The Lake Mac Heritage Series was placed to pay homage to the people, places and events that contributed to building and pioneering the Lake Macquarie region. The pick and shovel were chosen in this geoart series to symbolise the hard work the people of Lake Macquarie put forth into the region.
The Watagans
Location Watagan is an Aboriginal word meaning "many ridges" (Source: Newcastle Herald 11 May 1993). The Watagan Mountains are located on the western side of Lake Macquarie. They are part of the Great Dividing Range, and stretch from the Upper Hunter in the north to Tuggerah Lakes in the south. The area is a spectacular pristine wilderness, and popular tourist and recreational destination. Several designated wilderness areas, including the Watagans National Park and Olney, Heaton, Awaba, Ourimbah and Wyong state forests spread along the range and boast graded walking tracks, scenic lookouts and well maintained picnic and barbecue spots.
Landscape
Some of the finest rainforest scenery in the country can be found in the Watagan National Park. Rock walls and boulders covered in moss, canopies of red cedar and Illawarra flame trees all are interspersed throughout the walking trails. The area also boasts some remarkable eucalyptus forests and breathtaking views. Several camping areas and access roads for four wheel drives are sprinkled throughout. Mount Warrawolong is the highest point rising to 641 metres (2,103 ft) above sea level.
Aboriginal Heritage
The mountains are of great importance to the Awabakal and Darkinjung people, and evidence of art and engravings have been found at over 40 recorded locations in the Watagan Range and surrounding lands. Strategies are in place to identify Aboriginal sites and to protect and conserve them from human activity. Although a number of sites have been recorded, it is thought that many more exist that have not yet been identified.
European Settlement
European settlement began around the area in the 1820s. One of the first structures built - erected in the early 1800s - was the Trig Station, a fixed survey point used to calculate distances when making maps and building the Great North Road. During the 1840s bushrangers roamed throughout the mountains, particularly the Jewboy Gang. The 1830s saw the beginning of the logging industry, initially with bullock teams. European settlers originally targeted the cedar trees discovered in the forest, however other varieties, turpentine for example, was also sourced from the Watagans. The timber industry within the mountains thrived because of the close proximity to coal mines and timber markets and reached its peak in the early twentieth century. The area was severely logged during World War II to source timber for the war effort. The post war demand for timber to feed the housing and mining put further pressure on the forest. In the latter half of the twentieth and early twenty first centuries concern has escalated and there have been numerous calls for the conservation of the area.
The puzzle
All historical and heritage information courtesy of Lake Mac Libraries
Any questions regarding this puzzle cache or the LMHS geoart series will be answered by clicking HERE
*** The LMHS geoart was placed in conjunction with the OzGeoMuster 2018 mega event. The OzGeoMuster 2018 committee would like to thank the following people for their contribution to this series. ahomburg, day1976, sedgwickDave, The Morris, bobbiesgirl, and the_garbageman.***
Enjoy!
Marcus Vitruvius