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Lamingtons at Harlaxton Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

grahamf72: Probably time to retire this one. The vicinity has changed a lot since I put the cache there.

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Hidden : 2/8/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This spot is near a rundown old house on the northern edge of Toowoomba. Although Harlaxton House looks a wreck now (although it is in the process of restoration), it has a long and significant history.

Harlaxton House was built in the early 1870's for the Gregory family. It is an excellent example of the style of housing used by the well-to-do families of the period.

It was frequently visited by Governors of Queensland who came up the range to escape the heat of Brisbane. Sir Arthur Kennedy, Queensland's fifth governor frequently visited. It was a particular favorite of Lord Lamington, Queensland's eigth governor. A special spur from the nearby mainline railway was built for the benefit of Lord Lamington and his family.

It was on one of the visits by Lord Lamington and his entourage, that he requested his favourite dessert, "snowballs" - round cakes served with whipped cream. To her horror, the cook discovered that the kitchen lacked round patty tins and cream. Improvising, she made a large cake, cut it into smaller squares, dipped them in chocolate icing and covered them with coconut. The guests were delighted with the new dessert. Lady Lamington asked what the cakes were called, and was told they had no name. The other guests then dubbed them "Lamington Cakes".

And thus one of Australia's favourite treats was born.
(Source - EPA QLD heritage list - (visit link)
& The Cobb & Co Museum, Lindsay St, Toowoomba).

Note - the land that the house is on is private property, and is patrolled by security guards. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ENTER THE HOUSE OR YARD. As a result the cache has been placed across the road, so there is no need to do anything illegal in your cache hunt. You will need to exercise stealth at various times, as the area can be busy with staff from the nearby quarry.

While not specifically a night cache, a night time visit could be fun - local folklore is that the house is haunted. If you park on the street at midnight and watch the house you may see things that send a shiver up your spine!

Have fun finding the lamington... errr... cache, near historic Harlaxton House.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Onfr bs fueho jvgu znal gehaxf.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)