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-. BARALLIERIS ATTEMPT TO CROSS THE BLUE MTS. IN 1802.
+===== Barallier's Attempt To Cross The Blue Mtns. In 1802. =====
-(An accountfrom early Australian History, obtainable at the Mitchell Library, which will be of particular interest to Bushwalkers as it concerns the earliest trip into Some of our popular walkint, country. - Dot Butler)
-OOOOO  I
+(An account from early Australian History, obtainable at the Mitchell Library, which will be of particular interest to Bushwalkers as it concerns the earliest trip into some of our popular walking country. - Dot Butler)
-Francis Barrallier was a trained surveyor and entineer who as
-a civilian had been brought out by Governor King and who, on arrival had been appointed to a vacancy in the N.S.W. Corps. He planned
+Francis Barrallier was a trained surveyor and entineer who as a civilian had been brought out by Governor King and who, on arrival had been appointed to a vacancy in the N.S.W. Corps. He planned an expedition from Parranatta to attempt a crossing of the Blue Mountains. Owing to some military order that soldiers were not to be taken off regimental duty, Gov. King was "obliged to effect a ruse" - he dispensed with Barrallier's services in the N.S.W.Corps but claimed him as his aide-de-camp and sent him on an embassy to the King of the Mountains so that he might carry out his exploration. Accordingly, on 6th Nobember 1802, Barrallier (aged 29) set out with four soldiers, five prisoners and a native, Gogy, who was afterwards joined by others. Barrallier, according to his journal, travelled 147 miles into the mountains beyond the Nepean (this distance is an overstatement), over rough and almost inaccessible country, but his difficulties proved so great and his equipment was so meagre he failed to reach the Great Divide.
-an expedition from Parranatta to attempt a crossing of the Blue
-Mountains. Owing to some military order that, soldiers were not to
+On 6th November the party crossed the Nepean a few miles above the present town of Camden at a ford called by the natives Binheny. The surrounding country was known as the Cow Pastures owing to the fact that there was at the time a herd of several hundred wild cattle there, apparently confined to the valley of the Nepean, offspring of five cows and two bulls which strayed from Sydney in 1788, and were not discovered till many years later.
-be taken off regimental duty, Gov. King was "obliged to effect a ruseff - he dispensed with Barrallieris services in the N.S.W.Corps but claimed him as his aide-de-camp and sent him on an embassy to
-the King of the Mountains so that he might carry out his explorationAccordingly, on 6th Nobember 1802, Barrallier (aged 29) set out with
+On 7th November he passed a swamp called by the natives Manhangle (now Menangle), thence past the present town of Picton, and just north of where Thirlmere now stands he turned west then north-west towards the Nattai River, arriving at a spot on the high land overlooking Shea's Creek, a tributary of the Nattai. This spot was near the terminal point of a previous expedition of Barrallier, and here his goods had been brought by bullock waggon and a depot formed.
-four soldiers, five prisoners and a native, Gogy, who was afterwards joined by others. Barrallier, according to his journal, travelled
-miles into the mountains beyond the Nepean (this distance is an overstatement), over rough and almost inaccessible country, but his
+It is likely that Barrallier was guided by natives, and unfriendly relations between neighbouring tribes probably prevented his getting information which would have led him across the Great Divide. Some of the natives had never seen a white man. Sight of the two bullocks being yoked to the waggon caused such fright to one native called Wallara that he fled but was induced back by the others, and they all followed the moving waggon making all sorts of grimaces and speaking with great velocity displaying their astonishment. Barrallier mentions that two natives attracted the attention of a third in the distance by shouting the word "coo-ee" with all their strength.
-difficulties proved so great and his equipment was so meagre he
-failed to reach the Great Divide.
+On Nov.10th three men were sent back with the waggon for provisions. The others proceeded west on foot following a creek (probably Shea's) down a precipitous gorge to the Nattai River, about 6 miles above its junction with the Wollondilly.
-On 6th November the party crossed the Nepean a few miles above
-the present town of Camden at a ford called by the natives Binheny. The surrounding country was known as the Cow Pastures owing to the fact that there was at the time a herd of several hundred wild
+(Cambage, the historian, in speaking of the first road which by 1833 had been oonstructed into the Burragorang, describes a wild scene; "The inaccessible appearance of the rocky cliffs and the sublime depths of the valleys they enclose present a striking contrast to the flatness of the higher country by which the road approaches Burragorang. The descent by road into the tremendous ravines of the Nattai and Wollondilly is tedious and very difficult. An old man, Larry Tanny, lives below and subsists on what he earns by helping passengers up or down. The country first reached on descending is the bed of the Nattai, which joins the Wollondilly 6 miles further down. Pasturage is good and water abundant, and by 1833 there were many stations.") But let us continue Barrallier's journey, 30 years earlier, into this virgin country.
-cattle there, apparently confined to the valley of the Nepean, offspring of five cows and two bulls which strayed from Sydney in
-, and were not discovered till many years later..
+Barrallier reports that he found a slate mine at the end of Shea's Creek, very soft slate which broke under the slightest pressure, in which were embedded fossil impressions of ferns and tree leaves. (These soft slate deposits are Permo-Carboniferous shale beds and coal measures containing fossils. Iron is also present.) He describes the surrounding mountains as being "generally accessible up to a certain height, but at an altitude of a quarter of a mile they are perpendicular and their summit forms a kind of leaden wall." (The accessible portion would be sloping decomposed Permo-Carboniferous shales. The leaden wall would be the Hawkesbury sandstone cliffs.)
-On 7th November he passed a swamp called by the natives
-Manhangle (now Menangle), thence past the present town of Picton,
+On Nov.11th Barrallier followed the left bank of the Nattai to the Wollondilly junction. He refers to pieces of granite in its bed. (These are brought down from a region a few miles higher up above the junction where the Wollondilly flows through an extensive area of granitic and porphyritic rocks, fragments of which are distributed along the river bed for many miles. A wall of sandstone forms a majestic barrier along the east side of the Wollondilly, while the western side comprises a large area of fairly good soil clothed with open forest of Apple Gum, Forest Red Gum and Ironbark.)
-and jtst north of where Thirlmere now stands he turned west then
- north-west towards the Nattai.River, arriving at.a spot on the high
+Barrallier was impressed by the fertility of the Burragorang Valley: "It would be suitable for 300 settlers. Such wild animals as the warring (rock wallaby), kangaroo, opossum, wombat, etc, would afford to the colonists a great variety of food, without mentioning all the varieties of fish swarming in the river."
-land overlooking Shea's Creek, a tributary of the Nattai. This spot was near the terminal point of a previous expedition of Barrallisr,
-* and here his goods had been brought by bullock waggon and a depot formed.
-It is likely that Barrallier was guided by natives, and un-
-friendly relations between neighbouring tribes probably prevented his getting information which would have led him across the Great Divide. Some of the natives had never seen a white man. Sight of the two bullocks being yoked to the waggon caused such fright to one native called Wallara that he fled but was induced back by the others, and they all followed the moving waggon making all sorts of grimaces and speaking with great velocity displaying their astonish-
-ment. Barrallier mentions that two natives attracted the attention of a third in the distance by shouting the word "coo-eeP with all their strength.
-On Nov,10th three men were sent back with the waggon for
-.
-provisions. The others proceeded -west on foot following a creek (probably Shea!s) dpwn precipitous gorge to the Nattai River, about 6 miles above its junotion with the Wollondilly.
-(Cambage, the historian, in speaking of the first road which by 1833 had been oonstructed into the BurragOrang, describes a wild scene; "The inaccessible appearance of the rocky cliffs and the sublime depths of the valleys they enclose present a striking contrast
-to the flatness of the higher country by which the road approaches Burragorang. The descent by road into the tremendous ravines of the
-Nattai and Wollondilly is tedious and very difficult. An old man, Larry Tanny, lives below and subsists on what he earns by helping
-passengers up or down. The counti;y first reached on descending is the bed of the Nattai, which joins the Wollondilly. 6 miles further
-down. Pasturage is good and water abundant, and by 1833 there were
-many stations.") But lat us continue Barrallierfs journey, 30 years
-earlier, into this virgin country.
-Barrallier reports that he found a slate mine at the end Of
-Sheals Creek, very soft slate which broke under the slightest pressure, in which were embedded fossil impressions of ferns and tree leaves,
-(These soft slate deposits are Permo-Carboniferous.shale.beds. and
-coal measures containing fossils. Iron is also present.) He describes the surrounding mountains as being "generally accessible up to a certain height,. but at an altitude of a quarter of a mile
-they are perpendicular and their summit forms a kind of leaden wall." (The accessible portion would be sloping decomposed pex7ho-Carboniferous shales. The leaden wall would be the Hawkesbury' sandstone cliffs.)
-On Nov.11th Barrallier followed the left bank of the Nattai to
-the Wollondilly junction. He refers to pieces of granite in its bed,
-(These are brought down from a region a few miles higher up above the junction where the Wollondilly flows through an extensive area of granitic and porphyritic rocks, fragments'of which are distributed along the river bed for many miles. A wall of sandstone forms a majestic barrier along the east side of the Wollondilly, while the w-estern side comprises a large area of fairly good soil clothed with open forest of Apple Gum, Forest Red Gum and Ironbark.)
-Barrallier was impressed by the fertility of the Burragorang Valley: "It would be suitablelfor 300 settlers. Such wild animals as the warring (rock wallaby), kangaroo, opossum, wombat, etc, would afford to the colonists a great variety of food, without mentioning all the varieties of fish swarming in the river."
 On Nov.12th the party left the Wollondilly soon after passing the junction of Tonalli Creek. Speaking of the country just traversed Barrallier says "the soil was very rich. The hills were covered with kangaroos which resembled a flock of goats grazing peaceably and offered to the eye a pleasing pastoral picture."
-In order to reconnoitre he decided to ascend a very high mountain which, however, looked easy of access. This is South Peak, two or three miles south of Yerranderie silver mines. South Peak is an outlier at the extreme southern end of a small chain of cliffs called
-.
-The Peaks. Through the gap formed, horsemen may ride. Barrallier was probably led through by natives.
+In order to reconnoitre he decided to ascend a very high mountain which, however, looked easy of access. This is South Peak, two or three miles south of Yerranderie silver mines. South Peak is an outlier at the extreme southern end of a small chain of cliffs called The Peaks. Through the gap formed, horsemen may ride. Barrallier was probably led through by natives.
-(In 1910 Cambage wrote, "This 1.6 the passage through which the whole of the stock traffic between Burragorang and Oberon is conducted at the present day, and the greater part of the road between this gap and Mt. Werong (about 25 miles) is still a bridle track.)
-Barrallier and his party climbed three quarters of the way up. South Peak, where "immense overhanging rocks which seemed to be attached to nothing offered an appalling scene." The men rested and gazed at the plain from that great height with a feeling of admiration mingled with awe. The country was alive with rock wallabies;  one  was shot by a soldier-who had gone to look for a way up the eastern face of the mountain. The party then turned back. They had hardly left South Peak when natives unfriendly to one Gogy,in Barrallierfs party caused the whole expedition to return to the depot at Nattai.
+(In 1910 Cambage wrote, "This is the passage through which the whole of the stock traffic between Burragorang and Oberon is conducted at the present day, and the greater part of the road between this gap and Mt. Werong (about 25 miles) is still a bridle track.)
-On Nov.22nd Barrallier set out again with five of the stronges4 men and two young natives. At the junotion of the Nattai and the Wbllondilly he met the previously hostile natives, including Goondel the chief, but obtained no information from them. By noon of the third day the party was back at South Peak, then they continued into
-ffa country of brushes, going over hills which stood in all directions." (These Would be the deeply dissected talus slopes from the PerMoCarboniferous shale and sandstone mountains on the right. The present track f011ows his route.) The party rested by Alum Hill Creek or Green Creeks then passed over an area of rock described by Barrallier as granite, but actually it is felsite. This would indicate he passed to the south of Square Rock (Little Rick), but he does not mention it. Little Rick covers about 40 acres and is a remarkable remnant of the Permo-Carboniferous Age:- Its base slopes slightly, its upper. part presents four high perpendicular faces of sandstone absolutely inaccessible (to anyone but Bushwalkers, that is). Seen from the north its peculiar appearance is very striking, but it is not particularly noticeable from the south. ' Trees passed on the 24th were bluegums and ironbark of medium height. No further ironbarks were seen after the 24th, the high country being too cold for then...
+Barrallier and his party climbed three quarters of the way up South Peak, where "immense overhanging rocks which seemed to be attached to nothing offered an appalling scene." The men rested and gazed at the plain from that great height with a feeling of admiration mingled with awe. The country was alive with rock wallabies; one  was shot by a soldier who had gone to look for a way up the eastern face of the mountain. The party then turned back. They had hardly left South Peak when natives unfriendly to one Gogy in Barrallier's party caused the whole expedition to return to the depot at Nattai.
-By noon on Nov.25th the party reached a large and rapid stream
+On Nov.22nd Barrallier set out again with five of the strongest men and two young natives. At the junotion of the Nattai and the Wollondilly he met the previously hostile natives, including Goondel the chief, but obtained no information from them. By noon of the third day the party was back at South Peak, then they continued into "a country of brushes, going over hills which stood in all directions." (These would be the deeply dissected talus slopes from the Permo-Carboniferous shale and sandstone mountains on the right. The present track fo11ows his route.) The party rested by Alum Hill Creek or Green Creek, then passed over an area of rock described by Barrallier as granite, but actually it is felsite. This would indicate he passed to the south of Square Rock (Little Rick), but he does not mention it. Little Rick covers about 40 acres and is a remarkable remnant of the Permo-Carboniferous Age. Its base slopes slightly, its upper part presents four high perpendicular faces of sandstone absolutely inaccessible (to anyone but Bushwalkers, that is). Seen from the north its peculiar appearance is very striking, but it is not particularly noticeable from the south. Trees passed on the 24th were bluegums and ironbark of medium height. No further ironbarks were seen after the 24th, the high country being too cold for them.
-(Oolong Creek) containing what Barrallier described as large red and
-blue granite stones (actually felsite). Wild duck were plentiful and
+By noon on Nov.25th the party reached a large and rapid stream (Colong Creek) containing what Barrallier described as large red and blue granite stones (actually felsite). Wild duck were plentiful and there were many wombats. He saw three openings ahead, the central one half a mile wide with perpendicular sides, and through this he passed (now called Barrallier Pass). The one to the north is situated just south of Mt. Colong or Big Rick. Through the one to the south the Bindook track now passes.
-there were many wombat, He saw three openings ahead, the contral one half a mile iwide with perpendicular sides, and through this he
-passed (now called Barrallier Pass). The one to the north is
+__The party camps at Bindook Swamp, Nov. 25th__.
-situated just south of Mt. Colong or Big Rick. Through the one to
-the south the Bindook track riow passes.
+Immediately beyond Barrallier's Pass are the large Bindook Swamps which drain into Bindook Creek. Barrallier's men, out collecting stringy bark for their huts, viewed these and reported they had the appearance of a meadow, which led them to believe they had crossed the Great Divide, and they congratulated themselves that night on having accomplished the passage of the Blue Mountains without accident. Next morning in high hope they climbed half way up a sandstone hill north of Bindook Swamp, and from there saw a vast plain as far as the eye could see. Greatly encouraged, Barrallier climbed to the summit, but now he realised that their congratulations had been premature, for they saw the eastern slope of the Great Divide, barely 20 miles away to the west. (He estimated it to be about 40 miles). He also saw another range to the north. (This would be part of the Boyd Range on the north of the Kowmung River and around the head of Christy's Creek - the summits are fairly flat and covered with a stunted growth of Eucalyptus (mallee).
-The party camps at Bindook Swamp, Nov. 25th.
-Immediately beyond Barrallierfs Pass are the large Bindook
+On the summit, Barrallier says, "the west wind was blowing very hard and scarcely allowed me to stand an my feet. I heard a noise as of roaring waves breaking on a rocky shore. (This would be the wind on the top of Mt. Colong (3,436 ft.) The whole of this mountain from base to summit is composed of hard sandstone and large rocks are ready to roll down the precipice at the slightest effort."
-Swamps vhich drain into Bindook Creek. Barrallierfs men, out collect-
-ing stringy bark for their huts, viewed these and reported they had the appearance of a meadows' which led them to believe they had
+__Reaches Kowmung River, Nov.26th__.
-crossed the Great Divide, and' they congratulated themselves that night onshaving accomplished the passage of the Blue Mountains without
-.
+Barrallier set out westward towards the Great Dividing Range, thinking the intervening country perfectly flat, but soon came upon a range of hills barring his passage. (These would be the hills on either side of Murrin or Gulf Creek). He continued on in various directions, seeking the shortest way to his goal, and eventually found himself to the north and on the spur which divides the waters of the Wollondilly from those of the Kowmung. This ridge runs west past Mt. Shivering (3,678 ft.) up to Mt. Werong (4,000 ft.) on the Great Divide. Had he followed this, by turning west his troubles would have been over and by nightfall he would have been on the plateau of the Great Divide at about 3,900 ft. above sea level ready to descend the western slopes in the morning. But instead he, perhaps unwittingly, got into a low saddle of Silurian slate formation through which he passed into a gully which led to Waterfall Creek or the left branch of Lannigans Creek (probably the former). He followed this to the Kowmung.
-accident. Next morning in high hope they climbed half way up a sandstone hill north of Bindook Swamp, and from there saw a vast plain as far as the eye could see. Greatly encouraged, Barrallier climbed to the summit, but now he realised that their congratulations had been premature, for they saw the eastern slope of the Great Divide, barely 20 miles away to the west. (He estimated it to be about 40 miles). He also saw another range to the north. (This would be part of the Boyd Range on the north of the Kowmung River and around the head of Christy's Creek - the summits are fairly flat and covered with a stunted growth of Eucalyptus (mallee).
-On the summit, Barrallier says, "the west wind was blowing very hard and scarcely allowed me to stand an my feet. I heard a noise as
+"The current of this river," says Barrallier "is very rapid and flows between two chains of very high mountains 2,000 ft. above the bed of the stream, which give to only one part of its bank an accessible space. The widest parts passed were no more than 20 ft. Very often the mountain side came down sheer into the water and there was no passage at all and I was obliged to walk on the steep slopes at the risk of falling into the water from the precipices."
-of roaring waves breaking on a rocky shore. (This would be the wind on
-the top of Mt. Colong (3,436 ft.) The whole of this mountain from
+He followed the Kowmung north for two hours to the mouth of Christy's Creek and here he settled for the night. (The fall of the Kowmung is very steep over this section; according to aneroid measurements it is 20 ft. per mile.) After consideration he decided it would not be prudent to follow the Kowmung any further into the mountains as it now turned north-east, so he decided to follow up Christy's Creek to the west. While his men prepared camp Barrallier prospected and found sandstone containing fossil seashells and several other foreign matters. (The sea-shell described is a typical Devonian fossil found in quartzite or altered sandstone.)
-base to summit is composed of hard sandstone and large rocks are ready to roll down the precipice at the slightest effort."
-E2j7EgIILL_IaqgELIY:ja.LE2EJE.SEJ,IL
-Barrallier set out westward towards the Great Dividing Range, thinking the intervening country perfectly flat, but soon came upon
-a range of hills barring his passage. (These would be the hills on either side of Murrin or Gulf Creek). He continued on in various directions, seeking the shortest way to his goal, and eventually
-found himself to the north and on the spur which divides the waters
-of the Wollondilly from those of the J;Cowmung. This ridge runs west past Mt. Shivering (3,678 ft.) up to Mt. Werong (4,000 ft.) on the
-Great Divide. Had he followed this, by turning west his troubles
-would have been over and by nightfall he would have been on the plateau of the Great Divide at about 3,900 ft. above sea level ready
-to descend the western slopes in the morning. But instead he,
-perhaps unwittingly, got into a low saddle of Silurian slate formation through which he passed into a gully which led to Waterfall
-Creek or the left branch of Lannigans Creek (probably the former). He followed this to the Kowmung.,
-"The current of this river," says Barrallier"is very rapid and
-flows between two chains of very high mountains 2,000 ft. above the bed of the stream, which give to only one part of its bank an
-accessible space. The widest parts passed were no more than 20 ft.
-Very often the mountain side came down sheer into. the water and there was no passage at all and I was obliged to walk on the steep slopes at the risk of falling into the water from the precipices."
-He followed the Kowmung north for two hours to the mouth of
-Christy's Creek and here he settled for the night. (The fall of the
-Kowmung is very steep over this section; according to aneroid
-measurements it is 20 ft. per mile.) After consideration he
-decided it would not be prudent to follow the Kowmung any further into the mountains as it now turned north-east, so he decided to follow up Christy's Creek to the west. While his men prepared camp
-Barrallier prospected and found sandstone containing fossil seashells and several other foreigh matters. (The sea-shell described
-is a typical Devonian fossil found in quartzite or altered sandstone.)
-.
 On Nov. 27th he proceeded up Christy's Creek finding many fossils. This creek is so hemmed in at its source and contains so many waterfalls that it is unsuitable for cattle and to this day is rarely visited by man.
-Barrallier then says, "I now seriously considered the situation, seeing no appearance of being able to procure any beasts for the subsistence of my troops except SOMB snakes; which it was repugnant to eat. Provisions were nearly exhausted - only a small quantity of rice and flour left which did not allow of my continuing to advance in a country offering absolutely no resource. The courage of my men was entirely abated and nothing but orders for the return journey would suffice to dispel their melancholy. After cutting a cross of St. Andrew on a tree to indicate the terminus of my second journey I returned by the same route as I had come."
-The terminal point reached, therefore, was towards the head of Christy/s Creek, about 15 or 16 miles in a direct line south
+Barrallier then says, "I now seriously considered the situation, seeing no appearance of being able to procure any beasts for the subsistence of my troops except some snakes, which it was repugnant to eat. Provisions were nearly exhausted - only a small quantity of rice and flour left which did not allow of my continuing to advance in a country offering absolutely no resource. The courage of my men was entirely abated and nothing but orders for the return journey would suffice to dispel their melancholy. After cutting a cross of St. Andrew on a tree to indicate the terminus of my second journey I returned by the same route as I had come."
-, from Jenolan Caves, and 3 or 4 miles S.W. from the famous Kanangra Walls with their enormous depths, bold outline and rugged beauty. Unfortunately for the success of his venture, Barrallier had thus 'wandered into one of the very roughest and most inaccessible parts of the Blue Mountains.
+The terminal point reached, therefore, was towards the head of Christy's Creek, about 15 or 16 miles in a direct line south from Jenolan Caves, and 3 or 4 miles S.W. from the famous Kanangra Walls with their enormous depths, bold outline and rugged beauty. Unfortunately for the success of his venture, Barrallier had thus wandered into one of the very roughest and most inaccessible parts of the Blue Mountains.
 Barrallier had no further opportunity to carry out his explorations. He returned to England in 1803 and was variously engaged in the War Office and on engineering works. (He erected the Nelson Monument at Trafalgar Square.)
 He died on June 11th, 1853, aged 80 years.
+----
 TIE AIRD-WAGG KOWMUNG TRIP CHRISTMAS 156.
 - Dung Khan.