Hysterically Mooroopna Multi-Cache

For those that don't know, Mooroopna is a rural town with a population of 9000 located approximately 180 km north of Melbourne, Victoria. It is on the banks of the Goulburn River opposite the larger town of Shepparton, or East Mooroopna as Mooroopna residents sometimes put it! The Midland Highway crosses the river between the two towns.

More Wine Waiter Please - Excelsior Winery

S36 23.388 E145 19.897

It might be difficult to imagine today, but the starting point for your trek was once a thriving and world-renowned vineyard and winery. Born in Dalmatia, which is now called Yugoslavia, Trojano Darveniza migrated to Victoria in 1860 in his search for gold. After some success, Trojano decided in 1871 to select some 320 acres of land that would become known as Excelsior Avenue. This was a fair call at that time as railways did not exist, and roads were barely tracks through the bush.

With the majority of his expertise being self taught, Trojano selected part of his land to grow grapes . Despite limited knowledge initially, success did follow with Excelsior wines winning a total of 306 awards including distinctions in France and Italy. This success soon gave rise to Trojano becoming fondly known as ‘The Master’. In 1893 Trojano’s nephew Pero migrated to Australia and 3 of his sons inherited the business when ‘The Master’ died in 1927. Fast forward to 1971 and the vineyard covered 30 acres and produced Cabernet, Shiraz, Milbaec, Grenache, and Muscat varieties with the winery having a capacity of 60,000 gallons. Despite the years of success, the winery ceased to function in the late 1970’s with the old buildings and equipment falling into disrepair.

I remember my mother sharing a story about my grandfather who was living with us for sometime in the township of Mooroopna. My father trained greyhounds and my grandfather would happily offer to walk several of them in the evening. Little did we know that his ‘walking’ path lead to Excelsior Avenue and the liquid gold that it offered!

Below is a picture of the winery taken in 1922 and one taken recently.

At this point you need to take note of the number of water tank/s still standing = E

Born on the Bayou - Gemmill’s Swamp

S36 22.582 E145 20.988

You should now be standing out the front of a gate that leads through Gemmill’s Swamp, which is a little dry at the time of this cache creation. The swamp is a large area of complex wetland on the north-eastern edge of Mooroopna which totals 170 hectares. This reserve sits on the western bank of the Goulburn River and occupies part of the flooded river flats that are dominated by a forest of red gum and Tall Spike Rush wetlands.

In January 1838, two entrepreneurs, Joseph Hawdon and Charles Bonney, camped on the edge of Gemmill's Swamp, close to Mooroopna. They were overlanding large herds of cattle and sheep from an area close to modern Seymour to Adelaide, about 1200 km by bullock dray along the Goulburn and Murray Rivers. Fair effort that. Gemmill’s Swamp has also been the location for the annual Mooroopna High School Cross Country and each year the students would trek around, or on some occasions, through the swamp to the finish line. Gemmill’s Swamp also briefly relocated in 1988 for the Year 12 HSC/VCE last day of school. Neither myself, or my friend Craig, accept any responsibility for that!

When you are standing in front of the gate you will see a sign on the fence to your left. What is the message on the sign:

1. Caution Animals Crossing

2. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service!

3. Danger. High Voltage

4. HAZCHEM

If your answer is 1. then A=1, if 2. then A=2, if 3. then A=3, and if 4. then A=4.

It Ain’t Necessarily So - Canoe Tree

S36 23.180 E145 21.441

The lower Goulburn region has been altered quite dramatically by European settlement. This area was once the home to the Kaieltheban tribal group which was a sub-group of the Pangerang (or Bangerang). The first squatter in the Tongala area, E.M. Curr gave a detailed description of this groups way of life in Recollections of Squatting in Victoria (1883) and estimated a decline in their numbers from 200 to approximately 80 during his 10 years in the district. Curr attributed this decline to diseases, such as small pox, which were introduced during European settlement. This tree where you are situated now has been improbably referred to as Mooroopna’s ‘canoe tree’.

To the right hand side of the driveway that you will use to access the area near the tree there is a speed sign. What is the speed on this sign?

05 then G = 0
10 then G = 2
15 then G = 4
20 then G = 8

Bat out of Hell - Motorbike Dude

S36 23.692 E145 21.489

Jack Findlay was born in 1935 in Northgate Street directly opposite the statue site. Jack left for England in 1958 to pursue a motorcycle-racing career. After 15 years as a privateer, battling the big money of factory teams, he won the Isle of Man TT and in 1975 he beat racing legend Barry Sheene to take the FIM 750cc World Championship title. On Saturday 29th July, 2006 a bronze statue of Jack on his Isle of Man TT winning TR500 Suzuki was unveiled in the reserve in Mooroopna’s main street. The occasion marked the culmination of eight year’s work by local enthusiasts to have Jack’s achievements recognised. The $30,000 statue, the work of Philip Mune, was financed by donations from the F.I.M, Motorcycling Australia, Michelin, and numerous private individuals. Jack Findlay, now in his 70’s, lives in Paris and unfortunately due to suffering from the effects of emphysema after years of breathing racing fuel fumes was unable to travel to the unveiling.

You should be standing near the statue of Jack where you will find a plaque with "Jack's Story". On this plaque you will need to find the year that Jack finished second in the World 500cc Championship = 196F

Take A Letter Maria – Post Office

S 36 23.648 E145 21.812

Williams Simmonds Archer built Mooroopna’s first home in 1860 on a high part of the riverbank of what is now 19 McLennan Street. Like many early homes it also served as a hotel and store. On the 19th of April 1873 it became the first post office. Two years later the post office moved to the ‘Medical Hall’ of Egbert Florence, across the road to the Elizabeth Street corner. In those days the mail for Toolamba and Murchison was made up into loose bags and brought from Murchison on horseback 3 times per week. Later on, mail was brought by Cobb & Co coaches daily from Seymour with the journey taking 10 hours and required the horses to be changed every 20 miles. In 1884 the post office was moved back to the riverbank when a new brick building was built at the Kialla bridge.

This is the building that you are now out the front off. Take note of the street number -- and subtract 29 to give you H

Due to flooding of the river, particularly in 1916, which caused extensive erosion of the riverbank, efforts were again made to find another site. The post office was then relocated to the corner of Camp & Young Streets in 1921.

Long Way to Tipperary – War Memorial

S36 23.578 E145 21.926

On Anzac Day 1928 the Mooroopna War Memorial was officially dedicated. More than 1000 people including school children, 20 nurses under Matron Jones and the Shepparton Band gathered on the newly planted area on the eastern approach to Mooroopna. At that time the memorial bore the names of 145 men of Mooroopna and North Mooroopna who enlisted for service, together with 21 nurses who all trained at Mooroopna Hospital. The memorial and the site cost a £1100. Across the road from the Memorial you can see what remains of the Mooroopna Hospital that is undergoing some serious renovations at the time of this cache creation. Miss Elsie Jones served as hospital matron for 46 years (1911-1957) and was awarded the Order of British Empire (OBE) in 1945 for outstanding service and dedication.

There are 4 locations named on the top of the memorial – Gallipoli, Palestine, France, and one other. The other location is:

1. Belgium

2. Borneo

3. Wunghu

4. Vietnam

If your answer is 1. then C=1, if 2. then C=2, if 3. then C=3, and if 4. then C=4.

How Does Your Garden Grow? - Chinaman’s Gardens

This area was named in memory of Wong Ah Tat (1840-1930) and his family who were market gardeners on the south side of the Peter Ross-Edwards Causeway. Wong was an immigrant from China and married Mary Yates who was from Wales. Although protected by levees, the area cultivated by Mr. Wong was subject to flooding . In the 1940’s some of the soil from the area was carted by hand to the median strip in McLennan Street. After the major flood of 1916, the land was resumed by the crown when the Wongs moved into Morrell Street.

In the pergola you will see a sign with some information relating to this area. Take note of the year that the Shepparton Land Board granted the “Garden Licence” = 18B3

The Last Train to Clarkesville - Railway Station (TOOT TOOT!)

Please take care when travelling to the station as the railway crossing does not have boom gates or flashing lights and the line is still used regularly!

The railway line between Mangalore and Shepparton opened on the 3rd January 1880 with the new means of transport and communication encouraging rapid growth of the whole Goulburn Valley. Further extension of the railway was completed to Nathalia in 1888 and Tocumwal in 1905. Initially, the main type of freight carried was wheat and oats with the Mooroopna Mill having its own branch line. The construction of the Goulburn Weir at Nagambie opened up the irrigation scheme that we are familiar with today, which resulted in a change in the local primary produce and the freight that was carried by train. During the floods of 1916 the elevated railway and station platform acted as an island for a number of residents with little other refuge.

With the commencement of canning by the Ardmona fruit growers the nature of the principal freight changed again. Greater mechanisation with more canned and less fresh fruit made handling easier and required less staff. During the depression, the railways were sometimes the only means of transport which was often free, and illegal, to those without money. During wartime the railway was used to carry essential supplies and to transport POWs to Tatura. Since the war, rail usage for the transport of passengers and freight has diminished although there has been some resurgence of late with some local lines reopening.

From 1962, steam engines were replaced with diesel and carriages had been upgraded to offer such comforts as air conditioning and buffet facilities. Nowadays, the spur line to the mill is no longer used and the Ardmona Cannery finds it cheaper to send their freight by road.

Now, quite out of the blue, the Mooroopna Station has been chosen to house several trains from Sodor whilst some modifications are being undertaken there. Unfortunately the 'heavily set' controller has misplaced the number of trains that will be housed at Mooroopna. It is up to you to find the clue that will identify the number of trains. You are not required to find a container, or micro as such but something that is distinctly marked as being geocaching related. D = The number of trains you found.

A Walk in the Park - Kaieltheban Park

This is the location for the actual cache hide. This is an area of natural vegetation fronting the part of the Goulburn River in Mooroopna from which the town’s name was derived which means 'deep water hole'. This area was a favourite camping spot for the Kaieltheban tribe of Aborigines who occupied the western Goulburn River frontage from Wyuna to Toolamba. The former Shire of Rodney purchased the land from KMM Flour Mills in the late 1970’s with the intention to keep the area in its natural state. It is an area that is quite popular for fishing and if you follow the tracks around you will come across the nearby railway bridge. When the river is low you may also be able to see the remains of several ‘piers’. The river bank behind the MG O’Brien Hall was also the site for the original hospital.

The cache is a regular size container. Original cache contents include:

Stationary Kit, Microfibre Cloth, Wild Animals Toy Set, Auto Perfume Kit, 'Hysterically Mooroopna' Rulers x 3 and Key Tags x 4 (Limited Edition!). TB - Compass the Cache Cat. Geocoin - Sylvan Seekers. As a special bonus there is a $3.00 scratchy for the FTF and a $2.00 scratchy for the STF! Good Luck!

I feel that it is necessary to acknowledge the following publications for information in relation to the waypoints used.

Historical Society of Mooroopna, The Streets and Parks of Mooroopna, 1999.

Historical Society of Mooroopna, Fruits of Our Labour, 2003.

Historical Society of Mooroopna, Mooroopna to 1988, 1989.

Greater Shepparton, Official Visitors Guide, 2006.