For Warburton 1925 was the year the Sanitarium Health Food
Company came to town. The factory needed power and lots of it.
Current power suppliers were simply not set up to supply such an
industry. So the S.H.F., then on the east side of the Yarra,
obtained a lease to transfer water from Cement creek around the
mountain side to a high dam above the valley floor. Steel pipe was
installed for the water to take it's trip to the pelton wheel close
to 1000 feet below. The system was probably one of biggest in the
valley to this day but with big size came big problems. Faulty
welds on the pipes were the biggest problem and until the bad pipes
were weeded out 100 foot jets of water went rocketing skyward
occasionally. The year 1934, prior to the construction of the Upper
Yarra Dam, saw major flooding and the factory moved to the west
side of the Yarra into the large brick building with the silos that
stands to this day. Spiral welded pipes were installed under the
Yarra and the system relocated to the new factory. By this stage
the teething problems were ironed out mostly and the system ran
relatively reliably in it's new location until being decommissioned
in 1980. Power was also sold to the Upper Yarra Electric Supply
Company when they were in short supply and load permitted.
The plant consisted of a English made "Lancashire Dynamo
Crypton" pelton wheel with a direct coupled alternator.
System specs were:
Working water pressure 420 PSI
Working speed 750 RPM
Horse power 280
Alternator 3 Phase 415 volt 274 KVA
It seemed from early times the factory also used a large Paxman
Diesel, spoken of on Richard Carr's
Paxman History site, to generate electricity as a backup to the
hydro.
After 1980 the factory went over to power from the SEC and also had
2 large diesels for power failure backup. That's all history now as
the factory has moved on.
The Cache
The cache is located were it is because of the site and it's
history not the terrain. Please note the cache attributes and
ratings. This is no drive by. Long pants & sleeves may help.
What you will find is a place of great beauty and some history too.
I recommend this cache for active teens and above only. It
is best you visit the toilets before you head in due to being in
catchment area yet outside the public exclusion zone. Toilets are
available at the car park of Maccamob's Rain Forrest Ramble not far
away however entry to this cache it not recomended from
there. The cache is a 3.5 liter ammo box containing swaps aimed at
the older cacher. The cache is not overly hidden ie search with you
eyes not you hands and don't hide it from view on leaving.
We don't want to tare up the area. If the GPSr isn't accurate the
clue should do the trick. If your more than 2 min at GZ, and
haven't found it please use the clue.