Lone Wolf replied:

I have found Dimboola a good place to suss out, as well as it's surrounds.

Dimboola, has the WIDEST main drag I have ever known. It was once a thriving town, being a hub for the surrounding areas, but has since sadly declined.

When you walk along the main street, it is like you've been sent back in time. The Holden dealership still has Monaro and Torana signs painted on the walls!

There is also the usual assortment of art & craft shops, and if the shop is unattended, the obligatory little note stuck to the door saying see Joe Blow next door is always present.

Strangest thing though, when we were last there, we wanted to buy a lottery ticket for Saturday nights draw, so we went to the news agency to buy one, no such luck. Go to the shop next door, HE, has the agency for the tickets! Very parochial indeed!!!

Now, here's the best part...

Whilst all the major car dealerships have faltered, there is this little shop there, that sell shltloads of those motorised Gophers for old people to get around on!

Walk down the main street, and they are EVERYWHERE!!! I have NEVER, seen so many Gophers in one place, ever. It is cool to see all of the old people chatting, and having coffees outside, sitting on these machines. I think it's a carry over of their rural upbringing, whereby probably most of these people are retired farmers, you know, the ones that park in the middle of dirt roads, in their utes, with their dogs in the back, talking to their neighbours for 3 hours.

Good place to suss out.

Cheers

Wolfie

Member - ROTORD replied:

Hello DB

Little Desert is good , but a guided tour is necessary to really appreciate it .

Domboola covered above .

Horsham 'Wool Factory' - outstanding sheltered workshop , especially interesting for 'shedded sheep'

Grampians , not to be missed , approach Halls Gap from the north west or north .

Leave the Grampians via Cavendish for a tour of Peter Waldrens 'Potter' farm at Mt Dundas .Check Potter farms on the web .

Check Condah Mission for a walk into Lake Condah to the archaeological sites of the only stone buildings erected by aborigines before the coming of Europeans .

Shaw River for trout fishing

Port Fairy - historic village and port .

Tower Hill - spectacular crater lake and re-planting .

DB replied:

Thanks for those tips, my mother always referred to Dimboola because of the play, so it stands in my mind, but I had no idea it was still an active town, it sounds quaint.

The rest of the tips sounds great, I had wondered about the Grampians, so we shall look into that. Crater lacks and such sounds great for the kids, not to mention mum who has a passing interest in geology.

Thanks again

LIZ