Riding on the sheep's back

Over at Getting Stitched on the Farm, Kristin is talking about shearing the sheep.

So, Miss Eagle thought, I will talk about sheep and shearing in Australia.

Somewhere, sometime, during the last fifty years, Australia ceased riding on the sheep's back.

This was the phrase which highlighted Australia's economic dependence on wool.

This was the phrase which highlighted our interest in the price of wool.

To-day, it's sharemarket prices and not the price of wool that captures the nation's attention.

Miss Eagle recently spotted this beautiful merino on a gate in Dunkeld in western Victoria.

Did the owners make their golden pile from the sheep's back?
From beautiful flocks like this one, near Dunkeld.

Grazing sheep near Broken Hill in New South Wales is different from grazing in Victoria.
The desert, the rocky outcrops of the Barrier Range.
These pictures were taken in August 2006 at The Nine Mile.

The above collage shows the homestead.

Greg and Mia, the owners, are drafting sheep prior to sale.
They are assisted by Greg's father, John.


This ancient shearing shed is at Acacia Vale now part of The Nine Mile.


This is the interior...
the shearer's stands...
natural light...
the sorting table...


the pens...
another view of the pens...
the view from the shearing shed...
stencils hanging on the wall waiting for use on a wool pack...
the wool press...

The trough filled with artesian water.

Living at Brighton? A Melbourne Riviera?

Yesterday, Herself and Miss Eagle celebrated Mother's Day at North Point Cafe at Brighton as described here and here. As we walked up North Road, we daydreamed about the beautiful homes there in this old, close to the city, suburb.

Herself declared that this was for her. Very French Riviera, very Cote d'Azur.

Herself pointed to how savvy the owners were about gardens.

But, for Miss Eagle, she has always daydreamed of a unit here - perhaps this unit.

It is right across North Road from the Cote d'Azur model - so with Miss E here and H. there...well, it would be convenient, wouldn't it?

But we both love cottages...

and Herself thought Hansel and Gretel with this one while Miss E thought Arts & Crafts.

And then there was this place. And here is the reason...

...a Pussy Cat and a Geranium

The first day of God Outback - Part 3 - Acacia Vale

Skylights, Shearing Shed, Acacia Vale

View from the Shearing Shed, Acacia Vale

View from the Shearing Shed, Acacia Vale

Wool Press, Shearing Shed, Acacia Vale

Tank (this is what dams are called in The Western Division)

The first day of God Outback - Part 2 - Acacia Vale

Tank Stand, Shearing Shed, Acacia Vale

The Nine Mile

Pens, Shearing Shed, Acacia Vale

Remains of rock garden, Acacia Vale

Sorting/Classing Table, Shearing Shed, Acacia Vale

Interior, Shearing Shed, Acacia Vale

The first day of God Outback - Part 1 - Acacia Vale

Where does one start?

Miss Eagle drove to Broken Hill via Bendigo, Swan Hill, Mildura and Wentworth.

Photographs all the way. The photos en route will come later.

The photos taken at Acacia Vale, a part of The Nine Mile will begin.

Pages, photographs out of history.

Diny at the water trough at Acacia Vale,

The Nine Mile

Shearing stands, Acacia Vale, The Nine Mile

Interior, Shearing Shed, Acacia Vale, The Nine Mile

Shearing Stands, Acacia Vale, The Nine Mile

Wool pack stencils, Acacia Vale, The Nine Mile

Miss Eagle is back

Homestead at The Nine Mile, Broken Hill

Miss Eagle is back - but busy. But to get back into blogging, this is a quick post. The destination was The Nine Mile. The Nine Mile is a sheep station - sheep ranch to those in the USA - just out of Broken Hill and right next door to The Living Desert. It is the property of Greg and Mia. The trip was organized by Spirit Journeys Australia and our leaders were Ian Robinson and Ross Neville.

Below is The Shearers' Quarters where we stayed - a group of nine of us - and looked after ourselves. More later.................

The Shearers' Quarters at The Nine Mile, Broken Hill