Not so Biggenden

The further we headed away from the coast, the more the country changed, through scrubby bush to more open grazing land, until beautiful Mount Walsh loomed up on the horizon, indicating that Biggenden was close.

Our research indicated that there was only one op-shop in town, Lifeline, and that it was in the main street. We drove up and down and couldn't spot it. There was, however, a new/second-hand shop called Jeni's Treasures that was close to the spot.  Jeni informed us that the Lifeline authorities had recently closed the Biggenden store because it wasn't making enough money. ''I told them it was a mistake", she said.  Too right! It was the attraction that had brought us to Biggenden (oh, all right; and the beer).

There is another drawcard, however.  On our way into town, we had passed a house with the most beautiful (and large) rose garden.  Along the main street were many more roses, all in bloom.  And there was also a rather startling piece of street artwork, in the shape of a giant metal (rusty) rose.  It turned out we had just missed the annual Biggenden Rose Festival.

Anyway, Jeni had no treasures for me (Jan found something), and the girls needed that beer.  So off to the Grand we went, where the beer was cold (so was my G&T), and on the wall was mounted the biggest mud crab I have ever seen, caught by a local in 1983.

We then continued west towards Ban Ban Springs, commenting that sadly Biggenden seems to be a town in decline.  If you can't support a single op-shop, you must be in trouble.