This cache is located along the Gardiners Creek Trail. Gardiners Creek itself is “over 30 km in length and “originates in the suburb of Blackburn, where many small creeks and gullies converge around Blackburn Lake.
“The creek's original name was Kooyongkoot, from the Woiwurrung language of the indigenous Australian Wurundjeri-Baluk group, which translates to 'haunt of the waterfowl'. The creek's current name was given in honour of early Melbourne land speculator and banker, John Gardiner, who settled near the junction of Kooyongkoot Creek and the Yarra River in 1836” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardiners_Creek)
Boroondara’s history of Gardiners Creek page states that “John Gardiner became the first white settler on our side of the Yarra River” (https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/about-council/history-and-demographics/local-history/local-history-trails/history-gardiners-creek).
It goes on to say that “During the 1830s people had to cross the creek or Yarra River by boat to reach John Gardiner's property, but by 1861 there were two bridges, one at Auburn Road and another at Tooronga Road. Three more bridges, at Toorak, Glenferrie and Burke roads, were completed by 1874.”
Wikipedia tells us that “Gardiner, and a sea captain named John Hepburn and a Durham cattle-breeder named Joseph Hawdon, arrived from Sydney late in 1836 with a herd of cattle. Gardiner returned again in April 1837, with his wife and daughter, and settled near the junction of the Yarra River and what was then known as Kooyongkoot Creek. The creek was later renamed after him.”
“Gardiner (1798 - 1878) was born in Dublin, Ireland. He married Mary Eagle in 1822. He arrived in Hobart in 1823 where he was granted 800 acres (3.2 square km) near Ross, Tasmania. He became a bank clerk in 1824. His only child Anna Maria was born in Hobart in 1827.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gardiner_(Australia)
The following year he left the bank to become a successful store-keeper. In 1834 he rented 5,250 acres (21.2 square km) at Lovely Banks but lost his tenancy in 1835.
After that he sailed for Sydney where he bought 300 head of cattle. Both he and John Hepburn drove the cattle overland to his Gardiner’s Creek run near Melbourne. It was because of this journey that Gardiner is called an “Overlander”.
Gardiner’s cattle run extended over most of present-day Hawthorn. It was while searching for stray cattle that he discovered the upper Yarra regions towards Lilydale. In 1838 he took out a grazing licence there.
John Gardiner later established a 15,000 acre run with his cousin William Fletcher and David Gardiner in today’s Lilydale, Croydon North and Mooroolbark. He spent most of his time at his Gardiners creek homestead however. His wife’s diary recorded that he had trouble with the local Aboriginal people spearing his cattle.
In 1842 he encountered his first financial crisis and returned to England to retire in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. In March 1863, his wife and daughter who had stayed on in Melbourne died. Three months later he married his cousin Sarah Fletcher and died in 1878.
This cache is a micro (a little less than 100 ml). You will need to bring your own pen. The container has enough space for eety bitty swaps, but only barely. You can try – but don’t break the container or your swap.
There’s a wooden bench made of railway sleeper conveniently located nearby. And about 150 m south is a playground for little legs to stretch and play with tables and bench for the perfect picnic.