You lucky bastard. He is my favourite living science popularizer. He has made some great science history documentaries and he is an excellent interviewer in this weekly program.
Warner Bros. Movie World (more commonly referred to as just Movie World) is a popular movie related theme park at Oxenford in the Gold Coast hinterland. It opened on 3 June 1991 and is currently owned and operated by Village Roadshow.
The park contains various movie-themed rides and attractions ranging from motion simulators to roller coasters and slow river rides. In addition, costumed character performers also patrol the park, allowing visitors the chance to take photos with them. These include Batman, Austin Powers, Marilyn Monroe, Scooby Doo, The Mystery Inc. Gang and various Looney Tunes characters. Minor street shows including skits and singing performances are also present. The All-Star Parade showcases costumed characters alongside vehicles and movie-themed floats.
Among the rides at the park are five roller coasters:
Superman Escape (pictured above)
Arkham Asylum – Shock Therapy
Green Lantern Roller Coaster
Road Runner Roller Coaster
Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster
Here's a You Tubie of what the Superman Escape looks like from the front seat:
There are a number of active film studios within the Movie World complex. House of Wax, the first Scooby Doo film, the 2003 Peter Pan film, Ghost Ship, The Condemned and Fortress are amongst the many films and television series produced at Warner Roadshow Studios. Movie World is also the home of the Big Brother reality TV show, but the less said about that the better, I think.
Here's a link to the park's website:
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Victoria
Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park was completed in 1988 as part of the original National Tennis Centre complex. The arena is the centrepiece of the Australian Open and plays host to a wide range of sports and entertainment events, from tennis matches to international rock stars and motorbike super-cross. The most dynamic transformation Rod Laver Arena has seen was in March 2007 with the FINA 2007 World Swimming Championships when a 50 metre temporary pool was built on the arena’s floor.
Formerly simply known as Centre Court, the arena was named to honour one of Australia’s greatest tennis players of all time. Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park was officially named after Rod Laver for his unsurpassed achievements and accomplishments at the Australian Open in January 2000.
Rod Laver Arena has a seating capacity of approximately 15,000 and is located within the famous Melbourne Sports Precint which also includes the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Hisense Arena, Olympic Park and the soon to be completed Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
At the time of its opening in 1988, the venue was one of the most high-tech arena’s in the world with a moveable roof - an innovative world first design which is formed by two rolling sections, each spanning the court with arched trusses that gives the Rod Laver Arena its distinctive image. A Plexicushion Tennis court forms the permanent floor structure with protective flooring placed over it to transform the venue from tennis to concert mode. Removable seating at the southern end of the arena converts the venue from a continuous seated bowl for sporting events to a three sided concert venue.
Apart from the Australian Open tennis, over 20 years the venue has seen an extensive range of world class sport and entertainment including music concerts of every style, stage shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Carmen and Riverdance, motocross, rodeos, monster trucks, Torville & Dean, childrens shows, wrestling, basketball, Jeff Fenech title defences in 1988 & 1989 and World Championship swimming. Names such as Kylie, U2, Kylie, The Rolling Stones, Kylie, Pavarotti, Kylie, John Farnham, Kylie, Billy Joel and Kylie have all performed in this versatile venue.
The record attendance for any event was 16,183 for the Justin Timberlake concert on 18th November 2007.
Melbourne Park is set to be redeveloped in the near future to cater for the growing demands and record crowds at the Australian Open. It is uncertain whether Rod Laver Arena will be upgraded or replaced.
Read more at:
Mount Isa, Queensland
Mt Isa (or 'The Isa", as it is known locally) is in Kalkadoon country and is the most significant town in a 700 kilometre (440 mile) radius. The regional population is a bit over 31,000 with around 21,750 of those people living in the city itself.
Described as the Oasis of the Outback - a gleaming mirage on the horizon for travellers from all directions - Mount Isa nestles among the ochre-red Selwyn Ranges, on the banks of the Leichhardt River.
Mount Isa has grown from strength to strength over the years but the harsh picturesque landscape has barely changed, becoming one of the main draw-cards for visitors each year. Mount Isa brings out the adventurous spirit in everyone, with ample places to fish, camp, four wheel drive, or relax and enjoy an Outback sunset. The rugged terrain is a four wheel driver's haven, and visitors can explore the region just as the pioneers of the region did many years ago.
The twin jewels in Mount Isa's crown are the spectacular Lawn Hill Gorge in Boodjamulla National Park and its neighbour, the world-heritage listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields, both of which are accessed from Mount Isa.
A must see while in Mount Isa is the Outback at Isa complex, incorporating the award winning Riversleigh Fossil Centre, Hard Times Mine, Sir James Foots Building, Outback Park and Visitor Information Centre.
Other attractions are the School of the Air, the Royal Flying Doctors base, National Trust Tent House, Underground Hospital and Beth Anderson Museum, surface tours of Mount Isa Mines and fishing for barramundi at Lake Moondarra.
Mount Isa's existence and its main financial base is the huge Mount Isa Mine, the world's largest single producer of copper, silver, lead and zinc. In 1923, John Campbell Miles found a silver-lead ore outcrop and sent a sample to Cloncurry to be assessed. Miles pegged two leases and soon 500 were filled. Mount Isa Mines took over operations in 1924. This rich deposit is still producing high volumes of ore and is classed as one of the world's great mines.
Read more in good old:
Hanging Rock (Mount Diogenes), Macedon Ranges, Victoria
On Saturday 14th February 1900 a party of schoolgirls from Appleyard College picknicked at Hanging Rock, near Mt. Macedon in the State of Victoria. During the afternoon several members of the party disappeared without a trace . . .
Well, maybe that's not quite the true story . . .
Hanging Rock is in Wurundjeri country, approximately 70 kilometres (50 miles) north-west of Melbourne and just to the north of Mount Macedon.
Said to be the best example of a volcanic plug (or mamelon) in the world). It consists mainly of soda trachyte rock (solvsbergite), found only outside this district in Norway and Sweden. Since its formation, the mamelon has been exposed to considerable weathering and erosion, resulting in a conglomeration of unusual rock formations that can now be seen on the site.
The feature was named by Major Mitchell in 1836 although it's marked on some earlier maps as Dryden's Rock. The area at the top of the rock (shown in the above photograph) is known locally as 'Stonhenge'.
Development of the area began during the gold rush years of the 1850s and in 1861 the railway was pushed through to Woodend (location of the school in the novel and movie). The first foray into tourism in the area was undertaken in the mid 1860s when Mr W Adams built the Hanging Rock Hotel. This was followed by the construction of an artificial lake, (complete with imported white swans) and a road reaching almost to the top of the rock.
Mr. Adams laid down the first racecourse on the western side of the Rock
where Race Meetings were held in true traditional bush picnic style.
Horse races have been held at Hanging Rock ever since then and the Hanging Rock Racing Club holds two race meetings a year on New Year's Day and Australia Day (26 January). From what I can recall, it's the best Picnic Race Day in the history of everything, although I'm a little hazy on the details.
The Novel and Movie
Hanging Rock was the inspiration and setting for the novel Picnic at Hanging Rock, written by Joan Lindsay and published in 1967. The novel dealt with the disappearance of a number of schoolgirls during a visit to the Rock. Their disappearance was explained in the final chapter, but Lindsay deleted this chapter at the suggestion of her editor, thinking the mystery was greater without it.
The novel inspired the film Picnic at Hanging Rock, made in 1975 and directed by Peter Weir. The success of the film was responsible for a substantial increase in visits to the rock and a renewal of interest in the novel. Yvonne Rousseau wrote a book called The Murders at Hanging Rock, published in 1980, which examined possible explanations for the disappearance of the girls.
As a result of the increased interest, the deleted final chapter of the novel was finally published in 1987 as The Secret of Hanging Rock.
Hanging Rock is only about 20 minutes by chariot from Pi-Broadford and is therefore considered to be part of the Upper Land, although for some reason this is seldom reflected in the brochures one sees about the place. Curious.
Built in 1900, licensed in 1901 and known variously as the Well Shot Hotel, the Gidgee Bug Hotel and the Federal Hotel, the Walkabout Creek Hotel is now famous for being recognised as the pub in Paul Hogan's 1986 movie Crocodile Dundee.
Shortly after the film was released the pub was sold for $290,000. It was sold again in October 2010 for $1,250,000.
Bargain!
Planning a holiday in Western Queensland?
(and why wouldn't you?)
Here's the good oil on McKinlay:
Glenrowan, Victoria
Glenrowan is the site of bushranger Ned Kelly's last stand and was named after farmers James and George Rowan who ran farms in the area between 1846 and 1858. The township was settled in the late 1860s and the Post Office opened on 22 February 1870
It's a small, peaceful town (except for Pharaoh's three nieces) located between Benalla and Wangaratta, 220 kilometres (135 miles) or just under 2½ hours' drive from Melbourne along the Hume Highway.
Ned Kelly is undoubtedly Australia's most notorious bushranger and an important part of Australian folklore. Many attractions around the town bring together the various aspects of the enduring legend, making it easy to learn more about the man and his infamous gang.
The six-metre-high statue in the photograph above portrays Ned in his homemade armour, rifle in hand as he would have appeared on Saturday, 27 June 1880 when the Kelly Gang took 60 hostages in the Glenrowan Inn. A siege followed and in the ensuing battle with police three gang members were killed. Remarkably, Kelly escaped but was shot in the legs and arrested some hours later. He was tried, convicted of murder and hanged on 11 November 1880 at the Old Melbourne Gaol.
Today there is more to Glenrowan than bushrangers, with opportunities to sample fine regional wines and delicious local produce. Many of the award-winning local wineries provide cellar door sales or for those on a mission, Buffalo Mountain Wines offers tastings from 22 local wineries under one table roof. Farm gate sales at local orchards provide a wealth of fresh cherries, peaches, apricots and more.
Popular local events include the Ned Kelly Commemorative Dinner in June and Winery Walkabout on the Queen's Birthday weekend in June.
More? Sure!
The High Court of Australia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
"It's just... the vibe... of the thing"
The High Court of Australia was formally established in 1901 under section 71 of the Australian Constitution. Its role is to interpret and apply the laws of Australia, to decide cases of federal significance, and to hear appeals from federal, state, and territory courts. While the High Court is the highest avenue of appeal in Australia, further appeals could be made to the Privy Council in Britain until 1975.
Following the passage of the Judiciary Act 1903 the first appointments were made to the High Court bench:
Chief Justice Samuel Griffith, former Premier (1883–88) and former Chief Justice (1893–1903) of Queensland
Justice Edmund Barton, former Prime Minister of Australia (1901–03)
Justice Richard Edward O’Connor, former Minister of Justice and Solicitor-General of New South Wales (1891–1903) and former Senator (1901–03)
By 1906, the High Court had become established as a viable, effective and necessary part of the Australian judicial system. The increasing demands on the High Court led to the number of justices being increased to five in 1906, and then to seven in 1913. The primary registry of the High Court was initially located in Melbourne, and from 1973 in Sydney. When the High Court building was finished in 1980 the administration was transferred to Canberra.
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Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, Victoria
The Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens were completed in 1880 for Melbourne’s first international exhibition, a product of the optimism, enthusiasm and energy of the people of Melbourne in the late-19th century. Melbourne was a prosperous city, basking in the wealth from the richest gold rush in the world. How better to publicise the achievements and opportunities in the colony of Victoria than by hosting an international exhibition?
Today, the Royal Exhibition Building flourishes as one of the world's oldest exhibition pavilions, symbolising the great 19th-century international exhibition movement. With its meticulously-restored opulent interior, expansive galleries and soaring dome, the Great Hall continues to offer a magnificent setting for trade shows, fairs and cultural and community events.
The Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens were inscribed on the World Heritage list on 1 July 2004, becoming the first building in Australia to achieve World Heritage listing. Today, the Royal Exhibition Building is a campus of Museum Victoria and the gardens are managed by the City of Melbourne.
3 is actually a great place and I've never failed to have a good time there.
There's a lot of money in being made in that town, and because it's all spent locally the place has ended up being far more cosmopolitan than you might expect. Mind you, it's a lot like Darwin in that the number 1 activity apart from working is drinking.
Also, the scenery in the hinterland is awesome and there are at least a billion times more stars than in the coastal cities.
Its a cool trivia question and a fun one to start arguments with. Mount Isa is the largest city in the world, by area governed by the city council. Well it use to be anyway.
Woomera, apart from the rocket museum, which is awesome, is a complete shitheap. I wish they'd actually use the Rocket Range, It would be cool to launch our own satellites, plus then there'd actually be a reason to keep the town around.
3 is actually a great place and I've never failed to have a good time there.
There's a lot of money in being made in that town, and because it's all spent locally the place has ended up being far more cosmopolitan than you might expect. Mind you, it's a lot like Darwin in that the number 1 activity apart from working is drinking.
Also, the scenery in the hinterland is awesome and there are at least a billion times more stars than in the coastal cities.
This award for me, goes to Bundaberg. I spent one night there. I got spat on by 2 people in 2 different circumstances, because I was walking down the street. Lovely people.
This award for me, goes to Bundaberg. I spent one night there. I got spat on by 2 people in 2 different circumstances, because I was walking down the street. Lovely people.
My only night in Wagga was many years ago, when we stayed with one of my wife's bridesmaid. It was thought to be a good idea if I went out with her husband and his mates to the pub. At the end of an otherwise unmemorable time, I asked what was on now. "Looking for a fight" was the response. Standard fare on a Saturday night I found.
Yeah, not fair to judge a town by one sad night, but from what I've heard since, including from my daughter's partner who was a MP (whoops Military Police, not Member of Parliament) there for a couple of years, pretty standard behavior.
This award for me, goes to Bundaberg. I spent one night there. I got spat on by 2 people in 2 different circumstances, because I was walking down the street. Lovely people.
The worst town I have been too in Manilla, bunch of us went up there for a wedding. The fact we were from Sydney automatically made us pariah's. When we were leaving we gave another guest a lift to Tamworth, now this person has never lived in any town bigger than 20,000 people.
As we left she remarked that Manila was the most inward looking backward town she'd ever been in. I laughed when I realized it just wasn't just us. They hated every body.
Other serious contenders. Sofala and Bourke....which when I was in the industry, was considered such a dangerous town, there was no freight delivery. You had to go and pick your freight up from the depot.
The worst town I have been too in Manilla, bunch of us went up there for a wedding. The fact we were from Sydney automatically made us pariah's. When we were leaving we gave another guest a lift to Tamworth, now this person has never lived in any town bigger than 20,000 people.
As we left she remarked that Manila was the most inward looking backward town she'd ever been in. I laughed when I realized it just wasn't just us. They hated every body.
Other serious contenders. Sofala and Bourke....which when I was in the industry, was considered such a dangerous town, there was no freight delivery. You had to go and pick your freight up from the depot.
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