NEWS & LATEST PHOTOS
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The Tasmanian Photo Album was launched on May 16, 2012. My bold aim was to make photo essays of every significant place in Tasmania and give other amateur photographers place to exhibit their landscape photos. This page will tell you about my recent activities. It will also supplement my Facebook page.
1 January 2021: After a hiatus of four years I have reformatted the web and added many new photos. My aim was to make it easier to access on mobile phones. I hope that I have also made it easier to navigate. I would appreciate viewers feedback.
27 December 2015: We went down to Hobart to see the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. I took the opportunity to replace some older photos of Hobart City and Battery Point. You can see these photos on my HOBART CITY page. I also added a gallery of photos of our cruise down the Derwent Estuary. You can see these photos on my HOBART South page. Next we visted the HOBART BOTANIC GARDENS and I replaced this old gallery. Finally we went up Mt Wellington and I replaced my early Mt WELLINGTON photos. I have now seen most of Hobart and I believe that when you see the magnificent sight of Mt Wellington looking down on the city, plus the awesome panorama presented by the Derwent River Estuary, you will conclude that Hobart is truly one of the great small cities of the world.
31 July 2015: I finally got to complete my journey down C249 the Western Explorer Road. This is a gravel road that connects Corinna in the south with Arthur River in the north. This road passes through the western Tarkine and is the easiest way for a car traveller to see a bit of this pristine world. I was blocked by a landslide in my first attempt. The views were simply spectacular. We saw high mountains, tall trees and vast fields of button grass. It is easy to imagine that it would rapidly become a major asset for Tasmanian tourism, if the road was upgraded and a few facilities were added. You can see for yourself what I saw on my Corinna page under the Western Explorer tab.
26 April 2015: Today I completed a difficult walk at Cradle Mountain. Our party first visited Crater Lake, we then climbed up Marions Lookout. Finally we ascended the Face Track on Weindorfers Tower. This is the higher tower that makes up the famous Cradle. The views from the top were simply awesome. Unfortunately, freezing wind and rain inhibited by ability to make photos, but if you visit my Cradle Mountain page, you should still gain some idea as to how grand the view really is.
20 April 2015: I have visited many other places, since I went to St Helens. I decided to make up a new page to cover Mt Roland, as the Sheffield page is just getting too crowded. The Mt Roland page now includes a visit to Bridal Veil Falls, which is at Moina, south of Mt Roland. There is also a gallery on historic Wilmot, which is west of Mt Roland. On the other side of the Tamar River, I have a new gallery for the Lilydale page called Turners Marsh. I decided to make this, as I have discoved some interesting historic things in this area. The photo above shows the historic tunnel at Tunnel near Lilydale.
26 January 2015: I again visited St Helens and the weather was good for making great photos. We visited both Binalong Bay and St Helens Point. Both of these beaches are unusually beautiful places and are extremely popular both with Tasmanians and visitors. I have withdrawn some older, poor quality St Helens photos and replaced them with much better ones. You can now see the results on my St HELENS page.
18 January 2015: I went on a drive to LIAWENEE on the Great Lake to visit LAKE AUGUSTA and LAKE ADA. The weather was disappointing, but I did get to see these famous trout fishing lakes. The area is covered by scrub, as it is too cold for trees to grow there. On the way to the lakes we visited BRACKNELL. This hamlet had some interesting, historic buildings. It is a good place to stop on your way to the Great Lake or beyond.
January 2015: I again visited our beautiful LAKE St CLAIR. With a group of friends I did the Lake St Clair walk. This is the final leg of the famous Overland Track. We took the ferry to Echo Point and walked back to the visitor centre at Cynthia Bay. The trail goes through beautiful myrtle forests with lots of manferns, plus some giant eucalyptus trees. There were also lots of great views of Lake St Clair. I am planning to do an excursion from Narcissus Bay at the top of Lake St Clair soon. If you want to see the photos I took them go to Derwent Bridge and click on the St Clair Track tag.
December 2014: I finally got to visit Lake Pedder and see the mighty Gordon Dam. Lake Pedder is a beautiful lake with unusually still waters, while the Gordon Dam is the largest in Tasmania. Access to this area is down a road with spectacular views of mountains and forests. It is a must see for those who want to visit Tasmania. You can see these photos on the STRATHGORDON page. A few weeks before I finally got to see the mighty trees of the Styx Forest. You can see these on my MAYDENA page. I am planning to visit Lake St Clair again in the near future.
October 2014: I recently tried to access the spectacular Meander Falls only to find that the access road is still blocked. However, I was very pleased to discover a lovely, historic estate near Meander, called Chesunt Estate. The photo above is of the Chesunt Estate Manor house. I talked to the owner and discovered that it was built by the same Thomas Archer, who built the Brickendon Estate at nearby LONGFORD. I have added photos of Chesunt, plus more photos of MEANDER to my website.
August 2014: I went with the club on an intermediate grade walk into the Great Western Tier Mountains, which are south of Deloraine. After passing a spectacular waterfall, we crossed the plateau and exited through a myrtle forest. I saw cushion plants for the first time and I had to cross a dangerous waterfall with just a wire to guide me. You can see my full photo essay on the MEANDER FALLS page.
June 2014: I recently made a chance find in Illawarra, which is a locality north of LONGFORD. I investigated a lovely church on a hill and discovered in the cemetery the humble grave of Tom Roberts. He was a leading member of the famous Heidelberg School that pioneered a new style of impressionist painting. This was highly suitable to the bright colours of the Australian landscape. The former English style of painting did not reflect the reality of the Australian landscape. I think it is a shame that Tom Robert's resting place is not more honoured.
April 2014: We recently visited New Norfolk again after a five year absence. I was pleased to see that the restoration of the Willow Court Asylum Complex is proceeding. In about a year it should be a major tourist attraction. I had a very pleasant time exploring the old town of NEW NORFOLK and I am quite pleased with the result. We also visited Solomon's Cave near MOLE CREEK. It was just as interesting as other caves that I have visited.
March 2014: This month we at last visited CORINNA, which is on the central West Coast in the middle of the Tarkine Forest. This is one of the best locations for non professional walkers to see something of the Tarkine. We first sailed down the Pieman River to the Pieman Heads, then we did some of the local walks. The sunlight was often favorable, so that I captured some great images. We also visited QUEENSTOWN again and I now have some great images of Lake Burbury and some more photos of the FRENCHMANS CAP.
February 2014: This month I visited the West Coast towns of ROSEBERY, ZEEHAN, STRAHAN and QUEENSTOWN. I have now implaced great photos of these places, plus photos of the beautiful Lake Rosebery and Lake Mackintosh as well as photos of Macquarie Harbour and Sarah Island. In a few weeks I will be visiting Lake Burbury and then Corinna.
December 2013: This month I finally got out to western Tasmania again. The Arthur River and Tarkine Drive pages, now have better photos on them. Unfortunately, the Rapid River Bridge was down, so I was not able to complete the Tarkine Drive circuit. The photo above shows sunset on the north western coast of the Tarkine forest.
This month was also noteworthy for my trip to Mount Barrow. We were able to explore this little visited place, which has some of the best mountain views in Tasmania. I have now planned trips to Corinna and Queenstown, which I am very excited about.
November 2013: This month I went on a number of trips. The most exciting was my walk to Carr Villa, on the high Ben Lomond Plateau. The photo above shows me at the summit of Legges Tor. We also visited the National Rose Garden at the Woolmers Estate to see the roses in bloom. I have now also implaced the photos that I took of Forth, Barrington, Railton, Kimberley and Exton. I am now planning a trip to the West Coast to photograph exciting places that I have not seen for some years.
October 2013: In the past few months I have visited many places including: Eugenana, Corra Lyn and Hagley. I have also revisited Mt Ben Lomond, Lisle and Ross. If you follow the links, you can see these new photo essays. The photo above is a new photo of the famous Ross bridge.
March 2013: I am now on FACEBOOK. This will now be my main venue for writing about the development of my website. I am asking viewers to please write only general comments on the Facebook page. Business customers should continue to use the email facility, thank you!
February 2013: I have added additional photos for the pages titled BOTHWELL, St MARYS and FINGAL. There are now only 6 information place pages without a photo essay.
December 2012: In response to requests from Australian friends, I have added accommodation listings for the entire island of Tasmania. My listing is the most comprehensive in Tasmania. I have also accepted the first advertisement. I have also added new photo essays to the pages: DERBY, ROCKY CAPE, STANLEY, SMITHTON, NARAWNTAPU and WATERHOUSE.
August 14, 2012: I wish to again thank Steven Jurgeit for contributing more great photos. These have now been used to make the photo essays for MARIA ISLAND, and FLINDERS ISLAND. He has also contributed more great photos on PORT ARTHUR, BICHENO, SHIPSTERN BLUFF, COLES BAY, Mt JERUSALEM, MEANDER FALLS, GRAIL FALLS, SOUTH CAPE BAY and LEES PADDOCKS. I also wish to thank Nigel Burch for his photos on the TARKINE.
I have recently been able to visit Mount BEN NEVIS, the EVERCREECH FOREST, MATHINNA FALLS, POIMENA and the St COLUMBA FALLS. I have also made numerous minor improvements to my web site. I further wish to thank the many people who have sent emails to encourage me to further develop this site.
June 9, 2012: I wish to thank the many people who have contributed valuable ideas, as to how this web site could be improved. I am now in the process of making these improvements.
