Moonambel Common is a great place to stop by with the family while exploring or passing through the Moonambel area.
This site features a small, shady playground, an undercover barbecue and picnic area, a historical portable police lock up, an artistic sun dial, and a series of interesting signs.
Other facilities include toilets, rubbish bins, and bench seating.
Playground at Moonambel Common
The children's playground at Moonambel Common is partially set beneath a shade sail, and is within an area of chip bark.
A double swing set sits out in the sun while a small fort with slide, counting beads, and shop front is set beneath the shade sail.
A springer toy is alongside the fort.
Picnics and barbecues at Moonambel Common
A picnic area is set beneath a shelter alongside the playground, and features a rustic picnic table and a barbecue.
The shelter has a wall behind the barbecue to act as a wind break. The floor is paved with brick.
Moonambel Gold Discovery Monument
A large piece of quartz is set at Moonambel Common with a plaque commemorating the discovery of gold in Mountain Creek, Moonambel.
The plaque displays the following text:
The community of Moonambel, in conjunction with the Pyrenees Shire, commemorates 150 years since gold was discovered by James & John Thomas at Mountain Creek/Moonambel in November 1860.
Unveiled by a member of the Keith Farnsworth family 31st October 2010
Portable lock up
This restored
portable lock up stands in the Moonambel Common, where
visitors can learn about the building's fascinating history through a
series of beautifully presented information signs.
Portable lock ups such as this one were designed to be dismantled and
reassembled at new locations, following populations of people who moved
from place to place with the gold rushes.
While early records have been lost, a charge book covering the
period 1883 - 1914 provides details of 53 people who were detained in
the lock up, including name, age, date of detainment, country of origin,
calling, charge, and remarks.
Moonambel Public Sun Dial
An interesting and artistic sun dial is set at the back of the park, and two information signs share the following text:
This is a "horizontal", "analemmatic" or "movable" pointer sundial, also known as a "sun-dial of human involvement".
The position of the pointer (gnomon) is moved according to the month.
It describes the figure of eight (anelemmatic) path marked out by the sun each year.
Instructions
- When the sun shines, place your right foot on the month spot
- Raise right arm vertically. The shadow points to the time
- Add on 1 hour during daylight saving
- If cloudy enjoy the views of the mountains and surrounding historic building and use your watch instead.
Disclaimer - I am a sun dial and make a botch, of what's done far better by any watch
BBQ
Moonambel
