Ode to landscape

To claim this is typical Australian landscape is just pretentious Sydney waffle. There is no such creature as a landscape typical of a continent so vast. This is not even typical Sydney landscape. However, cast the net more narrowly, and it may be valid to claim this as typifying Sydney Harbour foreshore pre-development. This rocky outcrop surrounded by the gnarled growth of a banksia, is very much the Castlecrag peninsula as it juts out into Middle Harbour.

And this is what so entranced Walter Burley Griffin, Marion Mahoney Griffin, Eric Milton Nicholls, and the investors in the Greater Sydney Development Association [GSDA] of the 1920s. We no longer rob the bush for our own delight, indeed, there are now laws against removal of bush rock. Not only that, but it is a very expensive way to build using this sort of material, requiring masons with specific skill-sets. Newer houses in the estates may ape the design - specifically the flat roof - but have updated the materials used, and the concept of 'nestling' is not uppermost.

The retaining wall is along Turret Walk, and the snippet of house, is 14 The Parapet, known as The Cheong House.

Wood, wood glorious wood

Another take on wood, not in Turret Reserve but in Corteile Reserve and Tower Reserve. Stylish and in keeping with the ambience and ethos of the 'founding fathers' of Castlecrag, these public benches are scattered throughout the suburb. As one whose father imbued within her a love of, and respect for, timber in all its guises, my heart gives a wee flip each time I stumble upon another place to rest these weary bones.

Timber along the Turret

Wood is so much more attractive in its natural state, even if that be a stark, grey, brittle skeleton against a stormy sky.

An allotment past its priime

With visions of yours truly in the role of Miss Marple floating before my eyes, I peered between the overgrown hedges into a tired, and very blousy allotment. Here in the land downunder, we don't call them an allotment, but a community garden. Not that this was either, actually. It is just that the block of land slopes so terribly that the backgarden is level with the roof of the house below. And, you know what they say: 'out of sight is out of mind'. This though is perfect for a joint garden between neighbours, except for that ownership thing that we have in this country for real-estate. And heaven help anyone who sets a toe across a neighbour's boundary. Shame that the communal ownership of our indigenous citizens is not more popular. This had a great pumpkin vine among the weeds. And an orange tree heavy with fruit. A lemon likewise. Plus two lime trees similarly weighed down. Do you know that I bought six lemons this afternoon, and each lemon cost me 98c.

Turret Reserve - lovelier the second time around

The first time, entering from The Parapet, and heading towards the Turret Reserve, I was confronted by a wizening of the pathway, and felt uncomfortable, an intruder upon the privacy of others. But Castlecrag is not like that: it is riddled with walkways between, and behind, private property. Well-used walkways at that. After consulting my map, I realised that this particular laneway could also be entered from The Postern. So I set my compass, took a deep breath, and toddled off, poking my stick here-and-there to ensure a secure footing.

As I toddled, a sense of the struggle of the Australian environment was with me, cloaking my shoulders with bougainvillea and banksia from one side, and camellia and azalea from the other. This was no goat-track off into the bush, no bush-bashing required whatsoever. One almost expected a stile and hedgerow around each curve.

From The Postern, Turret Reserve was easier to locate.

I did walk down those steps, and out onto the flat rocked 'turret', watching my footing all the way. I looked out and down, and the drop was substantial, down to Warner's old dairy, now occupied by bowling clubs and playgrounds, out and across to the TCN9 transmission tower in Artarmon. The view and the muffled sounds were a delight. Would that my balance had permitted me to stay longer out there AND TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS.