I am very ambivalent about Autumn. Part of me loves the swirling storms of red and yellow leaves, crunching through kaleidoscope carpets, the almost mesmeric colours in trees or underfoot. Then, part of me laments winter’s onslaught just around the corner – I am not a winter person.
The Cascade Gardens, where we begin Louisa’s journey, is breathtakingly beautiful clothed in all its Autumn colours and nestled beneath the mountain. Cameras are nearly always brought out to recall Louisa’s story but also to get some really good photo-opportunities, especially as the group returns on the homeward journey with the famous Brewery building providing the backdrop to it all. I find myself thinking in Autumn cliches to describe the colours and the twirling of the leaves. As we gather around one of the picnic tables to toast the memory of the women, children and babies we are rained on by leaves and it is a magical, almost mystical experience. I want to run through the leaf drifts like a child and throw them up into the air.
Louisa’s Walk is often described as “original”, “unique” “different” and it is certainly not for those seeking your average, commercial experience. Louisa’s Walk is personal and even quirky (I love that word!). The quirkiness was evident today; as we begin we often coincide with one of the brewery workers knocking off his shift. As he strolls through the gardens on his way home, he plays a tin whistle (many of our audience assume he is part of our show!) but no, he is just one of the delightful, slightly eccentric South Hobartians who live in this quirky part of Hobart. The “whistler” appeared today and cast his Hamlyn spell, then at the top of Degraves Street the mushrooms are out! These appear just once-a-year and they are more correctly called “toadstools” but they are the kind where you honestly expect a pixie to appear. All red and white and spotted! Then there is “the leprechaun” which Louisa so delightedly spots on the way to the Female Factory and the brown trout which obligingly appears in the Hobart Rivulet almost on cue every day.
We did an early show today for Forest Primary School, so early that the Female Factory was not open and we had to use our special key! Then another show this afternoon at our usual time. But tomorrow – I am flying to Adelaide for my daughter’s graduation ceremony so, any one who wants to experience Louisa’s Walk will be disappointed. Back on Friday!
One Comment
On our tassie holiday we saw so many wonderful things, yet all our family feel that going on “Louisa’s Walk” was the best part of the trip. It was an entertaining way to understand history, but was also so engaging, rivetting and could honestly be described as an amazing experience. Our group thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, and I didn’t realise till the end, when talking to the others who came along,that a lady in our group was a history professor from the mainland. It was a fascinating and great way to learn about Tasmania and its history. I would thoroughly recommend it to others.