.
xx
