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Welcome to Camp Buxton.
This cache is another in my series of caches in small nature reserves on the Mornington Peninsula.
Camp Buxton, a former YMCA camp provided holidays for underpriviledged kids from Boxing day til the end of January.
CAMP BUXTON
Camp Buxton, Marine Parade, Shoreham, was established around 1925 by the YMCA on 6 acres of bushland provided by the Buxton family.
It was to provide facilities for YMCA activities. Including young boys' camps, conferences for older people, and meetings in a rural, coastal environment.
1929. The first buildings were constructed on the site. These were timber and cement sheet designs, which included a hall dining room, bunk houses and other facilities. Other accommodation and facilities were added in later years.
1932. The camps operated between Boxing Day and the end of January, and commenced around 1932. At other times of the year, the camp was occupied by people from other areas of the YMCA, and was also used for international, State and national conferences of the YMCA.
1940. The Buxton family gave an additional 6 acres of bushland to the YMCA, extending the area to 10 acres.
1946. The Melbourne Argus of December 31, 1946, reported that about 1000 boys were to visit the camp between Christmas 1946 and the end of January 1947.
1955. I do not know when the Camp ceased – the Camp was still operating under the auspices of the YMCA in 1955 - a story in the Melbourne Argus newspaper in January 1955, stated that about 500 boys had attended the 1954/1955 camp.
1980s. It was ultimately sold by the YMCA and became privately owned as a school and youth centre.
At that time, the YMCA was consolidating its Victorian rural activities, which meant that its camp at Mt Eliza gained greater priority.
1990s.The facility became a B&B business, open to the general public, following refurbishing and modernising of the original buildings. At that time, the remaining bushland which had been part of the original site was made available to the local Shire and became a Forest Reserve, which survives to the present time.
The original property included the Oval (now owned by Council) and some adjacent land.
It is set within a mature landscape dominated by conifers. Surviving features of the original facility include an outdoor chapel, comprising low stone entry and pulpit, and bench seats, dedicated to Cyril Young, Chairman of the Camp Buxton Committee in 1939 who died on active service in 1945.
Today the camp is on a mixture of private land and the Buxton Nature Reserve. The chapel is on the edge of the reserve and can be viewed. The surviving buildings on private property and can also be viewed from the reserve. Please respect the land owners and do not enter their properties.
At the first waypoint you are looking for a dog tag.
At the final waypoint, you are looking for an 800 Ml camo container.
Additional Hints
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1fg jnlcbvag- gur qnz jvyy fghzc lbh.