The combination of the Barmah State Forest and the Moira
State Park (in NSW) forms the largest redgum forest in the
world and has been World Heritage listed. It is on a major
flightpath for migratory birds, and is an important breeding ground
for waterbirds. Some of the trees in the forest are estimated to be
over 300 years old and are over 40 metres high. There are a number
of canoe trees and ancient middens in the forest which provides
evidence that the Aboriginal people inhabited this area long before
Europeans arrived.
In winter the area usually floods, creating a wetland biosphere
which becomes a breeding ground for some 206 species of birds.
Consequently it is a popular spot for birdwatching, as well as
fishing, walking, boating, camping, picnicking and car touring.
However, in the wet season, the tracks are flooded and canoeing
becomes a preferred means of exploration.
The earliest historical record for Barmah was in the
diary of Charles Sturt whose party passed through the area
in June 1838 whilst droving cattle from Sydney to
Adelaide. The party camped close to Barmah possibly
on the 12th of June. Sturt noted in his diary the river's steep
banks and broad, but muddy water. Sturt also made not of the
liability to flood and the poor clay soil of the country.
In 1855, at the age of 27 Joseph Waldo Rice, an American,
arrived to live near the mouth of the Broken Creek and became
the first settler in the area. His wife Mary Ann joined him
some time later as she was working in Portland and their first
child, Amelia, was born in 1856. The term "Governor" was
affectionately applied to Joseph by the tribal aborigines around
the Moira Lakes where he lived and fished as a member of the Murray
Fishing Company. He was born at Boston, U.S.A., and set out from
the Californian gold fields, in a vessel which he chartered with
several others, to try his luck on the Australian gold fields.
Hearing that fish were very plentiful in the Murray he left
the gold fields and after a short time settled on a spot near the
"Lakes Weir". The fig trees which he planted apparantly still stand
there. From this location Rice supplied the Bendigo gold
fields with fresh fish daily. A fish-cart carried the catches
traveling overnight to reach Bendigo in time for the morning
market. Three coaches and 30 horses were used to transport the 2-3
tonnes of fish wrapped in gum leaves. Ducks were also trapped and
found a ready market there. In addition, Rice also cashed in on the
all too easily available leeches to supply them to the medical
profession, dispatching them in clay even as far away as
London. So well known did Curr become in the district that
guests would come for many miles to enjoy the great spread which
"Governor" Rice always provided on American Independence Day. An
"Illuminated Address" was presented to him by the residents of
Barmah and surrounding districts on April 4th, 1906, to
honour his 50 years of residence on the Murray. Rice is buried in
the Barmah Cemetery with many of his descendants still living in
the Barmah district.
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The first ferry crossing at Barmah was established by W.
T . Maloney, who was one of the earliest residents of the district.
By the 1880's Maloney was well established in business with his
store and hotel being the only buildings in the township. Mr.
Maloney built the original ferry which was hand operated, until it
was taken over by the NSW Government around 1920. One of the last
men to operate the punt was Mr. I. Goddard who did so under a
contract with the NSW Department of Main Roads.
Now we will fast forward a few years, and as we know progress stops
for nobody. Representations during the 1940's concerning the need
for a bridge across the river met with no success. By the late
1950's the argument for a bridge crossing became even stronger, but
still unsuccessful. Apart from the punt being obviously inadequate
to handle modern traffic it was out of action in May 1957 due to
the river being at an all time low. The following year it was out
of action for no less than 5 months due to major repairs, even
after repairs were completed the engine continued to give trouble
and would often leave the punt stranded mid-stream. Even so, it
took until 1964 for tenders for the bridge to be called.
Eventually in 1966 the bridge was completed at a cost of
$334,000 which was shared equally between the NSW Department of
main roads and the Victorian Country Roads Board. On the same day
of the bridge opening the punt, now overshadowed and antiquated,
made it's last run. Fortunately the Nathalia Shire resisted
a suggestion that it be sold upstream to Swan Hill and
instead decided to preserve it at Barmah as a historic
relic. It therefore found a fitting final resting place next to
it's old crossing. Regrettably, however, the punt was never roofed
as initially intended and it has, therefore, been unprotected from
the weather. As you will see, it nows lays sadly derelict and
presumably beyond any hope of restoration.
The above coordinates will take you to the final resting place
of the punt where you will need to answer a few simple questions to
give you the final cache location. Unfortunately, you will have to
go interstate to earn your smiley, fortunately you can now use the
bridge.
The Cache Hide
The cache is hidden at:
S 36 01.ABC
E 144 57.DEF
Where:
A = E - B
B = The number of spokes on the large horizontal metal wheel to
your left when standing at the front of the sign.
C = The number of letters in the second word at the top of the
sign.
D = B - 2C
E = The second number in the date in March when the ferry was
last used.
F = The punt was towed from Euston to Barmah in June 19E9.
You are looking for an regular size ammo container hidden just
away from the river in a tree stump. We chose this area as it
should be relatively muggle free but please take the opportunity to
have a look at the Murray River a little closer.