Where, exactly?? How to find a Flag Staff... Event Cache

This cache has been archived.

griz4b: Whoops... Thought it WAS archived ;-)
Thanks Grahame!

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Hidden : Sunday, March 10, 2013
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:


The Bathurst Flag Staff in front of
Governor Macquarie's tent, 1815

"The Plains, Bathurst" a watercolor drawing attributed to J.W. Lewin 1815.



Welcome one and all to an event on the 10th of March, 2013 (2pm to approx 4pm) for anyone interested in getting a better idea of just how we know where things are! We plan to have on hand a variety of different equipment involved in surveying from 1815 to 2015, as well as a few hands on activities and demonstrations. There will be a few interesting people to talk to about the history (and the future) of this auspicous location.

And of course bring all your interesting geo-swag and geo-stories about the fun and games that we have trying to find things even with the help of the most amazing satellite positioning technologies.

This gathering also celebrates the importance of the Flag Staff that once stood on this spot: A Flag Staff was erected under the orders of Governor Lachlan Macquarie to celebrate the proclamation of Bathurst as a town on 7 May 1815. The 200th anniversary of this event is quickly approaching!

This was one of the most significant events in the history of Australia as it marked the earliest gateway to inland New South Wales, and so Australia. It enabled the opening up of the fledgling nation’s wealth and prosperity. This was the start of the very first inland European settlement in the history of Australia.

The Flag Staff was the official terminus of Cox’s Road, the official survey point of the proposed town of Bathurst and the regions to the West. The Flag Staff was the earliest gazetted structure in inland Australia and predated the obelisk in Macquarie Place in Sydney, and like the Obelisk played a key role as the first surveyed base point in the subsequent surveying of land and measurement of distances – for roads, for pastoral settlement, as well as in the early exploration of more distant country westwards.

The Flag Staff appears as an important point on the earliest maps of the country beyond the Macquarie River. It is referred to in the Sydney press of the day, both officially and privately, in reference to the particulars of land titles and in distances from Sydney. It was in early years a known visual landmark for travellers.

And so it should be again! Efforts are underway to design a more appropriate monument for this great historical landmark and to ensure that we re-locate any new Flag Staff in exactly the right location.

On the way, or on the day, why not try out the new Puzzle cache, the first CHIRP cache West of the Blue Mountains! If it has been well and truely found by then, and I assume it will be, then I'll post the required info in another local cache so that anyone can find this, CHIRP or no CHIRP.

Ps, there are picnic (limited BBQ) and park facilities nearby. Lots for the kiddies to do while you swap stories.
Please RSVP if you can, so that I have an idea of numbers.
See you there!

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