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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The cache is in a 1 litre Sistema container.
A lovely restful spot to visit. Cool and shaded during the heat of summer, with mountain ash, blackwoods, heaps of tree ferns and wildlife. Plenty of camping spots, but no amenities (we found ourselves out of phone range too).
Years ago, we brought our young family and spent many hot days here, before the safety fence was put in place. We rested on the rocks above the falls, shaded by the trees, and cooled off in the water.
From Parks Victoria...
Gold was first discovered in the Turtons Creek area in 1872. The gold lay visible in the surface soil and along the creek bed and was reported to be 'waterworn and brilliant in colour' (Collett 1994). Extensive searches failed to find any sign of its source.
Once the first claims were registered, the rush for gold saw men streaming out of Foster up into the hills. Storekeepers packed flour and other foods out to Turtons Creek in such quantities that insufficient supplies remained in Foster. The 16 miles from Foster to Turtons Creek was just a rough-cut track through dense forest. Miners were forced to endure mud up to their knees and the packhorses would often slide down into the gullies. The track was always very wet and boggy. The narrowness, along with the dense overhanging scrub, made it impossible for the sun or wind to penetrate.
There were fourteen or fifteen wealthy claims, but it soon became clear that the surface gold (auriferous ground) was limited. With no yields in the last few months of 1873, there were few fossickers left in the field by the end of the year. The collapse of the gold rush was an anti-climax that created a sense of disillusionment and people realised that Turtons Creek was perhaps the end of an era, rather than the beginning of one. The forest has reclaimed the past and little evidence remains to indicate a gold rush occurred at this site.[There are still a few fossickers in the area at times, looking for gold]
Vegetation
The drive to Turtons Creek Reserve winds down gullies, through wet forests of tall gums and wattles, with ferns and tree ferns covering the lower reaches. The area is dominated by Mountain Ash and Blackwoods, with Rough Tree-fern and Smooth Tree-fern common along the creek. [Sadly, over the past few years, pine trees have been planted just beyond the edge of the park and the BBQ and picnic area just before the falls has been neglected, but it is still beautiful]
Aboriginal Traditional Owners
Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, the Boon Wurrung, Bunurong and Gunai - Kurnai identify the Turtons Creek Reserve as their Traditional Country.
Fauna
The area around Turtons Creek is home to the Swamp Wallaby, Wombat, Platypus, Ringtail Possum, Bush Rat and Swamp Rat. Birds to look out for include lyrebirds, currawongs, magpies, kookaburras, crimson rosellas and blue wrens.
Looking After the Park
* Vehicles, including trail bikes, may only be driven or ridden on formed roads open to the public and must be fully road registered. Drivers and riders must hold a current licence.
* Logging trucks regularly use the roads around Turtons Creek so please drive carefully.
* Campers may light fires at the camping area provided it is not a day of Total Fire Ban.
* It is preferable to use gas or fuel stoves to reduce environmental impacts.
* Keep fires small in a trench with a clearance of 3 metres around it. Ensure that the fire is never left unattended and is completely extinguished (cool to touch) before you leave the campsite.
* Remember that campfires, gas barbecues, gas lights and portable stoves, even in a tent, are prohibited on Total Fire Ban Days.
* All plants and animals in the reserve are protected. Please do not disturb or remove any plants or animals.
* Take your rubbish with you.
* Dispose of soap, detergent, etc at least 50 metres from the creek.
* Dogs must be restrained on leads at all times.
* Consider your neighbour - no loud noise please.
This cache has been set up as a drive by, but please take some time to visit the falls, and take the short walk along the path beside the river. Please let us know if you DO happen to find some of the alluvial gold here
Caution with geokids and geopooches, particularly aound holiday times as the cache is near the road.
We have now moved this cache as it's original spot became excessively overgrown.
Please ensure the cache is adequately covered with leaf material etc
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)