Sovereign Hill

This is the cockatoo, common in Australia and with a loud "caw caw" that competes with the magpies in the morning.  An acquaintance in Canberra said it is a "right, proper bird, not some little brown European thing."

Today I flew to Melbourne and then took a bus to the central Victoria countryside, to Ballarat, one of the first gold fields towns.  Very pretty drive up and a charming B&B in town.  Sunny and warm (high 80s).

I spent the afternoon at Sovereign Hill, a recreation of the gold district, complete with costumed enactors, an underground gold mine tour (sold out), a gold panning experience (whatever), and a Chinese camp.