Monday, 11th February 2013
The day started by walking Keith’s dog around the 'Dog Walking Area'. Presumably because it was a weekday, we saw more dogs and owners than on the previous days. All the dogs played happily chasing an assortment of balls, rings and frisbees.
On our arrival back at Keith's home, we took breakfast. Keith had a telephone message that the Steam Museum we'd failed to get into in Fremantle on the previous Saturday would definitely be open, so we drove down to the city again.
Adrian Pope was the volunteer in charge of the Steam Museum, which operates as an annexe to the futuristic-looking building of the Maritime Museum Fremantle next door. The steam exhibits are housed in a conventional steel-framed workshop building clad in corrugated iron. Adrian was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable host and we spent over three hours there.
We learnt that the air compressor which normally operates the exhibits had failed and, whilst repairs were being carried out, the Museum was being opened on a more irregular basis.
The only exhibit working was the Robinson version of a 'Stirling-Cycle' engine. The base of this engine houses a heater to power the engine. This was originally gas-powered but is now an electric heater. There's an excellent article in Wikipedia here about the Stirling engine.
Robinson's implementation of a 'Stirling Cycle' hot-air engine.
It will take me a while to sort out the details of all the models and preserved mechanisms on display, but the set Steam Museum, Fremantle gives an impression of the range of exhibits. I'll just mention the marine engine on display which reputedly powered the "Cygnet', the launch used by C. Y. O'Connor (1843-1902) during development of Fremantle Harbour.
The engine from the 'Cygnet' (apologies for the poor focus).
There is a statue to C. Y. O'Connor by Pietro Porcelli a short distance from the museum commemorating his work on the development of the harbour together with his role in the development of the water supply for the Goldfields area, the railways of Western Australia and other public works. Sadly, C. Y. O'Connor took his own life in 1902. There's more about this remarkable man in a Wikipedia article here.
The C. Y. O'Connor statue near the Steam Museum.
We then moved on to the Ship Wreck Museum where, amongst a large collection of smaller artefacts, the is a large preserved section of hull from the 'Batavia' which was wrecked in 1629.
The preserved section of the hull of the 'Batavia'.
The remains of a 2-cylinder steam engine from the 'Xantho' are currently being conserved after over 100 years under the sea. This engine was built by J. Penn and Son in Greenwich, England.
After browsing a second-hand bookshop, Keith drove to the highest point in Fremantle which commands splendid views both to sea and towards the city. There are a number of War Memorials here, including (rather improbably) a periscope made in Scotland. We then returned home.
The oldest of the War Memorials overlooking Fremantle. The three young people were making a video.
In the evening, Keith, Fhines and I drove to a nearby Chinese Restaurant for a very enjoyable meal.
My Pictures
Williton Dog Walking Area.
Steam Museum, Fremantle.
Shipwreck Museum, Fremantle, WA.
Fremantle, West Australia.
Monday 11 February 2013
Perth WA - Day 4
