Orange Town

A sizeable chunk of Caloundra town centre has been painted orange. This has become somewhat contentious, as nearby local businesses think it's not the right colour for a respectable neighbourhood, and it's been going on too long and lowering the tone!

The local paper reported that it was conceived as a publicity stunt for a soon-to-materialise redevelopment project. But planning and approval issues have delayed the promised demolition.

Queensland Air Museum

 

I went to see the Queensland Air Museum the other day. It's in Caloundra, at the old aerodrome.

 

It's packed full of old planes, civil and military, in various states of disrepair. Aviation enthusiasts love it, I'm sure.

 

 

I specially liked the exhibits that commemorated various defunct airlines. Australia has a particularly rich aviation history, and lots of brave ventures have come and gone.

 

 

I got to pondering what exactly constitutes a 'museum'. If it's a collection of old stuff, then this is quite a museum. 

 

But if it's to do with a careful 'curated' display of old things, with attention to education, aesthetics, and comfortable sense of space, then maybe this place doesn't quite get there?

 

 

Some of it is rather jumbled and higgledy-piggledy, let's face it.

 

There's a similar museum in NSW's Illawarra, called the HARS Aviation Museum. That was a much better organised kettle of fish, I thought.

Four out of ten to this one then.

'City of Colour'?

 
A lot gets written about Aura, the Sunshine Coast's new city, where used to be the swamps and paddocks of South Caloundra.

It's very planned, it's very publicised, and when it's finished, it may well be something special. Not sure yet.

 

I went down there today to investigate, especially the part of it called Nirimba. I climbed up the viewing tower they've erected, which gave me fine views of the Glasshouse Mountains to the west. I'm not sure how many residents will get these views though. The houses a bit packed together.

Sunny Coast's only ocean pool??

This is Kings Beach's 'Beachfront Saltwater Pool' in Caloundra. I think it's well worth a visit, but.....  I'm told it's the Sunshine Coast's only such thing!

I've promised not to dwell too often on any negatives, any failing to match the standards set by my former former home, Sydney. But I do need to put on the record my disappointment regarding saltwater ocean pools. Sydney has about 40 of them, and NSW in total about 100. They're by far the best place to swim. Who really enjoys battling the surf at the beach, and splashing around for a few minutes before beating a quick retreat, having failed to swim more than three strokes at a time? Well it seems there's only this one 'beachfront saltwater pool' on the whole Sunshine Coast!

Put me  in charge and I'll fix this!