Trial Bay

 Thursday 22nd

Trial Bay gaol was built to house the prisoner labour force that was assigned to construct the breakwater. It operated as a prison from 1889 to 1903.

In 1915 it was re-opened to house German internees, mostly men, who were rounded up when World War 1 began. 

This morning we completed the circular walk from campground up past the German Monument to Little Beach Picnic Area and back along the beach.

The German Monument was constructed by the internees in memory of those who had died at the camp. At the end on WW1 it was blown up by persons unknown before being reconstructed in 22nd



After lunch Michael and I explored the remains of the gaol which is now a tourist attraction. Much of the fittings were removed for scrap but it is still easy to imagine the Spartan life lead by the prisoners, and to a lesser extent the WW1 internees. By all reports they built a thriving community for themselves but on a cold winters day it would have been very bleak. Michael thought the disused cells would make great self-storage units!
Friday 23rd
As we headed out of SWR Michael and I had a short half hour wander around the Boyters Lane Wetlands area. This is a well maintained birdwatching spot with several distinct habitats which needs a lot longer than 1/2 hour to explore. I was hopeful that the Brolgas we had see on our way in were still around, and they were. This time we were able to pull over to get a good look at them.
We met up with Al and Helen in Port Macquarie for lunch and a walk along the coastal path in blustery conditions, before continuing on to our next stop at Dunbogan.







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