Mining the Du Cane and other history

[walkinTas]

Some members might find this an interesting read. Report on the Country between Mole Creek and the Mount Dundas Silver Field, and on the discovery of coal at Barn Bluff. Edit: written in 1893.

One little quote- "This is a very important conclusion, for it means that in all probability the coal measures extend right under the Eldon and Du Cane Ranges, and under the Central Plateau, and that this wild and barren district may be the great coal-field of the colony.' Fortunately Mr. Montgomery's coal mine didn't happen. Nor did the railway from Mole Creek to Dundas via Pelion, but I found the first three pages are interesting.

[taswegian]

There was a lot of small scale activity around upper Forth and Pelion area in past.
Nowadays with more intensive investigation I imagine it's inevitable significant mineral deposits will be found. "Bringing huge economic development and job opportunities that will greatly benefit the region."
That is a very real concern that could tare the heart out of that magnificent area.

[walkinTas]

Imagine a railway running up to Pelion hut Chalet from Mole creek, crossing the Mersey on the Parangana dam. What would tourist make of that? How different would the OLT experience be?

[Drifting]

don't start with that Walkin- someone'll come up with the bright idea of putting a cable car up there.

[stepbystep]

Just think of all those jobs!

[Nuts]

don't start with that Walkin- someone'll come up with the bright idea of putting a cable car up there.

Can't see that but it's a shame the zig zag track wasn't maintained it was really nice (aside from the historic approach). Would be a chore now.

[walkinTas]

don't start with that Walkin- someone'll come up with the bright idea of putting a cable car up there.

I guess there is always that risk. Very unlikely though. There is a lovely little publication called "Rail Trails of Tasmania" which has a brief description of many walking tracks that were once railways - website. A line ran in from Deloraine (Lemmana Junction) to Mole Creek. You can find several articles on the survey work for the Mole Creek to Zeehan line, like this one, if you look in Trove. The proposal was controversial in the 1890s. I'm guessing the Arm River track is the tail end of the survey work by Stewart. Robert Ewart completed a track through the missing link from Pelion to Gordon River in 1909 - see map - Ewart's Gordon to Innes track.

Actually the Ewart track from Pelion to lake Ewart, then the second track from Lake Ewart to Lake St. Claire might make and interesting alternative to the OLT.

[Nuts]

Gadds Hill? > Borridale Plains? It might come in up near Wurragarra somewhere, can't imagine from Arm River?

[walkinTas]

I have attached a PDF file with some corrected articles from the Mercury and Examiner (including links to the the originals). I have included the full report by E.G. Innes which describes in some detail the route taken.

[walkinTas]

Add to the above the Will's track.

Mr Will arrived in town yesterday, and reports: ...Being unable to do further prospecting until I got the tools up, I put on all hands to cut a new pack track from Mount Pelion to Liena. Starting from Lake Ayr I kept along the eastern side of the Oakleigh Range for a distance of about 2½ miles, the top of which we reached with a good grade. We then arrived at the Berriedale Plains, crossing them in a northerly direction, which we staked, and cut the timber out of several belts of scrub on to what is known as the Big Plain, at which point we joined the track to Howell's. The distance of track we cut and staked was about 20 miles; the distance from Liena to Pelion by the surveyors' track was 52 miles, so that by cutting the new track we have shortened the distance to 30 miles, most of which is level country, and which is certainly the route the railway ought to take. Launceston Examiner Wednesday 23 December 1891, Page 3

Edit: To me, this is describing the Arm track or something very similar. Stewart appears to have come up the western side of the Mersey and up the same valley as the Lee's track. I'm still trying to work out where Innes came down.

[taswegian]

Walking Tas what file format is that attachment? It shows as pdf but downloads as .php on my tablet.
I have a map of Innes track but am away or would post.

His track came down from Wurragarra to Pelion Plains. I've seen his old stoned chainage posts but long time ago. The Arm track down into the reserve is Innes track, in parts, but I guess you know that.

I can't imagine a better graded track than that, especially when rail is considered.

[Davo1]

I have attached a PDF file with some corrected articles from the Mercury and Examiner (including links to the the originals). I have included the full report by E.G. Innes which describes in some detail the route taken.

Enjoyed the read. Thanks walkinTas

[walkinTas]

Walking Tas what file format is that attachment? It shows as pdf but downloads as .php on my tablet.
I have a map of Innes track but am away or would post. His track came down from Wurragarra to Pelion Plains. I've seen his old stoned chainage posts but long time ago. The Arm track down into the reserve is Innes track, in parts, but I guess you know that.
I can't imagine a better graded track than that, especially when rail is considered.

Thanks for that. The file is just a PDF (Adobe reader) saved from MS Word, but others seem to be opening it ok. (..or just go straight to Trove).

Getting the time sequence right, Wills cut his track in 1891 across the face of Oakleigh. Stewart's survey was 1896 and appears to have come around the valley on the west side of the Mersey. Innes came down the Wurragarra in 1897 on the advice of Russell. He makes no mention of knowing about the Wills track, but does mention finding the Stewart survey up around Lake Ayr. Given the mob that Russell represented, one would think he'd have read Wills account.

I was wondering about the Innes mile markers and if any were still about. I'd appreciate a copy of the track when you get nearer civilisation.

[taswegian]

Will do, but be about 3 weeks+-.
I have a few of the reports in digital and paper format.
Should also have a slide of a mile marker.
I reckon you've probably seen them but not recognised them for what they are.
I'll try and coordinate them and post lat/long and a kml.
Then any interested can have a look.

[corvus]

Looking forward to your post taswegian as I have been curious as to where Innes crossed the Wurragarra to connect up to that nicely benched track of his
corvus

[walkinTas]

+1
Three weeks or so is good. I'll be very busy between now and late June anyways.

[taswegian]

If anyone in Pelion Plains area there was at least one somehwere in vicinity of junction Lees Paddocks / Arm track.
I would imagine the stones are still visible, wood posts may be replaced.
GPS coords would be interesting and if past that way then it may help me reference the track quicker.
So any readers passing that way if you can grab GPS coordinates then post them here please or Pm me.

I'm sure I saw some, one, north Wurragarra Ck too, but not on Arm track.
Regards
Richard

[Nuts]

There are some very old track markers along the current track, on the 'islands' across that stretch just east of the Lees t/o is a large rock pile. I always thought it looked overkill for any marked track. It once had a sapling track marker stuck in it, similar to those stuck in the bog. I just assumed they were more modern as some have an old plastic marker. Perhaps these are what you mean? Maybe they put in newer markers in the old cairns? Some interesting history there wTas. I also assumed it would have headed Nth from Wurragarra. When I first heard abt the new Maggs 17 track, the directions were a bit vague, I headed down that gully to the west of Lk Price which looked the obvious easy gradient on a map. Didn't see any of the old markers but imagine a graded line would have to have taken an alternative route to the modern Arm R. start/end at least.

[taswegian]

Nuts that is probably the one I have a slide of.

The old markers would have been large stone piles, 0.6∅±, with a stake.
The stake had the,'Chainage' (distance from start of track) carved on them.

Obviously not all country has stones readily available so I guess they would build earth mounds in lieu.

When passing through timbered country suitable trees were blazed fore and aft.
When I first started work I walked to Coal Hill and somwhere through the open Myrtle forest I found a marked tree.
It was in shape of traditional survey triangle (elongated half pyramid).
That sparked my interest in the early surveyors exploits.

So yes, some old survey stone piles have survived due to the need to mark the track and obviously provided a ready made holder for stakes or steel markers.

I wonder too how many in Parks are aware of their importance?

[Nuts]

Likely someone has taken an interest in the history though walked that track with various parks 'elders' and don't recall any mention. I have seen some old blazes. Just east of that (Lees T/O) clearing the track now follows the edge of that long gully. It original followed along the ridgeline (as some here might recall) (I assume to the old hut/ruins at the edge of the clearing) and towards the eastern end is a big W/T Stringy with a deep, almost closed over blaze. Iv'e seen a few of these, just presuming they were early bushwalkers era have never taken a closer look. I'll get some pics when I can get up there again. It would be interesting to try and follow them from Wurragarra, east (or north) they are obviously still visible.

[walkinTas]

You might find this article in the Examiner interesting, since it includes the 1897 map of the Innes track. Shows how little was know of the Du Cane range or Cathedral and beyond and no knowledge of the source of the Mersey as Lake Adelaide. Maps of this era were notoriously inaccurate/incomplete.

[Nuts]

Yes, I do. I agree, it would be easy to interpret the map and notes incorrectly. Nothing is close to scale. It looks like the Innes track does come down into the valley early (off the plateau) (not sure what the 'Old Track' is). If that creek represents Wurragarra then they (both tracks) have climbed up to the tarns near its head.
I really like the country up there. There are more modern tracks (or at least route markers) all over the plateau above Arm River and around Pillenger. Iv'e been up onto the higher Plateau from that side (to those tarns.. I think they are named from memory) but this sparks an interest to look around a bit more.

We're probably fortunate that the resources weren't viable, the grazing wouldn't be that good around Lk Ayr surely (though they did use it until recently.. there was an ongoing scotch thistle problem in my time there). " Mr. Innes's opinion tie best places for accommodation houses are Lake Ayr"... he wasn't far off

[walkinTas]

(not sure what the 'Old Track' is)....
We're probably fortunate that the resources weren't viable, the grazing wouldn't be that good around Lk Ayr surely (though they did use it until recently.. there was an ongoing scotch thistle problem in my time there). " Mr. Innes's opinion tie best places for accommodation houses are Lake Ayr"... he wasn't far off

That was my immediate thought too - What old track? Who's old track. It goes right through to the fury. I wonder if he means Russell's route. Obviously Russell (his guide) had been that way before. I wonder if that is the same map that taswegian has?

We are indeed fortunate that mining Pelion and Barn Bluff was not considered more viable in the past otherwise there might be a road down the middle of the OLT and a town called Pelion (or Innesvale). Innes obviously thought picking up those two mines was important for any road west, otherwise why not cross the Forth Valley at Lorinna.

[E.G.]

This is an interesting subject.

Russell really didn't have a track (the Examiner referred to it as such but it was really the track formed by Will's prospecting group). That dates from about 1890. And it in turn is based on the cattleman's track used since the 1850s, and that in turn is based on an Aboriginal route. The old track is shown on Innes' map but not mentioned in the text much. Russell worked for Will as a miner so he knew where it ran, as did Aylett. Innes didn't have many good things to say about Russell either.

The big stake at Lake Ayr is a boundary marker for the National Park. This is when the boundary along the eastern side of Mount Pelion East turned to follow the Arm River Track up to Wurragarra Creek. There used to one at the head of Wurragarra Creek where it changed direction again. All the rock cairns at the saddle near Wurragarra Creek come from this period. They were there to mark the boundary so there were no excuses for snarers working in the reserve. The original track markers decayed years ago. Some were replaced in the 1920/30s and most of those are gone too.

Stewart's railway survey of 1890/91, which petered out on Pelion Plains, can still be found in the forests up there, in places at least.

And the track you see called Innes' was not made along his survey line. The track cutters in 1898 took the track (now Arm River) on a line below Innes' survey to avoid a lot of rock on Innes' route. The accommodation hut at Lake Ayr wouldn't really be that useful because there were already two huts at Pelion. One from Will's prospecting there and the other from the railway survey. A much better name for the track is the original name for it 'Mole Creek Track' and that was made in 1898/99. By the way, Parks have a very good idea of what they have and some people up there love their history.

There was already a track past Lorinna called the VDL track or Great Western Road and Innes was supposed to survey out past Pelion etc and then return via the more northern route but he decided that the route he surveyed first was good enough and dropped the other route. There was a huge amount on argument about the two different routes. Hilarious to read. The town wouldn't have been called Innesville, but very close, Innes called Frog Flats Lammervale

Fascinating time and fascinating history. Have a look at Nic Haygarth's 'A View to Cradle' which covers this subject very well.

[walkinTas]

Thanks for clearing all that up E.G. I'll try and find a copy of the book. I'm pleased there are people like yourself and Nic who make an effort to capture this history. As you say, fascinating stuff. Maybe Parks could look to create a few more "history" tours. I reckon there is a market for it.

Do you know exactly where Stewart's track went?

[E.G.]

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNR ... de=3090964

This isn't very precise but gives a general idea of its location.

Absolutely spot on about "history" tours, it is a beautiful place with a wonderful history and it's great that so many people are interested in it. There must be a market.

Anyone interested in the history of this area must have a copy of Nic's book, simple as that.

[Nuts]

Thanks E.G, is that link to Stewarts track location? I only have a working knowledge of history within the park. Never owned Nic's book, will have to take another look. He certainly has some interesting reading on his site iv'e read some and in part: http://waratah.vpweb.com.au/NIC-HAYGARTH-PAPERS.html

[walkinTas]

Thanks for the link E.G. The most ludicrously inaccurate map, but even by that map one would have thought the obvious route was Liena, Middlesex, Pieman River.

[E.G.]

There a few that have researched the history of the reserve as well as Nic. I am never far from A View to Cradle and dip back into it frequently. The first time you read it is a revelation.

There are some other maps in the National Archive as well, search for mole creek zeehan which give parts of the route. Stewart named some of the features, Pillinger (Minister for Public Works), Wurragarra Creek (he first called it Fincham's River but he was sucking up). The northern route via Middelsex was 'meant by god and nature' to be the best, so said Dan Griffin but then Innes called Lake Lea a duck pond. Makes the newspapers today look very tame, some great 'ink-slinging' and Griffin was one of the best. The one great advantage of the southern route was rivers, the lack of. Only two bridges were made on the Mole Creek Track and bridges cost a fortune to make.

[Nic Haygarth]

EG is writing a book on the Mole Creek ('Innes') Track from Mole Creek to Rosebery, and it will be a wonderful read based on meticulous research, much of it actual walking on the original route. Well worth waiting for.