A nostalgic trip to my hometown.....

It’s been a long time since I was in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia—a long time. Situated two hours south of Sydney, a lot has changed from when I was a lad. We all have childhood memories, but the reality is that as children, we see things very differently and hence those memories can be distorted. This turned out to be so true in my case.

Take for example our house. 22 Argyle Street.

I had no problem finding it—my brain GPS system has hardwired it from childhood—but I had to look twice. What I remember as a big house was actually quite modest.

It has four bedrooms—there were large families in those days, and I was the third of four children. And people change things. Where is the nasty briar bush that we always lost our cricket balls in. Where is the rose bushes that lined the fence? What happened to the garage?

Oh! They turned it around by 90 degrees. And the paint colour has changed from the last time I painted it. My grandparents' house in Albert Street was much as I remembered it but a lot smaller.

That barn was huge as a child—as big as a house—well now I see it really is just a very large shed.

The hospital that had the honour of helping me into this world, or is that the wrong way around (hehe) has also shrunk. This was where I was born and later on had my tonsils out. I was also a regular visitor late at night with abscessed ears. Too painful to remember.

Look at my primary school – it was massive to me as a child.
Maybe they demolished part of it—actually no, they have added bits on—its larger.

I seem to remember it being many stories tall. But now it seems so small. But being founded in 1868—the time Baha'u'llah came to Akka in Israel—it is very old.

The High School
on the other hand looks exactly as I remember it.
After school I had a small casual job delivering medicines each day—working from a Chemist (Pharmacy) where I rode my push bike all over town delivering medicine to those who could not come to town to get it. It's no longer Allison's chemist
and the place I used to get 3 potato scallops for 5 cents is no longer a fish and chip shop. How can they destroy childhood memories like this!!!
The Methodist church in Goulburn is a real landmark, and although I went there for many years most Sundays, my memory of what I learnt is very limited, although the harvest festivals where the farmers brought in part of their produce such that it filled the church in a most vivid memory
This is where my dad used to work—the railway workshop—terrible conditions, being dark and deafeningly noisy in those days. Behind these were the hockey fields where I used to play on Saturday mornings. Up the hill further is “Rocky Hill”, quite an imaginative name, where the war memorial stands in tribute to those who gave their lives in the great war
—a real landmark for Goulburn and a place I used to hike to with “smiley” Brian Clack, who lived in 26 Argyle St. It was like climbing mount Everest in those days. The panoramic view is just one attraction.

Behind this is the Jewish Cemetery

– I was vaguely aware of a Synagogue when I lived in Goulburn but had no idea what it was.

Goulburn has many historical buildings and they are well preserved. Here is a selection.






The Evening Post - the local newspaper used to be the Penny Post, and it has been around for a long time.
Welcome rain fell the day we were there – but not so welcome for the “Goulburn Blues Festival” and small crowds who braved the cold February weather to see some talent from around Australia.
It was held in the main park in Auburn St. This park always has a lovely show of flowers.
It was Valentine's Day and all the restaurants were booked out, so I took my bride to the Paragon Café,
an iconic eatery where many a hungry traveller has found warmth and good food on a freezing winter’s night. It too was full, but we found a table and had a delightful meal.

Bryants still make pies - I did not endulge this time maybe next time - they are a Goulburn icon.
And so I said farewell to Goulburn after buying a dozen bottles of Hopes Cordial – the locally manufactured soft drink that I had on rare occasions as a kid. It still tasted the same – I guess this is one childhood memory that remains true to this day.

Ahhh, farewell Goulburn, probably for a long time, from a very grateful former citizen……