Milking a Monotreme

 

The Southern Highlands are a popular tourist spot known for its wine, art galleries and scenic views.  I travelled to Bowral New South Wales (NSW) Australia, located 90 minutes South West from Sydney.  Bowral is on Gundungurra Country, the traditional owners of the land.  My reason for visiting Bowral was to see the beautiful Nocturnal exhibition (July 1st-August 1st 2022) by artist Renee Mitchell at the Milk Factory Gallery (located at 33 Station Street Bowral NSW).  The exhibition features marvellous black and white paintings of animals, where some are decorated with jewellery. Photography was limited within the exhibition but you can view the exhibition online here .  I did take a photo of my favourite artwork by Renee Mitchell entitled Platyburrakookapus featuring a lovely platypus. Check out more of Renee's art here.  

Also at the gallery were wonderful sculptures by Chris Gavins, featuring swimming platypuses. 

Chris Gavins - 'Platypus on Boulder Opal' (sourced from Milk Factory Gallery Website)

Continuing my search for art I visited the newly opened Ngununggula gallery located in East Bowral within the grounds of the historic Retford Park. Ngunnggula means belonging in the Gundungurra language.  Each year the gallery selects a First Nations artist for their work to be displayed in the entry Pavilion of Ngunnggula.  This year's artist was Megan Cope a Quandamooka woman (First Nations People located  Moreton Bay in Southeastern Queensland).  Megan worked along side local First Nations community artists to create a stunning artwork that celebrates the nature and culture found around the region. Check out Megan's website here.

 

Also within the site of Ngununggula is the Retford Park estate and gardens. It was built in 1887 for Samuel Hordern and his family. The house is in a Victorian Italianate style and was designed by Albert Bond. Read more about the history of the house here. House and garden tours are available on weekends. 

Bowral is also known for where Sir Donald Bradman an Australian cricketer grew up. I passed the Bradman oval on my walk to Ngununggula.  

The scenery of Bowral is also lovely, below are some bird life I found while on my walk to Ngununggula along the Mittagong Creek.

Corellas

Australian Wood ducks

Crimson rosella

Bowral is a lovely place to visit in any season and has a great variety of shops and cafes. It is also only a 90 minutes train ride from Sydney. Thank you for reading. Below is more video footage from my trip too.