All of these oddities are within 4 kms of the CBD and some are just 1 km from the CBD. Some are easy to locate and others not so easy, so keep your eyes peeled and have some fun.
1. A cemetery that is all but forgotten.
Is this where Dr. William Bell Carlyle is buried – who is reputed to be the person who introduced one of the most invasive weeds ever brought into this country – the Prickly Pear!
2. The compass stand from HMAS Sydney (the first one – there were 4 HMAS Sydney’s).
How the heck did it get here and why is it used to commemorate the spot where Surveyor General John Oxley camped on his arrival to Port Macquarie on 8 October, 1818?
3. A leopard climbing up a palm tree?
Hmmm – now there is an odd animal to find in the Mid North Coast!
4. A memorial to Captain Leslie C. Liley
A brave pilot who went out to guide coastal steamer "Nambucca" across the bar into the harbour. He was thrown over-board from the pilot boat by a wave and drowned - his body was never found. However did you know that Liley had actively supported the use of motor launches for pilot work and that he insisted on purchasing the motor launch "Hastings" which was wrecked in the incident? Apparently none of the other pilots wanted a “bar” of that boat as it was designed for North Sea waters and it promptly would turn stern over bow in our waters.
5. The thong tree.
What for? Why? Who?
6. The white building
An interesting establishment that has been impersonating a restaurant for many years now. What is odd about it is that people are still being fooled into going there to eat?
Questions at each location.
1. Number of letters of the full name on the last head stone (most northerly) = A.
2. Find the pattern number stamped on top of the compass stand = B.
3. Find the two red letters on the wooden electricity pole just 10 metres away. What are the letters and add together the number of the alphabet that they represent to get a 2 digit number = C.
4. Who erected this memorial? Number of the alphabet of the last letter of the name = D.
5. Step down and find the name of person who it is “by”? – what is the number of the alphabet of the first letter? = E.
6. What is the License number? (Note: Ignore the first 3 digits)= F.
Formula: (our apoligies that it is so convoluted, but we need to make it more difficult for those "jet skiers" out there!)
South ((A X F)/2) + (B X(C + 6)) + (C X (D + 3)) + (E + 4).
East (F X (D + E + 1)) - (B X (D + E + 2)) - (C X E) - (E + 5).
