Cooma's own example of brutalist concrete moulding.
I daresay the lower part of the structure is a bench, but I have never seen anyone use it.
I have been pondering how to structure future posts in this series, and have decided to choose loosely grouped subjects, radiating out each time from the central point of Centennial Park in Cooma. For this installment I have chosen monuments pertaining to Cooma's past. It seems, on writing, that there is a theme of drinking and water as well.The monuments in this exciting episode are in or near the park, and celebrate interesting past aspects of the township of Cooma. The first, commemorating Alexander Bookalil, a long-serving past alderman and local businessman, is located at the edge of a public car park adjoining Centennial Park in Massie Street. Not noted on the plaque in the photo below is that the car park in question is situated on the site of Bookalil's cordial factory.Informative plaque, which however lacks some interesting information.
Of much historical interest; Bookalils soft drink caps used to good effect in this historic lagerphone Older readers may remember a time when every country town had a cordial factory producing fizzy drinks for local consumption. The photo above shows one of Cooma's most historic and interesting items; a lagerphone made from a broomstick and many authentic Bookalil's fizzy drink bottle tops. This item was last seen in Cooma Public School, and I sincerely hope it is still there. For the puzzled, a lagerphone is a percussion instrument operated by thumping it rhythmically on the floor in time to music, and is particularly useful at bush dances. I have played with bands where this very lagerphone was used. It is valuable because the bottle tops are such an ephemeral item that it is extremely doubtful that any others still exist. The name lagerphone stems from the usual use of beer bottle tops in the construction of the instrument.Cooma's first public water supply pump, of unspecified date. Not connected.
The second historical marker is Cooma's actual first public water supply pump. This is found adjacent to the bus shelter on the Bombala Street side of the park. It was installed with a Bicentennial grant and comemorates the free supply of water to residents. The creek is nearby, but a pump provides a little more convenience for what must have been a very small village at the time of installation (possibly mid 19th century, although no date is mentioned on the accompanying plaque).Also of interest in the background of this photo is the bus shelter, of recent construction. I like it a lot. The glass roof allows winter sunshine to warm waiting passengers, and heaters are provided for colder days. Regular buses connect with regional destinations (information at nearby visitors centre).
About 100 metres away, adjoining the Woolworths car park (car parking is rarely a problem in Cooma) is an old house, somewhat cramped by the very close cropping of its block by the parking. A low-lying section of the building faces the north eastern side of the car park (behind Centrelink). This house was once part of a mill complex that served Cooma - presumably grinding grains. It is privately owned. Across the creek on a small flood plain was the location of market gardens which operated into living memory - this area can be seen from the walking track that follows the creek from near the Bombala/Massie St intersection, a lovely walk. It seems that climate changes in the last 150 years or so, as well as changes in technology and lifestyle, have rendered these things obselete, but I would like to see vegetables grown locally, even on a small scale and with limited variety. The block has recently been partly developed with townhouses.
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