Save It For A Rainy Day Traditional Cache

This cache was inspired by Bek breaking something and then the rest of us determining that this would make a great geocache. Then the challenge came to find somewhere near home that was interesting but not filled with caches. We think we succeeded by exploring a local walk that we have been meaning to walk through since we moved to Wonthaggi. It took needing a place to hide a cache to get there.

This cache will take you to a little known walk that is smack in the middle of a residential estate. The Historic Tank Hill Reserve is part of a Communities for Nature project, designed to support practical local action in the environment. This great walk is surrounded by houses but when you are in the middle of it, you will feel like you are lost in the bush.

The site is the original source of clean water for the town of Wonthaggi and provided the town water supply from 1910 - 1915. There was a windmill on top of Tank Hill which pumped water from the spring through pipes to various intersections where taps were located and miners would trudge to the taps with their kerosene buckets to get their water supply. Prior to the construction of a reservoir in Lance Creek, the watercart was filled by the springs from Tank Hill, and then the water carter toured the streets supplying fresh water to local householders. 

Tank Hill was the encampment site in July 1910 for the tree planters who were employed to establish 3,000 trees along the various streets in the burgeoning town of Wonthaggi. The area was also used during World War 2 as a site where the local air raid shelter was built. The sand in the area was mined in the 1980's  and many Aboriginal artefacts were found during this time. Since the grazing lease has expired the area was planted out by the South Gippsland Conservation Society, and the care of the area has been continued by Neighbours of Tank Hill and Wonthaggi Urban Landcare. The area is maintained by Parks Victoria.

The area has been planted out with indigenous trees and shrubs. There are tracks winding through the whole location and these can be accessed from Bell Lane, Tank Hill Crescent, Stewart Street and the main entrance is in Reed Crescent. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash. Birds that can often be spotted include: Grey butcherbirds; Golden and Rufous Whistlers; Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoos; Grey Shrike Thrushes; Silvereyes; Robins; Thrushes and Wrens. Flora includes: Manna; Messmate; Peppermint Gums; Ferns; Peaflowers; Heath; Melaleucas; Teatrees; Wattles; Grasses; Sedges; Rushes and the occasional Orchid.

The cache is a micro but should be easily spotted a few metres off the track. You will need to BYO pen and you might need an extraction tool.