195609
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====== THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER ====== | ====== THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER ====== | ||
- | A monthly bulletin of matters of interest to the Sydmey | + | A monthly bulletin of matters of interest to the Sydney |
- | No.262 SEPTEMBER, 1956., Price 9d. | + | No.262 |
+ | |||
+ | SEPTEMBER, 1956 | ||
+ | |||
+ | Price 9d | ||
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Tom Moppett announced that the Caloola Club had produced Yarrawonda No.11 (proof copies had been handed round the Meeting), which described all National Parks and Faunal Reserves and areas suitable for reservation, | Tom Moppett announced that the Caloola Club had produced Yarrawonda No.11 (proof copies had been handed round the Meeting), which described all National Parks and Faunal Reserves and areas suitable for reservation, | ||
- | members might care to make donations to Club funds. The Treasurer reported that the expenditure of the £15 would be likely to cause, at worst, a deficit of only a few pounds provided there was no further unusual expenditure. Several members supported the motion and congratulated the Caloola Club on their production. | + | members might care to make donations to Club funds. The Treasurer reported that the expenditure of the £15 would be likely to cause, at worst, a deficit of only a few pounds provided there was no further unusual expenditure. Several members supported the motion and congratulated the Caloola Club on their production. |
Frank Ashdown suggested a £5 Life Membership subscription for Non-Active Members. | Frank Ashdown suggested a £5 Life Membership subscription for Non-Active Members. | ||
Line 54: | Line 58: | ||
The Meeting closed at 9.35 p.m. | The Meeting closed at 9.35 p.m. | ||
- | **SOCIAL PROGRAMME** | + | ===== SOCIAL PROGRAMME |
- | Wed. 27th SEPTEMBER: Bring your friends to see Ron Knightly' | + | Wed. 27th September: Bring your friends to see Ron Knightly' |
+ | |||
+ | ===== IMPORTANT TRANSPORT NOTICE ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | BUSHWALKERS REQUIRING TRANSPORT FROM BLACKHEATH ANY HOUR....RING, | ||
+ | 116 STATION STREET, BLACKHEATH | ||
+ | |||
+ | 24 HOUR SERVICE | ||
+ | |||
+ | BUSHWALKERS arriving late at night without transport booking can ring for car from Railway Station, or call at above address --- IT'S NEVER TOO LATE. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |PHONE: | ||
+ | |||
+ | FARES: | ||
+ | |KANANGRA WALLS|30/- per head (minimum 5 passengers)| | ||
+ | |PERRY' | ||
+ | |JENOLAN STATE FOREST|20/- per head (minimum 5 passengers)| | ||
+ | |CALRLON' | ||
+ | |||
+ | LOOK FOR T.C.3210 or PACKHARD T.V.270 | ||
Line 64: | Line 87: | ||
I left camp on Monday, 5th September - the place: the camping ground at Cairns - and headed north with rucksack on back, bound for Cooktown. The dews are quite heavy in this region; time is lost drying out the tent. | I left camp on Monday, 5th September - the place: the camping ground at Cairns - and headed north with rucksack on back, bound for Cooktown. The dews are quite heavy in this region; time is lost drying out the tent. | ||
- | It was a bright sunny morning and good walking along the Cook's Highway through a sea of sugarcane. With its pink plume-like flower it looked very impressive nodding in the bright northerly breeze. | + | |
- | The cutting was in full swing; lorries laden with cane were continualiy | + | It was a bright sunny morning and good walking along the Cook's Highway through a sea of sugarcane. With its pink plume-like flower it looked very impressive nodding in the bright northerly breeze. The cutting was in full swing; lorries laden with cane were continually |
- | 0 ly passing on their way to the sugar mill. On the return trip they would pull up and give me a lift. Between walking and lifts I reached Port Douglas by lunch time. I called in at Hartley Cafe and inspected the crocodiles. They were of the saltwater type, the largest about 25 ft. There were also Some specimens of the taipan preserved in spirit - probably the deadliest snake in the North, or Australia for that matter. | + | |
- | IMPORTANT TRANSPORT NOTICE BUSHWALKERS REQUIRING TRANSPORT FROM BLACKHEATH ANY HOUR RING, WRITE or CALL | + | The highway follows the coast line here - one of the best scenic drives in Australia with the Pacific Ocean on the right and a mountain range on the left. Port Douglas is 43 miles from Cairns and one of the oldest towns in North Queensland, settled in 1877. After lunch my lift carried |
- | SIEDLECKY' | + | |
- | 116 STATION STREET BLACKHEATH | + | I walked the last four miles to the Daintree River, arriving at dusk, and here I pitched camp for the night. I had covered about 62 miles that first day, walking 12 miles. The Daintree River here was about a quarter mile wide. It was slightly salty. It was not far to the mouth of the stream from my campsite; the tropical growth comes right to the water' |
- | 24 HOUR SERVICE | + | |
- | BUSHWALKERS arriving late at night without transport booking can ring for car from Railway Station, or call at above address --- IT'S NEVER TOO LATE. | + | I started walking to the small township of Daintree, about five miles away. There were plenty of coconut palms laden with fruit. I climbed one and cut off a few green nuts. The skin is quite soft to cut when green and makes a delicious drink. The small store was closed down so I had to ring Mossman and get my stores sent out on the bus, which arrived about 5 p.m that afternoon. |
- | ' | + | |
- | FARES: KANANGRA WALLS 30/- per head (minimum 5 passengers) | + | Daintree lies on the riverbank in a tropical setting |
- | PERRY' | + | |
- | JENOLAN STATE FOREST 20/- It if if TI | + | |
- | CLRLON' | + | |
- | LOOK FOR T.C.3210 or PACKHARD T.V.270 | + | |
- | The highway follows the coast line here - one of the best scenic drives in Australia with the Pacific Ocean on the right and a mountain | + | |
- | 4. | + | |
- | range on the left. Port Douglas is 43 miles from Cairns and one of the oldest towns in North Queensland, settled in 1877. After lunch my lift carried | + | |
- | I walked the last four miles to the Daintree River, arriving at dusk, and here I pitched camp for the night. I had covered about 62 miles that first day, walking 12 miles. The Daintree River here was about a quarter mile wide. It was slightly salty. It was not far to the mouth of the stream from my campsite; the tropical growth comes right to the water' | + | |
- | fish in the dark water. As I carried a mall mosquito net I erected | + | |
- | it as the mossies were starting to make their presence felt. I was | + | |
- | up at dawn, and as I was having breakfast one of the householders from across the river rowed over -nd had a yarn. | + | |
- | I started walking to the small township of Daintree, about five | + | |
- | miles away. There were plenty of coconut palms laden with fruit. I climbed one and cut off a few green nuts. The skin is quite soft to cut then green and makes a delicious drink. The small store was | + | |
- | closed down so I had to ring Mossman and get my stores sent out on the bus, which arrived about 5 p.m, that afternoon. | + | |
- | Daintree lies on the riverbank in a tropical setting | + | |
- | free of frost. In the winter the cattle from further up the Peninsula | + | |
- | are fattened in the valley before going to market. There is also a small butter factory here. To the north is Thornton Peak, second highest mountain in Queensland. I obtained a lift of 3 miles up the | + | |
- | valley where I made camp fc.)r the night. There was the usual heavy | + | |
- | dew. It was 9 a.m. before I started walking up the valley. It is about one mile wide and the banks of the river are lined with cedar and fig trees. There were some large mobs of cattle grazing, being | + | |
of the zebu cross. This type resists the ticks and is used to the tropics. | of the zebu cross. This type resists the ticks and is used to the tropics. | ||
- | The road had now petered out to a cattle pad. The stream which I had forded a few times was now quite-deep and the pack had to be floated. I was told that there were freshwater crocodiles here. They grow to about 5 ft. long and are considered harmless. All the, saltwater type that are dangerous to man have been shot out of this area. | + | |
- | Where the track shot up a spur on the right I had lunch and dried out the gear. After repacking I set off, climbing up on to the backbone of the ridge. It was open parkland on top of the ridge, but a few yards down on either side was jungle matted with lawyer vine. | + | The road had now petered out to a cattle pad. The stream which I had forded a few times was now quite deep and the pack had to be floated. I was told that there were freshwater crocodiles here. They grow to about 5 ft. long and are considered harmless. All the saltwater type that are dangerous to man have been shot out of this area. |
- | I followed the pad in a nor-east direction until sundown when I pitched camp, having walked about 15 miles for the day. The lawyer vine is well named the " | + | |
- | through it to get water for the evening meal. As I was up about the 2,000 ft. mark the night was pleasantly cool. I awoke to an overcast sky, and as there had been no dew to wet the tent I got away to an | + | Where the track shot up a spur on the right I had lunch and dried out the gear. After repacking I set off, climbing up on to the backbone of the ridge. It was open parkland on top of the ridge, but a few yards down on either side was jungle matted with lawyer vine. I followed the pad in a nor-east direction until sundown when I pitched camp, having walked about 15 miles for the day. The lawyer vine is well named the " |
- | early start. The ridge an which the track climbed ran into rain forest where the branches of the trees practically met overhead and | + | early start. The ridge on which the track climbed ran into rain forest where the branches of the trees practically met overhead and there were quite a few orchids in the tall trees. I met an old prospector with swag on back on his way to Daintree for rations. He assured me he was getting a little gold in the creeks hereabouts. |
- | there were quite a few orchids in the tall trees. I met an old prospector with swag on back on his way to Daintree for rations.. He assured me he was getting a little gold in the creeks hereabouts. | + | |
- | Three hours walking brought | + | Three hours walking brought |
- | sighted by the famous navigator on his voyage up the coast. I had | + | There was a small verandah at the front entrance. On pegs driven into the wall hung all the gear of a cattle camp - pack saddles, hobbles, harness, branding irons and two rifles. The shack was deserted. Outside on the clothes line were pegged numerous white objects. Closer inspection revealed what is known as " |
- | reached the highest point and the track now led down into open grassland where I had lunch at a small creek. I was now in the "China camp' | + | was a blessing in disguise as I had travelled around the headwaters of the Bloomfield River across which I would have had to get a boat or wait for low tide and wade. It is infested with sharks and crocks. |
+ | |||
+ | My hosts were very interested in Paddy' | ||
+ | |||
+ | My friends directed me to the track which led to Ayton, a small village at the mouth of the Bloomfield river, 14 miles distant. The country was similar to that which I had traversed the previous day. It was quite hot walking as I was down about sea level again. I arrived at the township about 4 o' | ||
+ | |||
+ | I followed the road around to the sawmill and made camp for the night in a deserted cottage at the mill. On Saturday I arose at dawn and left camp early. The road followed the river for a while. It was very pleasant walking on the sunny spring morning, the country here on the coastal frings being flat and open. There were a lot of wild pigs and a few dingos in this area. After lunch a utility came along on its way to Cooktown and offered me a lift. The road here was just a rough track. After a few miles we came to some wild jungle country dotted with large boulders laced with fallen tree trunks and lawyer vine, the quaint umbrella palm and the wild banana bushes. On some of the large rocks one could see Aboriginal drawings, mostly outlines of the human body. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We were now in the open cattle country and stopped a while at the small township of Rossville. The local inn is appropriately named the " | ||
+ | |||
+ | On the road once again, the Annan River was crossed. The trees here were of the ghost gum variety. A few miles from Cooktown is Black Mountain, an awe-inspiring heap of black granite boulders, bare except for a green bush scattered here and there. The rocks expand and contract with the changes of temperature caused by the sun setting | ||
+ | or a cloud covering the sun. The action of contracting makes a clicking sound. The natives fear them on this account and say a Debbil-Debbil dwells there. Black Mountain is also the home of numerous rock pythons which prey on the small rock wallabies that infest the mountain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | I arrived in Cooktown as the sun was setting and camped in what was once the park. It had now reverted to wilderness. There was a strong wind which blows continually for weeks on end around this time of the year. In its heyday Cooktown was quite a large town, kept going by the gold and tin that were found in the area. One can still see signs of the large Radio and Aerodrome Station that were here during the last War. The bank and hospital are two fine buildings that give a hint of its former glory. There is a fine monument to Captain Cook who landed here, also one to Kennedy, the ill-fated explorer who lost his life exploring the Peninsula. | ||
+ | |||
+ | I returned to Sydney via the Mulligan Highway, but that is another story. | ||
+ | |||
PHOTOGRAPHY t ? | PHOTOGRAPHY t ? | ||
You pr.,Iss the button, welll do the rest | You pr.,Iss the button, welll do the rest | ||
Line 123: | Line 144: | ||
best SERVICE | best SERVICE | ||
6. | 6. | ||
- | anxious as I should be bearing north; however I decided to follow it until sundown. About 5 o' | + | |
- | There was a small verandah at the front entrance. On pegs driven into the wall hung all the gear of a cattle camp - pack saddles, hobbles, harness, branding irons and two rifles. The shack was deserted. Outside on the clothes line were pegged numerous white objects. Closer inspection revealed what is known as " | + | |
- | ed with coarse salt and then hung on the line to cure in the sun.I | + | |
- | pitched camp a short distance from the dwelling and was cooking tea when the owners arrived - two young chaps and a station hand. They | + | |
- | were very friendly and invited me over for a talk. The place was known as the "Ten Mile" and I was about six miles off course. However it | + | |
- | was a blessing in disguise as I had travelled around the headwaters of the Bloomfield River across which I would have had to get a boat or wait for low tide and wade. It is infested with sharks and crocks. | + | |
- | My hosts were very interested in Paddy' | + | |
- | and camping gear and obtained his address from me. I was invited to | + | |
- | breakfast and loaded up with as much jerked meat as I could carry. | + | |
- | I found the meat, when boiled with potatoes and pumpkin, very appetis- | + | |
- | ing. It will keep for a long while. It is the custom on most stations to give travellers a handout of moat. | + | |
- | My friends directed me to the track which led to Ayton, a small | + | |
- | village at the mouth of the Bloomfield river, 14 miles distant. The country was similar to that which I had traversed the previous day. It was quite hot walking as I was down about sea level again. I arrived at the township about 4 o' | + | |
- | The tropical fruits, pawpaws and pineapples, grow well here. | + | |
- | I followed the road around to the sawmill and made camp for the night in a deserted cottage at the mill. On Saturday I arose at | + | |
- | dawn and left camp early, The road followed the river for a while. It was very pleasant walking on the sunny spring morning, the country here on the coastal frings being flat and open. There were a lot of wild pigs and a few dingos in this area. After lunch a utility came along on its way to Cooktown and offered me a lift. The road here was just a rought track. After a few miles we came to Some wild jungle country dotted with large boulders laced with fallen tree trunks and lawyer vine, the quaint umbrella palm and the wild banana bushes. On some of the large rocks one could see Aboriginal drawings, mostly outlines of the human body. | + | |
- | We were now in the open cattle country and stopped a while at the small township of Rossville. The local inn is appropriately named the " | + | |
- | After gorging, the snakes are unable to get through the wire mesh and so fall easy prey to the irate Innkeeper. | + | |
- | On the road once again, the Annan River was crossed. The trees | + | |
- | 7. | + | |
- | here were of the ghost gum variety. A few miles from Cooktown is Black Mountain, an awe-inspiring heap of black granite boulders, ilare except for a green bush scattered here and there. The rocks expand and contract with the changes of temperature caused by the sun setting | + | |
- | or a cloud covering the sun. The action of contracting makes a clicking sound. The natives fear them on this account and say a DebbilDebbil dwells there. Black Mountain is also the home of numerous rock pythons which prey on the small rock wallabies that infest the mountain | + | |
- | I arrived in Cooktown as the sun was setting and camped in what was once the park. It had now reverted to wilderness. There was a strong wind which blows continually for weeks on end around this time | + | |
- | of the year. In its heyday Cooktown was quite a large town, kept | + | |
- | going by the gold and tin that were found in the area. One can still see signs of the large Radio and Eerodrome Station that were here during the last War. The bank and hospital are two fine buildings that give a hint of its former glory. There is a fine monument to Captain Cook who landed here, also one to Kennedy, the ill-fated explorer who lost his life exploring the Peninsula. | + | |
- | I returned to Sydney via the Mulligan Highway, but that is another story. | + | |
FOR ALL YOUR TRANSPORT PROBLEMS CONTACT | FOR ALL YOUR TRANSPORT PROBLEMS CONTACT | ||
HATTSWELL' | HATTSWELL' |
195609.txt · Last modified: 2019/03/15 00:35 by vievems