An appropriate cache- Noah's Ark Traditional Cache

Noah's Ark Bushland Reserve can be accessed by Noah's Ark Rd or New Year Day Rd. Either wayI just had to put a cache here.

Located on the northern side of Ararat, against Ararat Regional Park, this Bushland Reserve has maintained its-self from Ararat Regional Park. The reserve, used to be crown land, but is now owned by Ararat Rural City Council. Its dam is preserved for wildlife, unlike other dams in the area which are used to re-load fire trucks.

To research this cache, I found myself talking to a few locals. I started in a bookshop and then found my way through several pubs, interviewing old-timers as I went. No-one can agree on how the the reserve or road, was named after Noah's Ark, or if the reserve or road was named first.

At one point, I left a conversation in a pub, just as voices were being raised. It seems that the old timers have their own theories and they are prepared to debate and defned them.

Popular theories include...

- During heavy rain in the 1950's the dam burst its banks.

- A farmer, 'Noel', was moving his sheep down the road, when surveyours were at work, the sheep were marching 2 by 2.

- An early land grant was allotted to someone named 'Noah', who felled trees to clear paddocks.

THANKS to Strange QUARK 1 (FTF) for this... In 1841, Horatio Wills, on his way to selecting country further south, wrote in his diary, "like the Ark we rested" and named a nearby hill Mt Ararat.-It is from here that the town name was taken.For the real trivia buffs Horatio Wills lost his life in 1861 in the Cullin-la-ringo massacre; the largest massacre of white settlers by Aboriginals.

Cache: - The cache contains a log-book, please make sure you bring a pen

- Its a Bison, but with appropriate camo.

- After parking on New Year Day Rd, a short trek is required, about 80m to GZ.

Parking: Plenty of space, use your judgement.

Consider the trek off the track, other caches in the area and muggles. There is space to pull-off, from new Year Day Rd.

Muggles: This is a well maintained, but un-sealed road, mostly local traffic, who won't expect tourists. Watch out for...

- Dirtbike riders

- Farmers in utes

- People riding horses

- Daytrippers

- Campers

- Council workers in heavy machinary

Other Hazards: - The track and off-road terrain can be slippery when wet

- Noah's Ark Rd and new Year Day Rd are well maintained, but smaller vehicles may have trouble

- Watch out for snakes in warmer weather, use a walking stick to tap the ground

- Watch out for kangaroos, drive slow