Cavorting in Candelo

Hello,
It has been a while since I have written a blog post. I have been very busy at my day job, and with life in general.

Tonight Dad reminded me that I had promised to blog about Candelo, so I thought I had better get onto it.

Last holidays, my husband, daughter and I went on our annual trip to the coastal town of Tathra. There is not all that much to do in Tathra, so one sunny day we set off on a day trip to Candelo. 
Here it is in Google Maps: Map of Candelo
Before I went there, all I knew about Candelo was:

a. there is a signpost pointing to Candelo along the road from Bemboka to Bega. I had driven past many times and thought it sounded like a nice place to visit. The road is called Mogilla Road, by the way.

b. in recent weeks, a music festival had been held in Candelo which looked really interesting - I was sorry I had missed it. A folk singer named Melanie Horsnall was one of the artists, and I checked out her website and I really like her style. A lovely painting of the hills around Candelo features on the cover of her album "the Cloud Appreciation Society". You can have a listen - tell me what you think if you do! 

c. I thought Candelo was a very romantic sounding name for a town, and evoked images of candles, but I wasn't sure if was pronounced quickly with equal emphasis on the syllables, or with the emphasis on the first syllable, as in Can-dello.

d. I had a feeling Candelo was involved in the timber industry many years ago. But I wasn't sure why.

* * * * * * * * *

It took an hour to get there from Tathra, but we did go the long way around. The landscape was beautiful, with rolling green hills and peacefully grazing dairy cows. 

Here are some things I noticed while I was in this tranquil sleepy village, and some other things I have learned since.

* A river flows through the middle of town. There is a road along the west side of the river, and a road along the east, and a bridge connects the two to make an enormous letter H. Have a close look at the google Map and you'll see what I mean. This was quite a nice change from the "drive straight through town and over the river" arrangement that you usually find in country Australia.
 
looking east towards the town hall.


* This river has a park on the eastern side, with the most enormous plane tree I have ever seen. Photos don't do it justice! All the trees and the river flowing through the town give it a peaceful, sleepy feel.



* Most of the buildings are wooden, with charming verandahs and Federation architecture. 

A bridge in someone's backyard.A house in the main street, love the roses. Someone else's backyard

Old fashioned service station - love the signage!

I had a coffee in this cafe. It wasn't all that crash hot.

Looking along the street, the Post Office is on the left.

Looking back across the bridge to the other side of town.

very cute house. the back fence could use some work though!

* Despite its tiny size, Candelo boasts a Blacket church. Edmund Blacket is a prominent architect from the colonial days of Sydney. He was appointed colonial architect in 1849 and designed more than 100 churches across New South Wales. I found a recording of Heath Cullen and the Yearlings playing "Fullerton's Bridge" in the church - great bluesy sound.


* The town hall (with the white front) looks like a lovely place for the residents to get together, both for social occasions and the business of running the town. 











* There is another Candelo in Italy. Don't get them mixed up. They are not the same. (photo from  Flickr


* Candelo is a bit like Tilba but a gazillion times better because there were no tourists in Candelo. Well, apart from us.

* Apart from a bunch of timber houses and a few logging trucks trundling along the road I couldn't find much evidence of the timber industry in Candelo.

* Candelo is about six hours drive from both Melbourne and Sydney, so ideally situated for those who like to visit the big smoke now and then.

This blue B&B is for sale.

* If you are planning a visit to this historic town, I would recommend that you go on the first Sunday of the month because then you can visit the markets.

* I found some much better photographs on Flickr for your perusal

the church
The Valley
the pub

Hope you have enjoyed my blogpost. I will try to write again soon.
I will leave you with some gumblossoms I found at the coast.