Takes you on a journey through Bowral visiting some of the historic sites associated with Sir Donald Bradman A.C.
Places of interest are clearly marked along the route
The walk is 1.7km and takes about 45 minutes
1. Bradman Museum
The Museum is located on Glebe Park adjacent to Bradman Oval, which is the home of cricket in Bowral. The Bradman Museum was opened by the Hon. John Howard M.P., Prime Minister of Australia, on 27 August 1996, Sir Donald's 88th birthday.
2. Commemorative Gateway
The gateway was built to honour Sir Donald Bradman on his 90th birthday, 27 August 1998. It was just near the gateway that the original clubhouse for the Bowral Cricket Club stood. The Bowral Cricket Club was formed in 1883 and cricket has been played on this ground since 1891.
3. St Simon and St Judes Anglican Church
The Bradman family attended the St Judes Church. For a number of years the young Don Bradman sang in the church choir.
4. The Bowral Public School
Bradman attended this school from 1913 to 1922. The school bell and post that Bradman and his school fellows used as a wicket is still standing. At the age of 12, in his second game of cricket for the school, he took eight wickets and scored 115 not out against Mittagong Public School.
5. The Empire Cinema
It was in this theatre on 3 March 1930, that Bowral staged a civic reception and dance to farewell Bradman before embarking on his first tour to England. During the proceedings Bradman was presented with a silver tray from the people of Bowral.
6. 276 Bong Bong St
In 1922 Bradman went to work in this building as a clerk for Percy Westbrook's Real Estate agency. Bradman worked in this office until September 1928 when he accepted the position of secretary of a new office Westbrook established in Sydney.
7. Corbett Gardens
On 4 November 1930 Bowral turned out to welcome their conquering son after his excellent performance in The Ashes series. The park was decorated with flags and bunting and Bradman addressed his home town crowd from the bandstand in the gardens. This has since been rebuilt.
8. 52 Shepherd St
The Bradman's lived in this house from 1911 to 1924. It was in the backyard of this house that Don Bradman played his now famous ball game against the tank stand. The tank stand was demolished years ago when town water was supplied to Bowral. Now a private residence.
9. 20 Glebe St
The Bradman family moved into this house in 1924. Don Bradman lived here until he moved to Sydney in 1928. The Bradman Foundation owns this house and have restored the exterior to its original state.
10. Bradman Oval
Formally The Glebe Wicket, Bradman first played on this oval when he was 12 and scored 29 not out for the Bowral Cricket Club. One of the most memorable games on this ground was in 1925 when Bradman scored 234 in the afternoon against the Wingello team that included Bill O'Reilly. In 1947 the oval was renamed Bradman Oval
|