Albury

Directly across the Murray River, in the state of New South Wales, is the town of Albury, where I lived the year I worked in Wodonga.  It’s an easy bus ride from one town to the other, and I spent a lovely day today having lunch with a friend and then taking myself on a little walk, reliving some memories.

St. Matthew’s Anglican Church is the one I attended when I lived here.  The first church was established here in 1850 and the original church building was completed in 1859.  Unfortunately the church was gutted by fire in 1991 and this new church building had just been completed before I moved here.

Now part of the Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA) this building, previously the Town Hall, was built in 1908. 

In the MOMA, this large-scale wall painting is called It’s flamin hot darl, by Australian artist Beth Thornber

As the last stop on the Great Southern Railway line, Albury’s railway station was once one of Australia’s most important rail terminals.  The station was first used in 1882 and at over 450m the station’s platform is Australia’s longest.

Known to the local school kids as ‘The Castle’ the two storey Albury Public School was built in 1891.

St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church was erected in 1872 and the presbytery (below) is next door.

This grand ole building was once Australia’s largest inland wool store with a total floor space of over 2.75 hectares and it could warehouse 12,000 bales of wool.

Kia Ora, Albury’s first major commercial building, opened it’s doors as the Bank of New South Wales in 1858.

The Albury Botanic Gardens opened in 1877 and continues to house an award winning collection of over 1000 plant species.

Lots of sulphur-crested cockatoos were in the Botanic Gardens.

Built between the 1850’s and 1880’s the beehive buildings make a significant architectural contribution to Albury’s Main Street.

The original Mate’s Building (from 1860) was destroyed by fire and replaced with the current building in 1916.

The origins of the Albury post office date to 1861 with this building being built in 1877 which included private accommodation for the postmaster.  The bells in the clock tower first rang out in 1879.

The Globe Hotel, with it’s 18 rooms and stables, opened to travellers and locals alike in 1860. 

The Albury Court House was constructed in 1860.

Built in 1940, the Australian Mutual Provident (AMP) building is topped by fine statuettes, 

The T&G Building evokes the glamour of 1930’s New York.

Constructed in 1907 this was the original Union Bank…and is still a bank today. 

The Colonial Mutual Life (CML) Building was built in 1925 and even today stands as one of Albury’s most prestigious buildings.

Originally used as a Telegraph Station, this beautiful building, built in 1886, is now the Murray Conservatorium.

Must say I like these, if for no reason other than the colour.  They’ll all over town, electric scooters available to rent and use.

What better way to end the day, after a nice walk, than with a passionfruit flavoured ice-cream!