In the winter of 2010, The Ridges took to the mostly abandoned Athens Lunatic Asylum that bears their same name to record a 5-track, self-titled, "studio" release among the ancient halls, deteriorating wards and eerie operating rooms.
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The band's name, taken from the allegedly haunted local Victorian landmark that was formerly the Athens Asylum, speaks to the group's fascination with folklore and classical influences as well as their deep rooted connection to the city of Athens.
Oak Ridges Moraine | The Ridges Sanctuary | Stanley Ridges |
For the construction bricks were taken from a monastery, St. Clare's Priory near today's Sergels torg (Sankta Klara kloster) destroyed in 1527 and churches from the ridges surrounding the city was used.
In 1813, acting on the instructions of NSW Governor Lachlan Macquarie, Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth led an 1813 expedition that travelled west from Emu Plains and, by staying to the ridges, were able to confirm the existence of a passable route directly west from Sydney across the Blue Mountains.
The Ridges and other families joined the "Old Settlers" of the Cherokee Nation West under Principal Chief John Jolly.
Among the variety of plants and wildlife, Wood Rose or Dactylanthus taylorii, a rare and endangered parasitic flowering plant, can be found on the ridges of Mount Pirongia.