A total of 297,900 births were registered in Australia in 2010, the highest number of births ever registered in a calendar year.

Despite this record number of births, Australia’s total fertility rate dropped slightly to 1.89 babies per woman, down from a recent high of 1.96 in 2008.

The Northern Territory had the highest fertility rate, at 2.11 babies per woman, while Victoria had the lowest at 1.75. The Northern Territory and Tasmania had the youngest mothers, where fertility rates were highest for women aged 25–29 years, compared with the rest of Australia where rates were highest for women aged 30–34 years.

The average age of a mother in 2010 was 30.7 years; first-time mums averaged 28.9 years, and the average dad, 33.1. All these ages have increased slightly from 2009.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

The old court house in Berrima, now a museum. Photo taken 16 Sept 2011

Pinnacles Desert, Cervantes, Western Australia

Bowral, Southern Highlands NSW

Bowral Road, Mittagong, Berrima District, NSW 14/03/11

Viewed from Darling Harbour walkway.

Bowral in the Southern Highlands, NSW is rich in rural tradition and famous for its elegant, four-season, European lifestyle.

Bowral is nestled in the rich volcanic soil of a majestic rich valley, nearly 700 metres above sea level.

The winery that became famous for its champagne, Penfolds, now stands pathetically (actually about to collapse) waiting for a decision on what would replace it in its place.

Photo taken from corner of Minchin Drive and Barossa Street, Minchinbury.

Lennox Bridge, the oldest bridge on the Australian mainland, was built in 1833. It is located at Mitchell Pass about 1 kilometre off the Great Western Highway at Blaxland in the Blue Mountains.