Balranald 8 October 2009

We spent the morning looking around Hay and buying a few things to support the town. It has survived the drought and is making a big effort to attract travellers to the town. We had a look at the old (now disused) railway station and a small museum dedicated to the many foreigners interned here during the war. The irony of locking up Jewish refugees because the authorities thought they were Nazis, was not lost on us. Also had a look at the old gaol which had served many purposes. The last use (until 1974) was for a girl’s gaol. The old goal cells were painted pink or blue and had all the iron furniture bolted to the floor - it would have been too awful to imagine! We headed off towards Mildura, stopping at Balranald. Changed our plan at that point and decided to go straight out to Lake Mungo to ensure we did not feel too stretched for time. Drove out on a very desolate road and stopped by the side of the road close to a slight depression that must have been an old lake - flat saltbush and bluebush everywhere. It was a beautiful quiet night with one of the best sunsets. It reminded us of a similar night on the side of the road near Roxby Downs.