Our explorer delves into this area of early white settlement in the Canberra region.
'It's often called brain fruit, due to its similar appearance to the organ,'' explains Mark Stockall, as he plucks another of the strange green balls from the tree above us. ''Due to their strong, but flexible branches, native American Indians used the timber from osage trees like this one for bow making,'' adds Mark, my guide for the morning, who seems to know this relatively unknown patch of land on the northern fringes of Fraser like the back of his hand.
An osage orange at the old Charnwood estate Photo courtesy: John Evans
Mark is the great-great-great-grandson of Henry Hall (yes, that Hall after whom the nearby village is named) who settled this land (over 1200ha of it) as Charnwood Estate less than a decade after the first European explorers forged their way south to present-day Canberra.
''Henry and his wife Mary occupied the property for 40 years from 1833 to 1873, raising 11 children,'' says Mark, who recently embarked on a personal quest to uncover as much as possible about this site, and the life and times of his pioneering relative.
Henry and Mary Hall. Photo: L Smith (1875)
Although bows (nor arrows, for that matter) weren't exactly in high demand around here in the 1800s, it is likely that the osages were planted for another of their uses - windbreaks, Mark reveals.
We wander along the paths (mown into the precinct) all the while on the lookout for snakes that must surely emerge from the plentiful long grass at this time of year to soak up some sun. Thankfully, we don't see any and while walking up the hill and away from the creek, Mark explains that Hall farmed Charnwood with a variety of stock including sheep, cattle, dairy cows, angora goats, donkeys, fox-hounds and even high-class Arabian horses. ''The horses were not so much for racing, but as utility horses with pace and endurance,'' Mark says.
Soon we reach a grove of old conifers - the site of the homestead.
''It was demolished in the 1970s due to poor condition and problems with squatters and vandalism,'' Mark laments.
Apart from the ageing pines, the homestead site is hard to miss due to some especially large quince and olive trees (which still bear fruit), one of which is the largest olive tree I've ever seen.
Mark Stockall is dwarfed by the giant olive tree. Photo: Tim the Yowie Man
''It's got to be the biggest in Canberra,'' boasts Mark, dwarfed by its size as he stands underneath it. ''This is a popular spot for kids to play and locals to walk their dogs, but until recently most would have been completely oblivious as to the site's significance,'' says Mark, who is encouraged to see some interpretive signage that has recently been erected by the ACT Government.
If you are a history buff or just looking for a new part of Canberra to explore, a ramble for an hour or so through this historic precinct is a worthwhile one.
FACT FILE
Site of the Old Charnwood Homestead: In the open land between Shakespeare Crescent and Hall's Creek, opposite Rogers Street, in Fraser.
Warning: Do not eat osage fruit. They are inedible and eating them may cause vomiting.
Did You Know? There is a theory that the osage fruit was eaten by a giant ground sloth that became extinct shortly after the first human settlement of North America.
MAILBAG
KOALAS
Last week's photo of a koala and a German shepherd (Alsatian), brought back memories for a number of readers, including Charmian Lawson, of Holder.
''We used to get a ferry from North Quay along the Brisbane River to the Lone Pine Sanctuary. The koala and dog used to be at the landing stage to greet people when they arrived at the Sanctuary. We thought it was very sweet to see the two of them, with the koala clinging on quite tightly to the dog's neck and back,'' Charmian recalls.
Jane Malcolm, of Kambah, who even dug up this old photo of her posing with the koala in the mid-1950s, says, ''I guess it was among the star attractions because we probably didn't need as much to excite us back in the '50s! It was the 'done thing' to have at least one photo taken in your lifetime with a koala, or if you were brave, or an adult (or both) with a carpet snake draped around your neck. I remember an uncle did this once and we were all very impressed!''
Jane Malcolm poses for the obligatory photo with koala at Lone Pine Sanctuary, circa 1955
Ken Wood, of Holt, clearly remembers his April 1959 visit to the sanctuary. ''The introducer of the star attraction said, 'If anybody has not seen a dog with a bare [sic] behind, here comes one now' which went over very well with the onlookers. It could be the same German shepherd (Alsatian) as they were called then that featured in your column last week,'' Ken says.
SPOTTED
ALBINO MAGPIE
Earlier this week, Denise Wilson, this column's ultra- observant Southern Highlands correspondent, snapped this photo of an albino magpie at Kangaloon (not far from Robertson). ''It has pink beak, pink legs and white eyes - a dead-set full albino,'' Denis reports. ''I spoke with a woman who lives nearby, who it turns out knows the bird, and said it had been around for about six years.'' You often hear stories of albino birds and animals having low survival rates, owing to their high visibility, and being ostracised by other members of their species. However, the age of this magpie would suggest ''it's surviving well in the wild,'' Denis says.
Robertson's albino magpie. Photo courtesy: Denis Wilson
CONTACT TIM
Got a comment on today's stories or an unusual photo? Email: timtheyowieman@bigpond.com or Twitter: @TimYowie or write to me c/o The Canberra Times, 9 Pirie Street, Fyshwick.
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