Lake Benalla
Along Lake Benalla's tranquil 4.25 kilometre track you will find inspiration in diverse and picturesque landscapes from the serene lake to meandering rivers, the exquisitely manicured botanical gardens to remnant river red gum forest, the indigenous community garden to Jaycee Island with its magnificent towering Moreton bay figs and exotic Bunya Bunya pines.
Lake Benalla and the surrounding waterways are inhabited by many native fish and other animals including platypus, rakali (water rat) and three species of native turtles (Eastern Snake-necked Turtle, Broad-shelled Turtle and Murray River Turtle). Many different species of birds also frequent the area. They are most likely to be observed at dawn or dusk. However they may also be active during the day.
Explore the arts and heritage of Benalla with the outstanding Benalla Art Gallery, the Costume and Kelly Museum, the eye catching Gaudi-esque ceramic mural and the analemmatic sundial - all positioned conveniently along the lake.
Benalla Analemmatic Sundial
The Benalla Sundial of Human Involvement is a rare example of an analemmatic sundial. It looks like a semi-circle of standing stones but is one of the oldest ways of accurately telling 'clock' time. Its invention is credited to the great astronomer and mathematician, Claudius Ptolemy. The Benalla sundial was built to mark the centenary in 2005 of Rotary International. It is called the Sundial of Human Involvement because it relies on the shadow cast by a person to show the time.
You'll find the sundial overlooking Lake Benalla, adjacent to the Walking Path and upstream from the bridge.
What is an Analemmatic Sundial?
Analemmatic sundials register sun time and were first used in the second century AD. An analemma is a curve that plots the changing position of the sun's shadow from a specific point on earth, located by its longitude and latitude. In this case. that point is Benalla. You will recognise the figure of eight shape at the centre of the sundial.
How does it work?
Have you ever noticed that the middle of the day. (when the sun is at its highest point). doesn't always coincide with noon on your watch? In fact. if you were to track the position of the sun at noon every day for 12 months, you would find that it takes a path through the sky shaped like a figure eight (the analemma curve). This is because our earth is tilted on its axis and orbits the sun in an ellipse rather than a circle.
Constructing the sundial
Designed to look like an early analemmatic sundial, the Benalla sundial is in part constructed using basaltic rocks placed adjacent to the engraved tiles marking the hours. Apart from giving the sundial its sculptural form, the rocks are unique geological specimens found on property in the Benalla region and generously donated by the landholder. The reason for their elongated shapes is not understood.
Using the sundial
Stand on the analemma at today's date. For example, if the date is 30 April, stand at the end of the point engraved April. Your shadow will show the time. The hours of the day are shown as Roman Numerals.
The sundial is usually accurate to within fifteen minutes all year - but don't forget to add one hour during daylight savings.
Reading Roman Numerals
V is the hour 5am, VI is the hour 6am, VII is the hour 7am, VIII is the hour 8am, IX is the hour 9am, X is the hour 10am, XI is the hour 11am, XII is the hour 12 Noon, XIII is the hour 13 or 1pm, XIV is the hour 14 or 2pm, XV is the hour 15 or 3pm, XVI is the hour 16 or 4pm, XVII is the hour 17 or 5pm, XVIII is the hour 18 or 6pm, XIX is the hour 19 or 7pm and XX is the hour 20 or 8pm.
Review:
The whole Benalla Lake area is a great place to spend a few hours.
The Information Centre is close by in Mair Street. Pick up a brochure titled "Benalla Lake Walk". There are three walks of varying lengths possible along the lake shores because there is a bridge traversing the middle of the lake. The total distance around the lake is 4.25 km (45-90 minute duration) and there is a scenic short option (start at the Ceramic Mural and go to the right which is 1.85 km) or a Bushland Short option (start at the Ceramic Mural and go to the left which is 2.4 km).
Near the bridge is the Ceramic Mural, which is a beautiful artwork for the parents and a great play space for the kids.
As you move to the left around the lake there is an analemmatic sundial, some BBQs, tables scattered about, a BMX track and Skate Park. The track passes across Jaycee Island which has a few swings (without safety chain), an old-fashioned see-saw and shelter with BBQ and table. The walk through bushland is very pleasant and there are benches along the way for rest stops.
When you reach the bridge there is a free Art Gallery with a nice cafe with indoors and outdoors seating. Further along the lake is an Indigenous Community Garden and Fish Ladder. From the Art Gallery, you pass the Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop Memorial ("When despair and death reached out to us Weary Dunlop stood fast, a lighthouse of sanity in a universe of madness and suffering") and the Benalla Botanical Gardens along Bridge Street before reaching the playground.
Photos:
Location
4 Mair Street, Benalla 3671 Map
