“Our Coastlines are A-Changing” Part One
Our friend and team member Rowdy Wylie is a man who loves country and we have been so privileged to be part of his many artistic journeys as he expresses his love of country in his paintings. Rowdy is also a man of the coast and the sea...
As Rowdy says: coastlines harbor great spots for walking... taking photos and taking in the atmosphere.... perhaps as a picnic with family and friends... maybe a quite reflective moment away from the city rat life.
A little while back Rowdy and I started a series on Fences, Posts and Gates and today's post slots in nicely to this theme because it is about a causeway - the causeway that links Ngarrindjerri Island (Granite Island) to the South Australian mainland.
If you look carefully at the image above you will discern that there are two causeways - the old and the first stage of the new causeway completed at the end of 2021.
The Granite Island Causeway (the Causeway) is an iconic landmark with considerable heritage value. The Causeway, located 83 km south of Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula, is the only link between Granite Island (Ngarrindjerri Island) and the mainland at Victor Harbor and is a site of cultural significance to the traditional owners of the area. The Causeway is also a popular tourist attraction, important to the local, regional and state economies.1
A personal reflection from Anne -
My first holiday out of my home state of Victoria was to South Australia when I was about 5 years old. And I can remember visiting Victor Harbor and having ride on the iconic horse drawn tram which went into operation in 1894 - a couple of years before I was born!!
The original Causeway was built in 1867, about 10 years after the colony of South Australia was established. To read about this click here.
But... time takes its toll and the old is being replaced with the new.
Previously, as Rowdy explains, these structures were all constructed from local hardwood timber.
The beauty in the timber with its rich textures and colours blended in most perfectly with the natural environment.
The charm of old landmarks and their environments as Rowdy defines them saw:
Generations of Australian families holidaying in beachside country towns over the Christmas/New Year holidays… and Easter long weekends… being drawn to the sunny… sandy beaches… the salt air environment...
Many seek out and venture to the organic… tactile appearance of the “old” magnificently “weathered” hardwood timber jetties… each with so much “individuality” and “character”… with decades of stories to tell …
Each Jetty has its own individual character and is uniquely engineered… in design and construction…. They are held together with lots of timber joints… columns… bearers… braces.. treads & balustrades….
These wonderful timber “master pieces” of magnificent appearance… highlight the “rusty iron” reinforcing… bolts... washers & nuts…. all the iron hardware can be seen rusting and “flowing” the “rusty stain” into the cracks of the “weathered” hardwood timbers….
An array of “warm” wonderful colours ... achieving a natural earthy “rustic” appearance….
Adding to this charm is the “salt water bleaching” and “lichen moss” growing in the shadows… under the beams… out of the intense sun light…
Rowdy's description continues:
The Jetty is definitely a historical landmark… showcasing a “master piece” of works… all telling the story of a challenging “life” of intense exposure to the elements within the “salty marine” atmospheric environment.
Jetties/wharfs are used as recreational fishing platforms…
The loading of cargo ships with essential commodities i.e. grain.. wool… and minerals… also in some situations providing access to “off shore” Islands….
A little while back we went on a sea voyage with Rowdy and Nicolas Baudin and if you missed out...jump aboard by following the Bookmark link below...
Anne Newman
Today we also welcome H.S.C. in Australia to the AnArt4Life blog - it is such a good day when we have a new subscriber and knowing that someone new shares our love of all things art.
And tomorrow we will return to contemplate the arrival of the new low maintenance jetty!!
Credit
1. dit.sa.gov.au
2. pinterest.com.au