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This cache is hidden near a waterfall (known as Hidden Falls). At the time of placing the cache the waterfall was just about dry - there's usually some water here though. The area near the waterfall has some views of excellent sandstone cliffs.
There is an obscure partially-overgrown track leading to the waterfall. The track dates from around the 1860's. Warning - You could easily miss the track, and if you do you will be scrub bashing on very steep ground. Also, if you come from the top (South) you will have to climb down some very steep cliffs. See gallery for hints on best approach (photo of burnt stump with notch in side).
???
On the top side of the track, look for an area which *could* have been a GOLD MINE once. Look for S42°54.683 E147°17.206. There are two mullock heaps (mining spoil heaps) visible, and above these is the possible site. Records exist detailing a gold mine in the Waterworks area. The descriptions do not quite match the location of this site - however there are those two large mullock heaps!
MINING IN HOBART
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A SHAFT ON MT. WELLINGTON.
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The prospecting underlay shaft, the upper end of which is shown from different aspects in our views this week, is now sunk to a depth of 75ft. on a garnet sandstone fissure, lode 10 ft. wide. The trend is north and south, with an underlay to the east of one in one. The walls are well defined. The bed rock is limestone; then a layer 3ft thick of a black slatey matter which possib1y may be plumbago, as it will mark paper similar to lead pencil. This forms the footwall of the lode, on which is vein matter of pyrites, nodules, and bunches of pyrites, then 2ft. of quartz and conglomerate, above which to hanging wall is garnet sandstone with blotches of pyrites in same. This discovery was caused by the outcrop being exposed through a heavy landslip. The McPherson Bros. some years back sunk to about the same depth as now, 75ft. They had several assays made by Mr. Morgan, now deceased, who gave a return of copper, silver, gold, and cobalt. The McPherson's could get no help for their venture, and had to abandon it, but they are now share-holders in the present association, who have timbered down through this old ground for 45ft., then made a slight turn into solid ground to present depth, all of which had to be blasted out. The bottom of shaft is now making a little water, as the quartz and conglomerate gets wider, from which assays have been made, proving it to be rich in copper. The association intend to go to a greater depth before opening out. The mine is particularly favoured by advantages of tunneling to gain an immensity of backs on the line of lode.
The two large views represent the southern aspect of the ground, while the spur rises and in the course of lode. The upper small picture is taken from the roadway, about 70ft. below collar of shaft; a south-east view, in fact. The lower small picture is looking east at mouth of pit, or underlay shaft.
(The Tasmanian Mail, September 17, 1898, page 20.)
NOTE ON THE REPORTED DISCOVERY OF GOLD NEAR HOBART.
On my return from Port Cygnet I visited the so-called gold mine on Mount Wellington, and have now the honour to submit the following brief notes thereon:—
The scene of operations is on an extended prospecting area of 25 acres adjoining Regan's estate, the workings being situated close to the Sandy Bay Rivulet, about a mile above the Hobart Waterworks Reservoir. An inclined shaft has been sunk about 90 feet, and from the bottom a drive put in 30 feet to the south. Some years ago a shaft was sunk about 75 feet, and it is said that good assays were obtained for gold, silver, and cobalt, but I could see no sign of any lode or other formation likely to carry valuable minerals. The present shaft was sunk through the old ground for about 35 feet, when it was turned a little to the south to get into the solid country and continued along the dip of the strata. On the footwall side is a bed of black shale, the full thickness of which is not seen, but it is said to be 4 feet thick, and the manager informed me that in putting in some timber in the drives he had come on to limestone underlaying the shale. Above this is a somewhat gritty sandstone with occasional patches of quartz conglomerate, the general strike being about N. and S., with a varying but rather flat dip to the east. No fossils were seen here, but a little higher up the creek are the remains of an old limekiln, and the fragments of calcareous mudstone lying about are full of remains of typical Permo-carboniferous fossils, amongst which I recognised the following forms:— Spirifera, Strophalosia, Terebratula, Productus, Aviculopecten, Fenestella, &c.
Disseminated through the sandstone are numerous minute garnets, and for a thickness of about two feet there is a good deal of iron pyrites, such as is very frequently met with in the Coal Measures all over the world. A sample of this from the drive was assayed by Mr. Ward, who found it to contain nothing of value, and I cannot see the slightest reason for expecting that any improvement will take place either in driving or sinking. In my opinion it is simply waste of money to continue mining operations here.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
J. HARCOURT SMITH, B.A., Government Geologist.
W. H. Wallace Esq., Secretary for
Mines, Hobart.
(From Secretary for Mines Report, 1898-1899, XV, at bottom of page.)
See the gallery for a picture of the gold mine.
Another point of interest along the way is a lookout over some of the sandstone structures of Gentle Annie Falls. There's a track leading into this section which leaves the main track at S42°54.639 E147°17.258.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
1. Tragyr Naavr genpx pbbeqf nobir ner pybfr gb fgneg bs gur genpx va gb jngresnyy.
2. Gbc fvqr bs genpx arne jngresnyy.