Katherine to and including Darwin

After two days in Katherine cleaning the Lunagazer and the car for the first time on this Wallaby as well as renewing our stores for the journey to Darwin we departed Katherine with out too much tourist stuff. We left Katherine on Tuesday the 3^rd of July. Our first stop for morning tea was at Hayes Creek. We arrived at our Howard Springs Caravan Park at approximately 2.00pm.

Next morning the Nissan had to go in for its 90,000 (not quite there yet but to be sure) service to Kerry’s (Nissan) Service Centre. Which meant we were without the car for that day.

So, through David Payne at ANMM arrangements had been made for me to meet up with Paul Clark, Senior Maritime Archeologist of MAGNT. Paul wanted me to take a look at one of their collection boats Karya Sama, a perahu lambo style Indonesian double ender, gunter rigged with a boomed headsail. She measured 4.1 tons gross, 10.64 lod X 3.95 beam X 1.23 draught. Carvel built edge joined and then trunnelled to ensure the edge planking remained aligned to maintain a water tight hull.

Paul picked us up at Kerry’s and whisked us away to MAGNT as quick as he could because he had been trying to contact me for some time to learn more about Photogrammetry. That’s right the exercise was photograph Karya Sama with the intent to get her lines to complete the MAGNT records as part of their Maritime collection. Because of their location MAGNT has a wide collection of maritime craft from the Indonesian, Timor, Irian Jaya, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and SE Asia, as well as Northern Australian vessels including Pearl Luggers.

Paul’s interest in Karya Sama was initially that its design is similar to early Australian Pearl Luggers and that many similar vessels frequented the Timor and Arafura seas on a regular basis for fish, birds and eggs which were taken back to their homelands as food for their families sustenance. Then Australia changed the zones enforcing exclusion of such vessels from what were now Australian waters despite for centuries the Indonesian and Timor families had fished and bird hunted in the same waters. When the Australian changes were made were the islanders educated about the new boundaries or in fact, compensated for their loss of food for their families and potential income?

Following this the Karya Sama was apprehended in 1988 and its captain and crew arrested and charged under regulations of the Australian Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. The Captain and crew were convicted and Karya Sama became the first and to date the only Indonesian fishing boat forfeited under Australian National Park and Wildlife Legislation[1]. Since then Karya Sama, following many negotiations, was donated the MAGNT to become part of their collection of SE Asian vessels.

After the discussions including Paul’s outline of what he wanted to achieve, a methodology to record the lines of Karya Sama as a trial photogrammetry project so that future work may include other vessels in their collection. We proceeded to mark up Karya Sama and take in excess of 200 photos. Using Agisoft we loaded these up, took points and then aligned the same. The outcome a reasonable 3D outline of Karya Sama. I then, after saying our good byes to Paul, proceeded to use Agisoft to build a Dense Cloud (a file that provides data of the 3D outcome) of the 3D outline so that lines may be produced. Time will tell. I was very impressed with Paul’s passion to achieve potential lines of Karya Sama. His passion for the full maritime collection at MAGNT was also very evident, a lovely bloke.

[1] Paul Clark, 2014

NT Botanic Gardens

Once Dallas and I left the MAGNT we decided to go the NT Botanic Gardens. Despite a recent Cyclone earlier this year we were not disappointed. We started the morning with tea and coffee at Eva’s Café overlooking the lower levels of the Botanic Gardens. We left the Café and walked into the Children’s garden section. A beautiful garden laid out and designed for children’s use including mazes and tree house structure play equipment. I am sure all children would love it.

We then walked out between Borrasus lawns and Frangipani Hill admiring the gardens representation of the Rainbow Serpent as a floral exhibit. Soon we were in the Heritage Lawn area adjacent to the Africa and Madagascar Boab exhibits, just beautiful!

From here we walked on through the Shade garden and then on to the Tiwi Forest area. Here it was very obvious that the gardens had suffered from the Cyclone earlier this year but much to the Gardens credit despite some losses everything is back in shape and well exhibited.

We had a brief look at the Rainforest loop before scaling the Secret Moonlight garden and then on to the Plant Display House which exhibits tropical orchids including Dendrobium, tropical orchids, Bromiliads and other colourful exotic plants.

Following this we finally found the Gardens Information and Visitor Centre and then made our way back to the entrance via the Eco House Snake bean gardens and the vegie terraces.

We would highly recommend the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens to all NT/Darwin visitors. Allow plenty of time.

Mindil Beach Market

That evening, after I had a swim in the Darwin Waterfront beach pool, we went to the Mindil Beach Market which was as packed as per normal. Great craft on display. And a great array of food together with some nice jazz music for entertainment.

Following the market like everyone else we sat on Mindil Beach and awaited the famed sunset. We were not disappointed.