Together with the OTC dish, the Fascine is probably the most photographed and publicised area of Carnarvon. I suspect there is a very good reason for this....it is one of the few places around the town where a real effort has been made to 'tart the place up', although, as we shall see, like many public areas, the job is incomplete.
Let me provide some perspective with this (somewhat grainy) overview shot taken from the Internet.
In 1896 the southern arm of the Gascoyne River flooded over Olivia Terrace, the roadway which runs parallel with the water, resulting is substantial damage. Shortly after that event, the eastern bank of the river was raised and reinforced using a wooden pile system and it is from this that the area gets its name.
As noted in the tourist information pamphlet, 'Fascine' actually means "water held back by a pile of sticks", and although the more recent engineering of the banks has relied on much more substantial metal sheeting, the name has been retained.
Again quoting from the Carnarvon brochure, "stately palms line the water way, making it a lovely spot for a picnic or a stroll. The sunset views are magnificent and you may even see a dolphin".....all very inviting, particularly for visitors from the eastern states who do not have the pleasure of watching the sun set over water. I'll let you be the judge of the accuracy or otherwise of the claim about the stately palms.
Carnarvon's main street, Robinson Street (got it right this time!) ends at the Fascine where it forms a junction with Olivia Terrace
here seen looking to the north west,
North of the junction, beautifully maintained terraced lawns
come to an end at a very well appointed BBQ area and playground, just beyond which
we come to the pathway leading to
a short, lifting bridge and the old tram causeway beyond.
The causeway provides a great vantage spot from which to take in views in all directions. Just north of the bridge, the waterway of the southern arm of the Gascoyne divides around this point.
One dredged, dead end channel runs alongside the northern end of Olivia Terrace and provides a water outlook for some of the large and prestigious houses which are a feature of this small area of Carnarvon.
On the other other side of the point, the southern arm of the Gascoyne stretches away to the north where it peters out on the tidal flatlands.
Here too, large homes have been built to take in the views. This is without a doubt, the Carnarvon version of 'knob hill' and it stands in stark contrast to much of the rest of the Carnarvon residential areas.
Looking southwards, the northern end of the Fascine embankment can be seen, and, panning slightly to the right,
the main channel which serves as a safe anchorage for a number of yachts and other pleasure craft.
Before we continue south along Olivia Terrace, let me share with you one of the oddest ornithological sights we have ever seen. As you would expect, seagulls are a part of Carnarvon's wild birdlife, as are corellas. But flocking together?
I am somewhat disappointed with this shot, but if you do look closely, you can see that the birds in the bare patch under the tree are corellas whilst the remainder are silver gulls. The corellas roost in their (destructive) hundreds in the Fascine palms and other nearby trees and these joint gatherings are common.....well here at least.
The northern end of Olivia Terrace is home to these fine holiday apartments which stand alongside one of the old Carnarvon 'colonials' (with the Police radio tower lancing upwards behind it)
But sadly, south of the Robinson Street junction, the amenity of the Fascine deteriorates significantly where the beautifully grassed terraces of the northern area give way to bare earth alongside the cement walkway.
But there is a bright spot in this area. Next to the lawns of the Pioneer Park
stands the Carnarvon Hotel, a watering hole which, on the two occasions we have indulged ourselves, lives up to its reputation of serving large and very tasty meals.
Just beyond the Carnarvon Hotel the wall of the Fascine sweeps towards its southern end
where it terminates at another playground, albeit one of a lesser standard than its counterpart at the opposite end of the embankment.
This spot presents an example of something I cannot understand about the thinking of the local authorities. It is obvious that this area has been laid with lawn. I know that water is a relatively scarce commodity here in Carnarvon, but given the limited public areas under grass, it seems to me that to allow large tracts of it to die through sheer lack of water (as I suspect is the case) demonstrates either poor initial planning or inadequate public resource management.
But enough of my civic whinging....let's move on.
At the southern end of the Fascine wall, the buildings of the boat harbour area rise along the bank of the southern arm of the Gascoyne. In the far distance are the low sand hills of the sandy point which extends south from the One Mile Jetty to the southern mouth of the Gascoyne.
On the opposite bank across what must be about half a mile of water, stand the buildings of the Pelican Point Resort, a mere hop across the water, but a good 5 or more kilometres from here by road around the waters of the Fascine and thence through the town, across the Babbage Island causeway, past the One Mile and south along the Pelican Point Road.
We have yet to indulge in the suggested viewing of the sunset over the Fascine, a 'tourist must' for visitors to Carnarvon.....it's on the pre-departure list!
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