My contracts have been renewed for another year. End of year is always a time of tension and then relief. Work does not buy me material things. It buys me professional freedom to do the kind of work I feel committed to doing, so the relief is always palpable.
One of my last country trips was to Moora, a small town in the North Eastern Wheatbelt, some 160 km (100 miles) from my home. It has a population of just under 2000 people. I am yet to see more than twenty people in town in peak hour mid day. Being farming country, most of the population live away from town. It is not uncommon for folks to come into town for their appointment having travelled nearly 200 kms. Children can do a round trip of 100 kms twice a day when travelling in a school bus. These are hardy, community minded folks.
Check in for my accommodation at the local caravan park is done at the local petrol station! In such an unassuming town the surprise for me is one of the local cafes and the pub, The Drovers’ Inn.
At the end of the main street that has no more than ten shops I think, is the pub (on the right).
The Drovers’ Inn, circa 1909, is something out of a movie set. I learnt the hard way. To buy a drink, avoid the bar when it is shearing season! The Bottle Shop entrance on the right with the discreet blue sign is a better bet! The meals here are amazing.
Around the corner from the Bottle Shop is the entrance to the dining room. It is opulent indoors and the first time I entered this place I was taken aback. Now that I am a regular visitor here for meals I aim to get more photographs of the building next year.
The counter is made from wood and curved and belted with this brass decoration that goes all around it.
I just love it!
Across the railway track is the local cafe with a French name and serves French food with Edith Piaf’s wonderful voice infusing the atmosphere.
The cafe has been doing well. It’s so good to see this in a small town. It has moved to bigger premises. This is only part of the extended shop. There were too many people around and I didn’t want to invade their privacy but I’ll get more pictures next time. I just love the chandeliers!
The drive to Moora is something I enjoy. Being in the heart of the Wheatbelt and big road train country, there are huge chicanes that brings out my inner rally driver when I’m not stuck behind slow moving farming equipment. With my playlist on loud, this is a trip I’ve come to love. I’m so thrilled it will continue for another year.
Until next time
As always
a dawn bird
In response to Word of the Day Challenge – Freedom
A Shared Space 
A nice cafe can make a huge difference and is a real draw card for bringing in visitors to an area. Some visitors will travel a long way for a nice coffee and a smile.
Maybe you could stay at the pub one day if your budget stretches to it. I am really curious to know whether it is as glamorous as the rest of the pub.
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I love the cafe. They also sell all kinds of expensive and unusual stuff which I love.
The pub accommodation I hear is quite ordinary but the dining room is pretty special. I usually stay at the caravan park which is always clean. I once stayed at another motel and the lady at reception had to walk over the road to borrow an iron from her neighbour! lol I learned pretty quickly to carry a travel iron at all times!
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Dawn, we need to talk! Ironing. That’s so last century. Once you’ve sweated in your clothes all day the wrinkles tend to fall out, lol.
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LOL! I love it! I wish. I only wear linen and although at one time I hated ironing, I tend to find it relaxing now! Or maybe I’ve reframed to believe that!
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🙂
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Hope your new year is all you wish for and more!
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Thank you so much, Eliza. It promises to be more interesting than my previous years and I fully embrace the prospect of that.
Hope you continue to grow and bloom, too, in the garden you so love.
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They’ve certainly spent some money on that since I last stopped there (I think it was 99) 🙂 looks fabulous and worth a visit.
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I’ve decided next year I’ll spend more time photographing architecture. Some of the buildings I see are gorgeous, even when deserted and run down.
I doubt if much else has changed in Moora! It seems to me a little town untouched by time, which is nice!
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Yes, a rare gem, very nice.
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