Amaizing Hopscotch Multi-Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This little backwater once was a thriving and very prosperous area.
At the completion of this cache you will have visited an Historical Monument, the site of the Mossiface Railway Station, Maize drying cribs and some beautifully restored hop kilns.
Early steamships used to travel up the Tambo River to this little town. The port in Mossiface was built in 1887 and had a receiving shed and a 2 ton crane. There was some discussion by the then Shire of Tambo, to rename the port Port Bruthen, but this did not eventuate. Batten's Landing, situated near the hop kilns, was big enough that 4 boats could tie up, and on one occasion there were 3 schooners and a steamer all loading and unloading, and 15 bullock teams waiting to transport goods to Omeo and Bruthen, and timber to Melbourne. Looking at Mossiface today, it's hard to imagine.
Scotsman Angus McMillan passed here in 1840 and could see the potential for intensive farming and crop production. Hops were grown from about 1872.
The hop kilns at Mossiface were built in 1881 by John Calvert. The bricks were made on the property and the timber milled on the spot. The roof is shingles and louvres are wooden. The kilns were restored in the mid 1980's. These kilns are considered to be of State significance for historical and architectural reasons as a rare surviving expression of a major industry.
Families picked beans, peas and maize on the flats at Mossiface. There is still a maize crib at the northern end of Mossiface, and horse racing was held on the flats many years ago.
By October 1913, the rail had reached Mossiface. Early in the next month the train had entered Bruthen. Mossiface Railway station and siding was opened on Monday 10th April 1916.
The 'Dargo', the 'Omeo', the 'Gippsland' and the 'Burrabogie' were the main boats of the 1920's to 1930's but increasing road and rail traffic led to the boats changing hands and eventually leaving the area. The Tambo River was always a concern, with flooding and silting which caused the river bed to rise 6.7 m in 30 years due to constant flooding and erosion further upstream.
In 1934 the 'Dargo' made a cruise up the river, but could only get as far as Tambo Upper. Silt had spread across the flats and encouraged the river to shift its bed.
In June 1952 major flooding saw an urgent need for concentrated river works with drainage work and levee banks being built.
Transport patterns have been constantly changing since WWII with road traffic competing strongly with rail traffic, to the detriment of the latter. There was pressure on the railways to reduce the cartage of timber, for road cartage was much more efficient and less time consuming for the millers than rail cartage.
The railway station was closed in 1954, and the rail line is now a cycle track; part of the rail trail. The hop kilns, which can be viewed from the road, and the remnants of the river port which cannot be seen from the road, are on private property still owned by the Calvert.
Our multi, which can be comfortably walked, will take you around what is left of the town. There is no need to go on to private property.
Commencing at S37 43.483’ and E147 48.438’, you'll find a power pole. Get the large 3 digit number of this pole. This is (A) in the following formula.
Then head off to S37 43.(A+816)’ and E147 48.(A+533)’ and find THE YEAR THE MEMORIAL WAS UNVEILED this is (B) in the following formula,
S37 44.(B-1755)’ and E147 48.(B-1174)’ will take you to a farm gate. Get the number on the gate post, this is (C) in the following formula.
Your final destination is at S37 44.0(C-1118)’ and E147 48.(C-519)’
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ng JC2 znxr fher lbh hfr gur QNGR HAIRVYRQ, abg gur qngr Nathf cnffrq guvf jnl.