Finders Keepers
May 18th, 2009 § 3 Comments
I’m fairly sure my Dad’s been here before. Sometime around 1845. And in his previous life he was a prospector in the thick of the Australian Gold Rush.
I think maybe he struck gold and then his life was snatched from him before he’d had a chance to enjoy the prize. Since the obsession of a gold-crazed digger is, by it’s very nature, obsessive, it’s stands to reason that he’d be back.
OK it’s just a crazy theory but, there’s no denying the old prospector in my Dad. Setting up his ‘digs’, exploring and finding the most amazing things from Australia’s very own wild west past (old mining tools, crystals, crockery, opium bottles etc.) from the Eureka days.
And there’s also no denying how good it feels to take a short break and spend it in the crisp autumn air of the tablelands, watching the poppets run around with roses in their cheeks and relaxing in front of a campfire with the smell of sizzling sausages tickling my nose. Yep, there are riches there, sure enough.
Images | B.O. Holtermann with gold nugget, 1873, Charles Bayliss | Diggers hut, Solferino, 1872, J.W. Lindt | Both from ‘Eureka! The Rush for Gold’ ~ State Library of NSW Discover Collection | Click link for licensing.
Gorgeous post. Your Dad sounds ace.
what a lovely post…the photos are gorgeous.
There’s nothing like getting back to nature….hope you had a good break.