Off road parking.

Sometimes people camp here, I wonder if they know it's where the railways builder's had their camp all those years ago when the bridge was built?

Cache has a log, pencil and a few knick knacks.

No particular mission....would just like to go wherever the wind carries me.

Easy terrain, but if it's been raining, don't bring your wheelchair! Suitable for kids of all ages.

You are looking for a black, 35mm film canister. BYOP.

Hidden amongst the picnic tables, historic buildings, well and trough, is a clear 35mm film canister. BYOP.

Terrain is easy and safe for kids - bearing in mind that this is a bush environment and there is a waterhole nearby.

There is also a toilet on the grounds.

The start point is the small lake Pillans wetland park next to the Blast Furnace site.

The 200ml Sistema container is fitted with a magnet, if required when traveling from cache to cache.

Pictures of the location where you find the cache would be appreciated.

As part of the ongoing GCA 10th Anniversary celebrations I thought that for the next year I would replace the movable cache each time it is picked up from the original location in Blast Furnace Park, Lithgow: S33 28.483 E150 10.359. it may take a few days to replace but it will be done. This is number 8.

Lake Macquarie Sculpture Park

Welcome to the Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery Sculpture Park

Enter via the Gateway Sculpture (by Trevor Weeks) which was commissioned to mark the entrance to the new gallery which opened in May 2001, and then wander the grounds enjoying the views of Lake Macquarie and the 11 sculptures.

You can enjoy one of the sculptures – Hear the Art (by Richard Tipping) before you come by checking out the Satellite picture of the area. It is a visual poem with a few words and phrases incorporated into it.

One of my favourites is the Love Boat by Ted Prior

The Gallery is worth a visit too, and whenever I visit my Uncle, who lives nearby, a visit to the Gallery is high on the list of things to do (along with wine drinking in the Hunter). The Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday between 10am and 5pm (and some public holidays). Best of all Admission is Free. When I visited in January 2009 the exhibition had photos taken by Hurley (during Scott’s Antarctic Expedition) and Ponting (during Schakleton’s Antarctic Expedition), but alas that is long gone now.

It is not a huge gallery, so doesn’t take too long to visit, but is also big enough that they get good exhibitions through. Also in the gallery you can pick up a leaflet outlining all the sculptures in the park.

To claim a find, initally locate the plaque at the given coordinates next to the Aeolian Tree (by John Turier). The first line is “John Turier”. Email the second line to calumphing.four@gmail.com and upload a photo of yourself, or your navigator next to your favourite sculpture in the park. 

This virtual cache replaces my initial cache here Artistic Fingers (GC1M4Y9) which is now emtombed in concrete at the entrance to the park. If you previously found Artistic Fingers feel free to log this cache without emailing me.

Enjoy

The Calumphing_Four

Author Dan Brown contacted OldSaint stating that his main character Robert Langdon had been hoodwinked by the notorious anti-symbologist group "ANGELS AND DEMONS." He has asked our, the caching world, to prevent Langdon's demise.

The price of his release is the copyright to Brown's books or the profit from their sales. Failure to comply with this demand will cause the termination of that most precious gift to us all - LIFE - for Langdon.

Police working on the cach(s)e know that Langdon was last seen at "DECEPTION POINT" where they found his "DIGITAL FORTRESS" with a clue to his whereabouts.

It is rumoured by Cache Police that "ANGELS AND DEMONS" are in co-hoots with the gang of FTF thieves "A CURSED BUNCH" also known as GA2484.

Both groups can be thwarted by solving the cache code left on Langdon's "DIGITAL FORTRESS." "THE LOST SYMBOL" (See Gallery) reveals the location of that needed to prevent Langdon's demise. Find it and the fowl deed ceases!!

Except for the efforts of the TFT thieves "A CURSED BUNCH." A clue to preventing their work is also found at GZ for this cache.

You can stop the efforts of both groups by finding this cache. If successful, Langdon will continue as Brown's main character; his next book can be written and published.

It's now up to you; the brotherhood and sisterhood of the caching world; TO FIND THE CACHE(S) AND PROCURE LANGDON'S RELEASE!!!

Langdon left the following message:

Cache contains the usual. Please take one loose copy of the clue to "A Cursed Bunch" GA2484.

**PLEASE REPLACE AS FOUND**

You will need to turn into the side road and pull off the road to park. You may have the place all to yourself but watch for cars coming up or down the mountain and be sensible about when you retrieve the cache.

You will be able to see both ways, up and down the road, when you are at the cache site. So be careful because cars come around quickly.

Just a log inside so you'll need a pen.

Continue on up the road for some beautiful views and beautiful geocaches.

The start point is the small lake Pillans wetland park next to the Blast Furnace site.

The 200ml Sistema container is fitted with a magnet, if required when traveling from cache to cache.

Pictures of the location where you find the cache would be appreciated.

As part of the ongoing GCA 10th Anniversary celebrations I thought that for the next year I would replace the movable cache each time it is picked up from the original location in Blast Furnace park, Lithgow: S33 28.483 E150 10.359. it may take a few days to replace but it will be done. This is number 7.

The surrounding area is quite attractive & is a popular with fishers. There are picnic spots on the island which has multiple uses including agricultural, residential & nature conservation. 

The island was originally part of the mainland. However in July 1822 Alexander Berry used convict labour to dig a canal 209 yards long connecting the Crookhaven & Shoalhaven Rivers. The mouth of the Shoalhaven River was shallow & dangerous whereas the much smaller Crookhaven River was deep & navigable. Over subsequent years floods & dredging widened the canal allowing steamships passage for both trade & passenger services. The Shoalhaven River now flows to the sea via this canal & its original mouth only opens during extreme flooding. 

There are three ways to access the cache - walk, drive or by boat.

Walking from Shoalhaven Heads along the crescent shaped Seven Mile Beach takes a little over an hour each way depending on the wind direction. The return distance is around 12 Ks. You pass the original mouth of the Shoalhaven River, marked by the absence of scrubby vegetation. Ideally do the walk at low tide and/or in the early morning to avoid the wind. 

Driving via Terrara will take you to the Comerong Island ferry. There is a cost involved ($5 per vehicle return) & you must have the exact amount in $1 & $2 coins. The ferry operates 7 days per week between 6 a.m. & 11:55 p.m. with the crew having meals breaks between 10 & 10:30 a.m. & 7 & 7:30 p.m. 

Boaters can choose where to anchor.

The road through the island is sandy & after rain large pools of water may develop. However 4WD is not required judging by the types of vehicles I see when I get to the parking area.  The break wall is not the usual robust construction & you should heed the warning sign.  It would not be advisable to do this cache when the seas are big or thunder storms are about.

There is a path tag for the FTF.

A Trig Point is a virtual cache which requires a cacher to locate the Trigonometric Station at GZ.

A trig point (also known as a Trigonometric Station) typically consists of a black disc on top of four metal legs or concrete pillar, resembling a navigation beacon. It is also accompanied by a metal disc, which is located directly below the center point of the tripod or on top of the pillar itself.

Trig points are generally located at the top of hills or points of prominence in the landscape. Many provide unique views and challenges, with some being difficult to get to.

These points were regarded as valuable to surveyors, providing reference points for measuring distance and direction, and assisting in the creation of maps.

To log a find on the Geocaching Australia website, you will need to include a picture of the trig point, along with your GPS receiver and (preferably) yourself. Long distance / telephoto type pictures are against the spirit of this cache. You are encouraged to leave a description of your journey in your log to help others in finding the trig point.

The original collection of trig points has been sourced from Geoscience Australia and may contain inaccuracies.

Please respect local laws and regulations when searching for trig points. If you believe that a trig point is located on private property or in a dangerous location, you may archive the cache, by clicking on Log this Cache and place an "Archived" log on the Geocaching Australia website.

If you feel that you can add to the description of this trig point or adjust the difficulty / terrain ratings, please feel free to edit this cache and amend the information suitably. Vandalism of the cache description or other information will result in your account being terminated.

This trig is on top of a water tower in the suburb of Bella Vista.  No direct access but a photo is probably possible from the footpath.

If the correct name for this trig is known please amend.

Don't attempt this unless you are not afraid of a bit of rock climbing. Take ropes incase you cant get out again. Don't go after heavy rains or on damp days as the rock and moss can get slippery. My 3 children have managed with help to go to and back out of this spot.
There are 2 ways in- rope your way down from above or go down steep 'steps' to the east of the cave until you see a small entrance on your left. If you are slightly overweight, you will get stuck!!.

To get out again , there are 2 options- either squeeze back through the side entrance or on the opposite side,climb up between the rocks up to the next level overlooking the cache and then do the fear test across the chasm to the outside and then- either find your way back up to the top(the first bit is the hardest) or find a way down and bush bash back to the carpark. With 2 able bodied adults and 3 kids, we have gone all these routes except back through the side entrance to the cave.

I hope you strike gold!!

Note: Prizes and trinkets to be added as soon as we can get back to the sight(they were out of stock when we planted the cache).

You will need to purchase parking at the gate; cars: $5.00, motorcycles: $2.00 and buses: $10.00.

This trig point is not the traditional type, it is located inside the Mount Dandenong Sky High gift shop and bistro as a plaque.

You will only be able to access this trig point if the Sky High is open, which according to the website is 7 days a week, including public holidays.

Gates open Monday to Friday 9am-10pm, Weekends 8am-10pm.

For more information on the attractions here: http://www.skyhighmtdandenong.com.au/

The cache you are looking for is a camourflaged 5Ltr Sistema container with my usual Log book, Pencil, Sharpener, swaps and Finders Cards.  There is also a 1stTF prize and a 1stTF, 2ndTF & 3rdTF certificate.

 Please take care to rehide the cache so it's not too visible.

Make sure you have plenty of water when walking in this area, especially on a hot day, as it is thirsty work.

I had an old bloke I met while finding Tom Swans show me this place, and it really blew me away. This old fellow told me how he is out walking every weekend, has been doing so since the 70's. He tells me that this is one of his favourite spots in the valley.  It really is an awesome view - I agree 100%!!!

Makes me think of the saying that "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take - But the moments that take our breath away"

Hah, an apt link if I ever did say.

Is a couple of k's walk from the end of Swans Rd, and worth every inch. Some climbing is required to retreive the cache, so some agility is reqiured.

The Cache is a 30ml Ammo Can, with a FTF prize and several swaps.

Lots of paid parking during business hours but there is free 15 minute parking on Auburn St (located at S34 25.64 E150 53.372)

The hint is fairly explicit so use it if you must.

This cache is wheel-chair accessible with some assistance if approached from Atchison St. (no steps but slightly graded slope to access GZ).

A trig point (also known as a Trigonometric Station) typically consists of a faded, worn black disc on top a concrete pillar. It is also accompanied by a metal disc, which is located directly below the center point of the tripod or on top of the pillar itself.

Trig points are generally located at the top of hills or points of prominence in the landscape. Many provide unique views and challenges, with some being difficult to get to.

These points were regarded as valuable to surveyors, providing reference points for measuring distance and direction, and assisting in the creation of maps.

To log a find on the Geocaching Australia website, you will need to include a picture of the trig point, along with your GPS receiver and (preferably) yourself. Long distance / telephoto type pictures are against the spirit of this cache. You are encouraged to leave a description of your journey in your log to help others in finding the trig point.

The original collection of trig points has been sourced from Geoscience Australia and may contain inaccuracies.

Please respect local laws and regulations when searching for trig points. If you believe that a trig point is located on private property or in a dangerous location, you may archive the cache, by clicking on Log this Cache and place an "Archived" log on the Geocaching Australia website.

If you feel that you can add to the description of this trig point or adjust the difficulty / terrain ratings, please feel free to edit this cache and amend the information suitably. Vandalism of the cache description or other information will result in your account being terminated.

This trig is on top of a water tower Mt Vincent road, East Maitland.  There is no direct access but photo is possible from the footpath.

A Trig Point is a virtual cache which requires a cacher to locate the Trigonometric Station at GZ.

A trig point (also known as a Trigonometric Station) typically consists of a black disc on top of four metal legs or concrete pillar, resembling a navigation beacon. It is also accompanied by a metal disc, which is located directly below the center point of the tripod or on top of the pillar itself.

Trig points are generally located at the top of hills or points of prominence in the landscape. Many provide unique views and challenges, with some being difficult to get to.

These points were regarded as valuable to surveyors, providing reference points for measuring distance and direction, and assisting in the creation of maps.

To log a find on the Geocaching Australia website, you will need to include a picture of the trig point, along with your GPS receiver and (preferably) yourself. Long distance / telephoto type pictures are against the spirit of this cache. You are encouraged to leave a description of your journey in your log to help others in finding the trig point.

The original collection of trig points has been sourced from Geoscience Australia and may contain inaccuracies.

Please respect local laws and regulations when searching for trig points. If you believe that a trig point is located on private property or in a dangerous location, you may archive the cache, by clicking on Log this Cache and place an "Archived" log on the Geocaching Australia website.

If you feel that you can add to the description of this trig point or adjust the difficulty / terrain ratings, please feel free to edit this cache and amend the information suitably. Vandalism of the cache description or other information will result in your account being terminated.

The PM called an election for this day and since the City of Devonport Scout Hall is a polling booth the event has had to be moved to idyllic Port Sorell. I apologise for this change but...

Have GPSr, Digital Camera, a splattering of tomato sauce and buckets of skulduggery and you discover

Geosport in the 'Port 2010

What more can you want? Photos of scenic Port Sorell, a little fishing, some sand castle making, some crayon rubbings and great company.....

Rough agenda:

2:30 pm start by meeting at the Rubicon Sea Scout Hall @ Camp Boomerang then

3:00 pm The Hunt for special sites around Port Sorell followed by

6:-6:30 Hot pot dinner

6:30 Awards and photo display

Then

7:30 for those who are truly committed: Followed by a night time cache hunt. Six camouflaged caches in the dark..

Then if I am truly lucky and organized a preview of an unpublished series of caches around the Devonport District (since I had already put caches there!). How many FTF can you find…..?

You will need

A teams are required with a non navigating driver.

A team name

A GPSr, a digital camera

A street map of Port Sorell could be handy

Something edible/drinkable to bring for the shared meal

Decent shoes

In reality you are going to do a fair bit of foot work.....

Could you bring a dish to share (hot pot, salad, veg or dessert) and let others know what you are bringing when noting your intention to attend?

You may also want to bring some extra images of caching type theme worth sharing with others that can be displayed via a data projector.

There is plenty of room in the main hall for kids to run around in and a separate kitchen, dining area.

House keeping:

As cache/event setter/organiser I cannot accept any responsibility for any problems encountered during the day, including motoring accidents, speeding, allergy to plants, tomato sauce  etc etc.

Your safety and wellbeing is entirely your responsibility if you take part in the event.

By setting out to this event, the driver is responsible for any third party action that may arise during the day. I, as organiser, am not responsible for any actions by yourself at all.

The driver has to apply to all Tasmanian driving laws and therefore as such take no part in the treasure hunt (looking at GPS, reading maps, making decisions etc. He/she can take instructions from passengers as to which direction to drive in).

He/she must be in full control of the vehicle and even though the event is time limited though score based all speeding laws must be followed, and obviously drive slower if the conditions require.

Co-ordinates must be passed if the road conditions or traffic does not allow safe stopping. Driving faster than you would for an 'average' day out is should not happen. Strategy will play a bigger part.

(thanks pjamesk for this bit from the inspirational Hunt and Munch GC19J92)

The Hunt
The hunt way-points will be uploaded to this page about 10pm the night before. (Friday 20th August)
There will be only 12 way-points but extra bonuses for photos etc.
Questions concerning the way-points will be given out at registration.
The time limit for teams during the hunt will be two hours. (That is ten minutes a cache...)
One team per car. The driver drives the car, and everyone else plays with the GPSr/other stuff.
The range of way-points will be within 15 km of the Scout Hall.
Remember to obey rules of the road and the land (i.e. you should not trespass) during the hunt.
Remember the hunt is for fun, not for glory and of course paper awards.......including....

the people’s choice for tomato sauce art real and cached......

Remember you will need:
GPSr
Digital Camera

A method of transferring photos to my computer (i.e. mobile phones will not work.) i.e. flashdrive etc.
Map of Devonport (UMD Map Number 1 and 3 should be suffice)
Walking Shoes (strappy sandals and comfy slippers may not handle the bush)


Tell Tales
the more entertaining, the better they are.

Photos

The more entertaining the better….

Questions about the day.
Please ask questions earlier so they can be addressed rather than leaving concerns to the last moment.

Awards

Awards up for grabs

These will be based on photos that will be viewed during the meal.

Hard luck award

Pirates of the Panatana award

Sand Castle/McMansion Award

Pro Hart Tomato Sauce Award

Motion on the Ocean Award

The Bridge Party Award

The Surf Rescue Award

Across the River Lumix (waterproof/shock camera proof) award. (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/3077148/panasonic_lumix_waterproof/)

 I have been trying to downloads clues but the computer is a bit reluctant to co-operate!!! I will try again late Friday night.

Bizarre things happen when I try to add co-ordinates so teams will have to work off the sheet that I will give out tomorrow and manually enter the numbers. Sorry....my brain is fried and tired.

This event occurs after the Geosport in the Port on Saturday 21st August at approximately 7:30 p.m.

You will need to carefully and safely navigate your way through this area and find the glowsticks and return to the hall.

The caches are mostly hiden within a short distance of a car park in areas away from public revellery and usually under adequate lighting. The contents are glow sticks.....

See the Geosport in the Port Event Cache desciption for more details.

We went inside and had a chat to the owner, so he's ok with us leaving the container in his care. so drop in and say hi if you have the time, I'm sure they'll be interested to hear from you.

The owner of the Topar roadhouse told us of another location about 20 miles from Topar that has a cave on it, apparently where B&W camped for some time in this area. It has carvings and names painted on the walls. Unfortunately we could not get an exact location from him, nor had we the time to investigate.

Sadly the local aboriginals have claimed the land and caged off the cave so no one can access it now anyway.

You can find the cache quite easily during the day, but be aware that the dogs behind the fence will probably bring the roadhouse owner to investigate the noise after hours, so probably best to do this one during the day.

You are seeking a small (200ml) geocache which can be found at the stated co-ordinates for this cache listing.
This location is extremely popular during daylight hours and you will find yourself surrounded by many hundreds, if not thousands of Melbournians going about their daily business.
This cache is magnetically attached to its hiding place and you will need stealth in order to retrieve it. It is not too difficult to find, but how close you can get will depend on the position of the satellites. If you struggle with the satellites, do not hesitate to use the additional hint which should narrow down the final location to search.

About this location:
When the first European settlers settled the Central Melbourne area in 1835 there was no permanent crossing point of the Yarra River. The government in Sydney was unreliable in providing funds for the construction of a bridge, thus most of Melbourne’s early infrastructure was provided by private enterprise. On 22nd April 1840 a private company was set up with the intention of constructing a bridge across the Yarra. Traders in Elizabeth Street vied with those in Swanston Street to have the through traffic that would be generated by a bridge.

Lieutenant-Governor La Trobe favoured an Elizabeth Street crossing, but the private company favoured the construction conditions at Swanston Street and it was there in 1840 that they opened their wooden toll bridge. Swanston Street quickly became regarded as the main street until the construction of inner city bypasses directed through-traffic away from the city. By 1850, the government provided funds to build a single span sandstone bridge, which opened on 15 November without tolls. This bridge was the first to bear the 'Princes Bridge' name.

However, within a year, gold was discovered in country Victoria and Melbourne saw a massive increase in population. In addition to the increase in traffic crossing the bridge, there was also a need to handle increased shipping traffic on the Yarra River and the river was widened to cope with this. Construction on the new bridge began in 1886 and was completed in 1888.  As with many historic Melburnian buildings and bridges, the bridge is built on solid bluestone bulwarks with plenty of cast iron.

The present bridge was named after Edward, Prince of Wales, and was built between 1886 and 1888 by David Munro. It was designed by John Grainger (1855-1917), the father of the Australian composer Percy Grainger, and was opened on 4 October 1888.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princes_Bridge_(Melbourne)

Relationship to Burke & Wills:
The camels arrived in Hobson's Bay, Port Melbourne aboard the Chinsurah on Wednesday 13th June 1860 and the next day they were unloaded and taken along over the Princes Bridge and along Swanston and Bourke Streets to stables at Parliament House. These strange oriental beasts caused a great stir in the city and police were forced to clear a path as large crowds gathered to watch the colourful procession.

The camels imported for the expedition were not an absolute novelty to Melbournians. George Coppin, well-known actor and showman, had been displaying camels in his Cremorne Gardens pleasure-park. The expedition actually purchased ten of his beasts to supplement those brought from India by George Landells. One of these, a particularly troublesome animal, was later nicknamed 'Master Coppin' by Wills.

As the expedition's chief camel-wrangler, Landells enjoyed unusual authority, but quickly eroded his credibility by directions which his fellow explorers considered preposterous. Notably, the provision of pepper and twenty gallons of rum to be used as stimulants to revive the animals when they were tired.

The camels caused a great deal of trouble to their handlers. Ludwig Becker was lifted bodily off the ground by one which managed to get its teeth into the seat of his trousers. Even an experienced cameleer like Dost Mahomet was later permanently disabled when another camel similarly lifted and shook him. The explorers seem to have been unable to stop them from wandering at night, and on many mornings hours were wasted mustering them. Specially made camel shoes, to help the animals traverse stony ground, soon proved virtually impossible to fit.

Overall, however, the camels performed well. Burke took six camels on his dash to the Gulf of Carpentaria, but returned with only two, Rajah and Landa. Some had strayed, and the rest had been worked to exhaustion then shot and cut up for meat.

Source: http://www.burkeandwills.net.au/Brief_History/Chapter_04.htm
Source: http://victoria.slv.vic.gov.au/burkeandwills/preparations/camels.html

Easy enough 2wd to the car park. The walk takes about 10min to the lookout. Take care as some parts are washed out at the moment and some sections are not fenced so dont let the minis wander off. Cache is just just under the edge of the path, please dont venture any further of the path. Enjoy!

We have provided a big hint as its all about location, location, location!....and we only had 13mt accuracy!

Oh just realised that 'A Walk On The Wild Side' is very close...(no we have not done it yet!) Craigrat, any dramas let us know.

About this location:

Flagstaff Gardens are Melbourne's oldest gardens. They take their name from a flagstaff erected in 1840 at the settlement's highest point, in order to communicate between the harbour and town. This became known as "Flagstaff Hill". Before this, the area was used as a cemetary and was known as Burial Hill. (There is a memorial in the gardens that marks the graves of the first European settlers.) The hill was at such a high point that people going to Flagstaff Hill enjoyed panoramic views of the bay. However, as city buildings rose up around the gardens, the views were blocked out. Today, standing in the gardens, it is hard to imagine that this was such a high point and that it was once possible to see the bay.

Source: http://www.melbourne.com.au/flagstaf.htm

Significance of this site:

William John Wills, born in Totnes, England, on January 5, 1834, had first been a shepherd when he migrated to Australia in '52, but three years later he began studying surveying and astronomy and moved to Melbourne to work at the magnetic observatory and weather station that was situated here in Flagstaff Gardens until 1863 (interference from the surrounding buildings forced its relocation to the King's Domain). Thus also knowledgeable in meteorology, Wills was named the expedition's third-in-command, showing himself to be a quiet, hard-working individual, and one who always managed a good working relationship with Burke.

The original Flagstaff observatory was founded in 1858 by Georg Balthasar von Neumayer, a Bavarian-born member of the expedition committee who had been Wills' employer. He accompanied the expedition as far as the Darling River, completing his magnetic survey of Victoria. He died in Germany in 1909.

Source: Paul Dorsey, used with permission.

About the cache:

You are seeking a small (400ml) container which can be found at the stated co-ordinates for this cache listing.
There is a playground nearby for the mini-cachers which may also be full of muggles so please use stealth to ensure the longevity of this cache.

Burke and Wills:

The camels caused a great deal of trouble for their handlers.  Ludwig Becker was lifted bodily off the ground by one that managed to get its teeth into the seat of his trousers. Even an experienced cameleer like Dost Mahomet was later permanently disabled when another similarly lifted and shook him.  The explorers seem to have been unable to stop them from wandering at night, and many morning hours were wasted mustering them.  Specially made camel shoes, to help the animals traverse stony ground, soon proved virtually impossible to fit.  

Overall, however, the camels performed well, though HistoryHouse.com cited another source as insisting they "were wilful and mischievous, disappearing from time to time with varying levels of success". 

However, the real problem was that the camels were half pissed, that is to say, drunk.  The expedition had taken some 60 gallons of rum for the camels, which, according to Landells, 'revived' them when they were tired and hungry.  However, other members of the party took to 'reviving' themselves, and Burke went berserk when he found out.

At one point, thinking their camels exhausted, the party allowed them to slip out of sight.  The camels then kicked up their heels and ran all night, causing Wills to note dryly that "they were not quite so much done up as they appeared to be".
 

Dost Mahomet, Burke and Wills' Afghan camel driver, chose to settle in Menindee.  He'd lost an arm following a run-in with a camel, but found work in the bakery of William Ah Chung, which is today an art gallery on Menindee Street.  In the aftermath of the expedition, when accounts were being settled back in Melbourne, Mahomet's formal request to be paid at the full rate of his European colleagues – £10 a month – was rejected.  

Mahomet died some years later; his grave is just outside the township of Menindee.

The Victorian Exploring Expedition of 1860, usually known as the Burke and Wills expedition, stands as a landmark in Australian history. They succeeded in crossing the continent from South to North, at the cost of several lives. These geocaches mark important points associated with the Expedition.Robert O’Hara Burke was a former soldier and police superintendant in country Victoria when he was selected to lead the Expedition.

Their goal was to explore the unknown areas north of Cooper’s Creek with a view to finding a route to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Along the way, they were to conduct a full scientific survey, and identify good grazing land. If Melbourne were to establish an outpost on the North coast, it could also serve one day as the landing point for a transcontinental telegraph link.

The Expedition left Royal Park on the 20th of August 1860, with 19 men, 26 camels, 24 horses, six wagons and 21 tons of supplies. Many of these supplies were left along the way as Burke progressively streamlined the party, obsessed with the idea of beating rival explorer John Macdouall Stuart to the north coast. Burke came within kilometres of the open sea along the Gulf of Carpentaria with a small group of four men after a punishing journey across unforgiving country. He returned after four months to the depot site at Cooper’s Creek to find the relief party had left that very morning, burying a small cache of supplies near a tree marked with the word DIG. Burke and Wills died by the banks of the Cooper. Of the four men to reach the Gulf country, only John King survived.

The scientific goals of the expedition were greatly curtailed by Burke’s haste, and much of the land they traversed is marginal grazing country at best. The eventual telegraph line followed Stuart’s route from Adelaide to Darwin. Nevertheless, the bravery and persistence shown by the members of the expedition has ensured their names live on even today.

The Cache
The cache is an ammo can located near the cairn that marks Wills Grave. Note that there is a Virtual cache nearby too GA2415 B&W (V) Wills' grave.

The Man
William John Wills was an English-born surveyor who also trained for a while as a surgeon.  In July 1860, at the age of 26, he was appointed to the Victorian Exploring Expedition as surveyor, astronomer and third-in-command on a salary of £300 a year under the leadership of Robert O'Hara Burke.
Wills' extensive correspondence shows an examining and factual mind, with an interest in natural phenomena, literature and exploration. Described as having a 'clear … complexion, an expressive eye that always outstripped his tongue … golden hair, a thick tawny beard, a smile at once intellectual and sympathising, a light, clean, agile frame', Wills had a keen sense of the ridiculous. He was a serious, intelligent and loyal man who did his job well, keeping an accurate record of the expedition and a detailed diary to which we owe much of our knowledge of what occurred.

The Story
The well-equipped expedition left Melbourne on 20 August 1860 and Wills ended up appointed second-in-command after Burke had a dispute with his original 2-I-C. With most of the party and many supplies left in Menindee, a smaller group of men pushed on to Cooper Creek and established a depot there and a month later, on 16 December, Burke, Wills, King and Gray, headed north for the Gulf of Carpentaria, the expedition’s main goal.
Except for the heat, the journey north was relatively trouble free and water was still easy to find due to recent rains.  It took them 59 days to reach their goal but as they turned back, they were desperately short of supplies with only enough food left for 27 days on a trip that was to last 70 days. Rations were reduced to quarter of a pound of flour and ten sticks of dried meat per day.
Wills' diary of this trip proves his own physical and mental toughness. It was a nightmare journey, with Gray dying and most of the pack animals too.
One camel was abandoned when it was unable to continue, three others were shot and eaten and they shot their only horse. Equipment was abandoned as the pack animals reduced, including all Wills’ surveying instruments.
To extend their food supply they ate portulaca and Gray also caught a huge Python which they ate. Burke and Gray immediately came down with dysentery which must have further reduced their strength and probably contributed to Gray’s death. Finally after 70 days, Burke, Wills and King reached their camp on Cooper Creek again on 21 April to find it had been abandoned only several hours earlier.
They were unable to carry enough water to leave Cooper Creek and make their way safely to Melbourne. Their supplies were very low, they were malnourished and exhausted. The Cooper Creek Aborigines  gave them fish, beans called 'padlu' and a type of damper made from the nardoo plant, in exchange for sugar. For two months, the three survivors lived precariously on Cooper Creek, collecting nardoo and accepting gifts of fish and baked rats from the Yandruwandha people (yummy!).

Wills Death
Towards the end of June 1861 as they were following the Cooper upstream to find the Aborigines’ campsite, Wills became too weak to continue. He was left behind at his own insistence at Breerily Waterhole with some food, water and shelter.
Wills was a man of fine character and great courage as he wrote his last letter to his father: "My dear Father, These are probably the last lines you will ever get from me. We are on the point of starvation, not so much from absolute want of food, but from the want of nutriment in what we can get ... Adieu, my dear Father. WJ Wills. I think to live about four or five days. My spirits are excellent."
Reluctantly, Burke and King continued upstream for another two days until Burke also became too weak to continue. The next morning Burke died and King stayed with his body for two days.
On a date that Wills recorded as June 26, but was more likely the 28th since his track of time had clearly slipped, he was still making notes in his journal . This is his final entry:
"I am weaker than ever although I have a good appetite and relish the nardu much, but it seems to give us no nutriment and the birds here are so shy as not to be got at. Even if we got a good supply of fish I doubt whether we could do much work on them and the nardu alone. Nothing now but the greatest good luck can now save any of us, and as for myself, I may live four or five days if the weather continues warm. My pulse is at 48 and very weak and my legs and arms are nearly skin and bone. I can only look out like Mr Micawber 'for something to turn up', but starvation on nardu is by no means very unpleasant but for the weakness one feels and the utter inability to move oneself."
King returned downstream after leaving Burke’s body, and he found that Wills had died as well. The natives had taken some of his clothes, but ritually placed boughs from his gunyah over his chest. King buried him in the sand, then again went looking for the Yandruwandha to beg for food.
The official date of Wills death adopted by the Exploration Committee was Wednesday, 28 June 1861, but Wills probably died around Friday, 30 June or Saturday, 1 July 1861 at Breerily Waterhole, Cooper Creek.
The Aftermath
When the Victorian Relief Expedition, led by Howitt, arrived almost 3 months later, they found King living with the Yandruwandha. They buried Wills’ body where it lay before returning to Melbourne. In pitiful condition, King survived the slow trip back to Melbourne, and died eleven years later, aged 33, having never recovered his health. 
Howitt returned to Cooper Creek in 1862 and disinterred Burke and Wills' bodies, taking them first to Adelaide and then by steamer to Melbourne where they were laid in state for two weeks. On 23 January 1863 Burke and Wills received a State Funeral and were buried in Melbourne General Cemetery.
The government's inquiry into the tragedy criticized Burke's leadership and decisions, the appointment and suitability of a number of the expeditions members and the errors and delays of the exploration committee; but there was little or no criticism of Wills, who was a most loyal lieutenant, subjugating personal doubts on Burke's decisions despite being a better bushman than his leader. As his father, Dr Wills stated 'he fell a victim to errors not originating with himself'.  

The Memorials
The history of the various memorials is also an interesting aspect of the story. When Howitt buried Wills’ body in 1861, he blazed a tree on the bank :
      W J WILLS
        XLV YDS
          WNW
            A H

In 1947 or 1948, Queensland grazier, Alfred Towner blazed a tree in the creek at the site of Wills' death "WILLS   1861" and also erected a pipe nearby which was inscribed…       WILLS DIED IN CREEK 1861. In 1996 Dave Phoenix placed sand and stones around the pipe to protect it from damage by tourists.

Mike Steel and Joe Mack of Rover Charter Tours built the cairn in 1973. Joe Mack had wanted to erect a cairn in 1961, one hundred years after the death of Wills, but was unable to do so due to lack of interest and funding. Mike Steel raised the idea again in 1971 and in March 1973, erected the cairn. A television crew from ADS7 joined the team and the plaque was donated by Porter and Barnett, Adelaide photo engravers.
 
 

Burke & Wills Camp IV. (Lancefield.) Thursday, 23/8/1860

Having left camp III at the Belinda Vale property of Sir Rupert Clarke the expedition continued north over slippery black volcanic soil that reminded them of soft-soap and then through forested country towards Lancefield. Lancefield was then beside the Deep Creek at the foot of the Great Dividing Range, about two miles north of its present location. It was a busy township with a brewery, brick kilns, several shops and hotels and a population of about 300.

When the railway from Lancefield Junction (now called Clarkefield) was mooted, the old township of Lancefield started to die and the present location of Lancefield began to grow on its new site. The impressive three-storey hotel on the highway was built on the confident, but erroneous, assumption that the railway station would be established near by.

Only one building remains of the old Lancefield township which was formerly Mustey's butcher's shop, it is close to the road junction just beyond the bridge over the Deep Creek. The butcher who sold meat to the expedition was the grandfather of Mr. Charles Mustey who still occupies the original premises as a residence.

At the above co-ordinates you will find easy parking and a marker to the Burke and Wills Expedition. As you read the information look up and to the right at the area where the old Lancefield township used to be and where the expedition camp was located.

You will need to find the coordinates of the final cache location which are hidden here in a concealed container. Once you have the necessary information it is just a short walk (or drive) to GZ which is located at the start of The Three Chain Road which has now been renamed Burke and Wills Track.

The cache is a 2 litre sistema in an ammo box which has been painted black and is hidden at the base of a tree. Please ensure that the cache is well hidden before you leave and I would ask that you help maintain the standard of the cache by placing quality swaps only. As always, be mindful of the local wildlife both good and bad.

Burke & Wills Camp V. (Dr Baynton's) Friday, 24/8/1860

The Expedition was already running into difficulties, as the weather and equipment failures led to boggings and unhappy camels. Moving out of the valley of the Deep Creek (to which old residents still refer as the Saltwater), a sandstone formation, N.W. of the township offered a fair road for the camels. Soon after the sandstone they were met with Granit, which again was exchanged for sandstone, then crossing “The Big Hill” (Great Dividing Range) where the ascent and descent with a grade of one in seven caused some delay.

The expeditions naturalist and artist, Ludwig Becker recalled, “We were most heartily received by a poor family living in a hut at the “Accommodation Paddock” in front of which we awaited the arrival of our waggons. The housewife offering us tea and milk, which was gladly accepted, she refused at the same time to take payment for it, however, her rosy cheeked children at the door of the hut differed from their mothers view and shaking hands with us strangers accepted a few shillings, which they were told by the good women to keep it as a 'memento cameli' which I think is the proper translation for a 'camel token' as she called it.”

The expedition left The Three Chain Road (now Burke and Wills Track) to reach Dr. Thomas Baynton's homestead, Darlington. The Three Chain Road follows the track from Echuca to Melbourne established by the bullock teams in the 1840's, and is still mentioned with capital letters. At Baynton, their camp site is still marked by a small clump of Osage Orange trees between the present homestead and the road, close to Pohlman's Creek although this is all private property.

Next morning, Becker was astonished to see an extinct volcanic crater between their camp and The Three Chain Road, and he sketched the expedition passing through it on their way out of ‘Darlington’ to pass over ‘the desolate Spring Plains’ to Mia Mia.

At the listed co-ordinates you will be looking for a 2 litre sistema in an ammo box which has been painted black. The road here is quite narrow so please make sure you park well off the side of the road and be careful of passing traffic. Once you have found the cache be sure to look over the paddocks to the South East where you will see the outer rim of the volcanic crater that Becker wrote about and that the expedition passed through when leaving Baynton. Please ensure that the cache is well hidden before you leave and I would ask that you help maintain the standard of the cache by placing quality swaps only. As always, be mindful of the local wildlife both good and bad.

Castlemaine Monument

Robert O'Hara Burke was an Irish soldier and police officer, who achieved fame as an Australian explorer. He was the leader of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Australia from south to north, finding a route across the continent from the settled areas of Victoria to the Gulf of Carpentaria. The expedition party was well-equipped, but Burke was not experienced in bushcraft and his leadership is often blamed for the failure of the project and deaths of seven people in the party.

He was police superintendent at Castlemaine before his appointment as leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition in June 1860. He had a distinguished career as a police officer in Victoria and in Ireland, but he seemed to long for a chance to prove himself on a larger stage. This chance was presented when the Royal Society called for applications for the leadership of their new Exploring Expedition.

Burke was a well-known figure in Beechworth and Castlemaine, his two main postings. A curious eccentric, he was well-liked and respected as a police officer, but renowned for his temper, and one does wonder about appointing as the leader of and exploration a man of whom “… it was said … as a good joke but true nevertheless, that when he was returning form Yackandandah to Beechworth he lost his way, although the track was well beaten and frequented, and did not arrive at his destination for many hours after he was due,” or “He could not tell north form south in broad daylight, and the Southern Cross as a guide was a never ending puzzle to him.”

Castlemaine was the first towns to decide to build a monument. Initially they wanted to bury Burke at the Castlemaine cemetery. By May 1862, the citizens of Castlemaine had raised £450 for a memorial from public subscription and donations and on the anniversary of Burke’s death, 1 July 1862, a public holiday was declared. A procession of over 2,000, including John King, John Macadam and Frederick Standish, marched from town to a hill to the east of town where a ceremony was performed and a foundation stone laid by the Sheriff of Castlemaine, Richard Colles. The granite obelisk was completed in July 1863, but not before the workers of Castlemaine and Fryers Creek had threatened to erect a taller monument commemorating Charlie Gray, if Gray's name was not included on the original memorial.

Once at the listed coordinates you will need to answer the following questions.

There are a number of donated stone seats around the monument, how many = A

There is a new part to the monument on the northern corner, it shows a map of Australia and the route that the expedition took, on that route how many places are named = B

The cache is located not far away at S37 04.01A E144 13.B48

The cache is a 1 litre sistema which has been painted black. Please ensure that the cache is well hidden before you leave and I would ask that you help maintain the standard of the cache by placing quality swaps only. As always, be mindful of the local wildlife both good and bad.

The Cache
The cache is an ammo can located near the cairn that marks Wills Grave. Note that very close is virtual Burke & Wills cache as well, GA2417.

The Expedition
The Victorian Exploring Expedition of 1860, usually known as the Burke and Wills expedition, stands as a landmark in Australian history. They succeeded in crossing the continent form South to North, at the cost of several lives. These geocaches mark important points associated with the Expedition.

Robert O'Hara Burke was a former soldier and police superintendant in country Victoria when he was selected to lead the Expedition. Their goal was to explore the unknown areas north of Cooper’s Creek with a view to finding a route to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Along the way, they were to conduct a full scientific survey, and identify good grazing land. If Melbourne were to establish an outpost on the North coast, it could also serve one day as the landing point for a transcontinental telegraph link.

The Expedition left Royal Park on the 20th of August 1860, with 19 men, 26 camels, 24 horses, six wagons and 21 tons of supplies. Many of these supplies were left along the way as Burke progressively streamlined the party, obsessed with the idea of beating rival explorer John Macdouall Stuart to the north coast. Burke came within kilometres of the open sea along the Gulf of Carpentaria with a small group of four men after a punishing journey across unforgiving country. He returned after four months to the depot site at Cooper’s Creek to find the relief party had left that very morning, burying a small cache of supplies near a tree marked with the word DIG. Burke and Wills died by the banks of the Cooper. Of the four men to reach the Gulf country, only John King survived.

The scientific goals of the expedition were greatly curtailed by Burke's haste, and much of the land they traversed is marginal grazing country at best. The eventual telegraph line followed Stuart’s route from Adelaide to Darwin. Nevertheless, the bravery and persistence shown by the members of the expedition has ensured their names live on even today.

Robert O'Hara Burke, leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition, was buried near this site. Burke had returned form his trip to the Gulf of Carpentaria on the verge of collapse to find that the depot party had left Cooper's Creek that very day to return to Menindee. Burke decided that since they were too weak to follow the party across the desert, they would attempt to follow the Cooper toward Mount Disappointment, a police outpost 250 kilometres away. They had only one surviving camel, and minimal supplies. Thankfully, the local Yandruwandha people had established traditions of hospitality for travelers.

In desperation, Burke and King had reluctantly left an incapacitated William Wills downstream in an attempt to find assistance from the Yandruwandha people. Burke himself weakened further, until he could no longer walk. He implored King to place his pistol in his hand and wait with him until the end. Tearfully, King did as he requested. These are his last written words:

King has behaved nobly and I hope he will be properly cared for.

ROH Burke

Burke died on or around the 30th of June 1861.He requested his body be left to the elements. King left him to seek out the Yandruwandha, who took him in and cared for him until Alfred Howitt's relief expedition arrived several months later. It was this expedition that finally buried Burke, as seen in this painting, although both Burke and Wills' remains were later returned to Melbourne for a state funeral.

Thursday-Friday, 30–31/8/1860

Inspired by the journals of Dr. Ludwig Becker the official diarist and naturalist of the expedition.

As Burke led his party for twelve miles across the Terrick Terrick Plains (entering the area described by Major Mitchell during his expedition in 1836 as Australia Felix),the Terrick Terrick Hills seemed in the mirage to float in the air. Not restricted by fences, the party took the most direct and practicable route to the homestead of Dr. John Pearson Rowe on the west bank of the creek and close to the most easterly tip of the range. Today it is most easily reached by travelling east from Mitiamo, then downstream in a northerly direction. A brick remnant of the old homestead standing on a rise among sheoaks is easily recognized. The property, now known as Oak Ridge, is the home of Mr. F. Thomas. Some idea of the extensive homestead complex necessary to operate a remote grazing run in the early days can be gained from the remains of the many buildings formerly on Terrick Terrick but long since disappeared.

Dr. Rowe, a chemist from Lancashire, had crossed from Hobart in 1846 to live the remaining 32 years of his life as a squatter,almost solely on the Terrick Terrick Plains. A man of prominence and influence in the squatting age, he controlled at various times a total of almost half a million acres. Taking up the Restdown Plains run (106,922 acres) in 1852, he made his home beside the Campaspe River. The following year, he built nearby on the bank of the Campaspe a hotel, quaintly named The Apples, to accommodate the many drovers and prospectors passing through. Around this hotel grew the township of Rowechester, now Rochester, so named by the Governor in compliment to its founder. Dr. Rowe held Terrick Terrick No. 2 for thirteen years, and Becker commented that the doctor was present to welcome the expedition when it halted there.

Becker noted Dr. Rowe's use of local building materials, and was impressed by the large dam constructed on the creek, of which the bluestone spillway is an impressive survival. Settlers further downstream resented this interference with the flow of the stream and attempted to destroy the dam by explosion. Becker remarked on the discoloration of the stream resulting from the puddling by thousands of miners in and around theBendigo goldfield.

Here the explorers made their first contact with tribal aborigines who camped near them at Dr. Rowe's but could not be tempted to come near them, the blacks being especially apprehensive of the camels. To them, the camels were ‘bunyips', and to be feared accordingly. No mention was made in the expedition's records of the two fenced but un-named graves whose occupants now rest forgotten close to the homestead.

The party remained two days with Dr. Rowe before moving further down the creek to Mount Hope.

The Victorian Exploring Expedition of 1860, usually known as the Burke and Wills expedition, stands as a landmark in Australian history. They succeeded in crossing the continent form South to North, at the cost of several lives. These geocaches mark important points associated with the Expedition.

Robert O’Hara Burke was a former soldier and police superintendant in country Victoria when he was selected to lead the Expedition. Their goal was to explore the unknown areas north of Cooper’s Creek with a view to finding a route to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Along the way, they were to conduct a full scientific survey, and identify good grazing land. If Melbourne were to establish an outpost on the North coast, it could also serve one day as the landing point for a transcontinental telegraph link.

The Expedition left Royal Park on the 20^th of August 1860, with 19 men, 26 camels, 24 horses, six wagons and 21 tons of supplies. Many of these supplies were left along the way as Burke progressively streamlined the party, obsessed with the idea of beating rival explorer John Macdouall Stuart to the north coast. Burke came within kilometres of the open sea along the Gulf of Carpentaria with a small group of four men after a punishing journey across unforgiving country. He returned after four months to the depot site at Cooper’s Creek to find the relief party had left that very morning, burying a small cache of supplies near a tree marked with the word DIG. Burke and Wills died by the banks of the Cooper. Of the four men to reach the Gulf country, only John King survived.

The scientific goals of the expedition were greatly curtailed by Burke’s haste, and much of the land they traversed is marginal grazing country at best. The eventual telegraph line followed Stuart’s route fromAdelaide to Darwin. Nevertheless, the bravery and persistence shown by the members of the expedition has ensured their names live on even today. 

S 35 59.AAA

E144 12.BBB

 The year the plaque was unveiled – 1830 = AAA

 The number of years between their passing here and the plaque being unveiled  + 434  = BBB

The container requires some scrambling to get to but very little climbing.  It is suitable for children and the mobile elderly.

The Victorian Exploring Expedition of 1860, usually known as the Burke and Wills expedition, stands as a landmark in Australian history. They succeeded in crossing the continent form South to North, at the cost of several lives. These geocaches mark important points associated with the Expedition.

 Robert O’Hara Burke was a former soldier and police superintendant in country Victoria when he was selected to lead the Expedition. Their goal was to explore the unknown areas north of Cooper’s Creek with a view to finding a route to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Along the way, they were to conduct a full scientific survey, and identify good grazing land. If Melbourne were to establish an outpost on the North coast, it could also serve one day as the landing point for a transcontinental telegraph link.

 The Expedition left Royal Park on the 20^th of August 1860, with 19 men, 26 camels, 24 horses, six wagons and 21 tons of supplies. Many of these supplies were left along the way as Burke progressively streamlined the party, obsessed with the idea of beating rival explorer John Macdouall Stuart to the north coast. Burke came within kilometres of the open sea along the Gulf of Carpentaria with a small group of four men after a punishing journey across unforgiving country. He returned after four months to the depot site at Cooper’s Creek to find the relief party had left that very morning, burying a small cache of supplies near a tree marked with the word DIG. Burke and Wills died by the banks of the Cooper. Of the four men to reach the Gulf country, only John King survived.

 The scientific goals of the expedition were greatly curtailed by Burke’s haste, and much of the land they traversed is marginal grazing country at best. The eventual telegraph line followed Stuart’s route from Adelaide to 

Darwin. Nevertheless, the bravery and persistence shown by the members of the expedition has ensured their names live on even today. 

 Saturday 1/9/1860.  Camp 11 

Inspired by the journals of Dr. Ludwig Becker the official diarist and naturalist of the expedition.

The mount greatly impressed Becker, its massive blocks of stone reminding him of ‘pre-adamic whales and elephants’. There was a spring-time profusion of flowers and insects among the rocks. He sketched the station hut and was shown the ‘subterranean chamber’ at the north-west foot of the mount that had once been used as an illicit distillery. From the summit, where Major Mitchell had stood twenty-four years before surveying his ‘Australia Felix’, Becker sketched Pyramid Hill to the south-west.

Like many other grazing runs at the time, the Mt. Hope and Mt. Pyramid run was absentee owned. The superintendent of the run, Mr. W. Downes Chomley, who proved a warm and generous host to the travellers, still features significantly in the history of the district. The large old Mt. Hope homestead has been preserved intact. Situated impressively on a sheltered plateau on the eastern side of the mount, it is approached through an entrance on the northern side. 

 Sunday-Monday, 2–3/9/1860.  Camp 12

Eighteen miles further brought the expedition to a camping spot between Lake Tutchewop and Lake Boga, beside a clump of trees left untouched for over a century afterwards. This was quite close to Lake