{"id":2170,"date":"2021-10-29T19:58:53","date_gmt":"2021-10-29T08:58:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meganix.net\/pavement\/?p=2170"},"modified":"2021-10-29T19:58:55","modified_gmt":"2021-10-29T08:58:55","slug":"watershed-moments-excursion-3-revelations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meganix.net\/pavement\/2021\/10\/29\/watershed-moments-excursion-3-revelations\/","title":{"rendered":"WATERSHED MOMENTS. EXCURSION 3. REVELATIONS."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

4 July 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I began my circumambulation of the Johnstons Creek catchment rim I was prepared for the unexceptional. Unlike last year’s explorations of the creek itself \u00e2\u20ac\u201c when I found offbeat backstreets and mini banana jungles \u00e2\u20ac\u201c on this series of excursions I expected that only the occasional quirky garden ornament or letterbox would relieve the familiarity of the suburbs I passed through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

To some extent this is turning out to be the case, but on this third excursion I have a moment of revelation, and I also come across very large infrastructure treasure that somehow I had overlooked in all the years I have lived in the inner west of Sydney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started where the imaginary catchment line emerges from between two small, pretty and unremarkable brick houses in a style common to this neighbourhood of Stanmore. Nothing much is going on in the street except for an elderly woman taking in some sun on this cold but bright day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I stand in the middle of the road and look southeast down the slope. From here I can see across to the other side of Stanmore, and beyond that what must be the telecom tower on the opposite ridge in King Street, Newtown. I am surprised to realise I am looking across the valley of Johnstons Creek. This may seem obvious \u00e2\u20ac\u201c I am, after all, standing on the catchment rim \u00e2\u20ac\u201c but momentarily I understand the topography of the area without the distractions of urbanisation. There is no way I can properly capture what I am seeing in a mobile phone photograph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I do not walk down the slope, but keep following the ridge as best I can as it winds between houses, across streets, down back lanes. I am getting closer to the less respectable surrounds of Parramatta Road; graffiti and garage-door murals are starting to appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Then, beyond the Seventh Day Adventist Church, I spot another surprise. It is the top of a tall, brick sewer vent.                                                  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

My route takes me through more twists and turns until I come to the entrance of Percival Lane. And there, on the next corner, is the magnificent sewer vent standing in the front yard of a little house. White wisps of condensation float from the chimney into the cold blue sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Just half an hour ago I had a flash of insight into this area’s geomorphology. But now I have reverted to admiring the monumental accoutrements of civilisation.  Later I will read that this is a ‘classicist late Victorian sewer vent’ with Sydney Water heritage number 4572732.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have had enough excitement for the day and resolve to resume my walk on an overcast day when I can get photos of the vent and its house without the dappled shadows cast by street trees. I return to the car via a lane beside the Seventh Day Adventist Church, where earlier I noticed a rustic little table in a throwout pile. I will use it as a plant stand in my backyard.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Just half an hour ago I had a flash of insight into this area’s geomorphology. But now I have reverted to admiring the monumental accoutrements of civilisation. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2178,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[177,78,28,76,178,150],"tags":[3,38,173,7],"class_list":["post-2170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-architecture","category-city","category-gardens","category-suburbia","category-topography","category-watercourses","tag-graffiti","tag-stanmore","tag-suburbia","tag-sydney"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t