Background Information:
Bannockburn Sluicings Historic Reserve is adjacent to the town of Bannockburn, across the Kawarau River from Cromwell; the car park is on Felton Road. A well marked two-hour round walk takes you past the main points of interest and provides explanatory information panels. Take a torch to explore tunnels and stick to the track; there are mine shafts in this reserve.
The walk up to Stewart Town passes numerous tunnels. Water for sluicing was in short supply and tunnels offered an alternative for locating gold. There is a rock shelter and stone-lined dam with a network of water races coming to and fro. There are great views across Cromwell and Bailey’s Gully from Menzies Terrace.
Stewart Town is named after David Stewart, who along with John Menzies built the Long Gully race during the 1860s. Here there are remains of mud-brick buildings, old water races, dams and an ancient orchard.
Further on there are mine shafts; a stone-lined water race; a blacksmith’s, which was in much demand for fashioning the iron fluming that kept the pipes water-tight; and tailing deposits.
There is an optional 10-minute excursion across Pipeclay Creek from the main walk that passes a tunnel entrance, dam and rock-lined tail race.
While you are in the area, why not take a look at these caches as well: GCM28J - Cliff Hanger and GCX5R9 - Bannockburn Sluicings
Coordinates:
To find the coordinates for the cache location you need to access the information panels located around the Walkway. At each panel there will be a question which will give you a number for the final cache.
The location of the cache is:
S45° 0G.BAF
E169° 08.CDE
Information Panels:
A = S45° 04.620 / E169° 08.772
B = S45° 05.055 / E169° 08.600
C = S45° 05.101 / E169° 08.448
D = S45° 05.079 / E169° 08.381
E = S45° 05.029 / E169° 08.026
F = S45° 05.032 / E169° 08.024
G = S45° 04.937 / E169° 08.025
Questions:
A = The earliest part of Kawarau Station was built in 185_
B = What is the name of the coal mine in Bannockburn Creek (Number of letters in name?)
C = "And from this point to the head of the Channel 11_ feet wide".
D = How many men are in the photo?
E = Number of building techniques used - minus 1.
F = The orchards and plants give as much pleasure today as they did 15_ years ago.
G = How much for a "Head" of water?
This cache used to be a part of my A to Z of the Cromwell Area. The logbook still reads "S is for Stewart".