Back in August 2026, Bob and myself had visited two historic horse troughs that had been removed from their original location in Royal National Park and dumped at the NPWS tip at Artillery Hill. We had hoped that heritage items like these troughs would have had had a better fate. But apparently due to lobbying by the Friends of Bills Horse Troughs, the National Parks and Wildlife Service had decided to place the two horse troughs at Allambie Flat at Audley. This they had done, and they were having a ceremony to mark their new home.
The first of the troughs is a Bills Horse Trough –
A professional stone mason had been employed to work on the troughs and he has done an amazing job, removing algae and repairing chips.
The second horse trough was made by Richard Taylor of Marrickville.
Native plants are now growing in the troughs.
The ceremony was followed by a nice afternoon tea.
I had travelled down with Valerie to Audley in the morning, and we later met up with Bob. Valerie and myself had earlier visited Wattle Forest where we observed some nice birds.
White-bellied Sea Eagle
The Hacking River at Wattle Forest –
Grey Fantail
Eastern Yellow Robin
Grey Fantail
Green Catbird
We also met up with Brian Everingham, and had lunch at one of the picnic tables before heading to Allambie Flat for the ceremony.