Strachan's Cave is historically significant as it is a reflection of Pakeha settler fears and attitudes, and the state of race relations at that time. It is an example of a structure made in response to a particular situation, which lasted for a comparatively brief time. The cave may also be seen as a demonstration of the isolation in which many Pakeha families lived for years.
The cave is located in a hillside consisting of soft to medium hard rock with a clay overlay. The fairly sophisticated layout to the cave demonstrates a clear plan for the requirements for defence, with several chambers and gun ports. The construction of the cave by hand is a remarkable achievement and presumably would have been completed fairly quickly, given the perceived threat. Strachan's cave was excavated circa 1858.
Strachan's cave consists of an entrance passage, two 'rooms', and a long narrow passage at the back. The entrance has two gunports guarding the passage, whilst the long narrow passage at the back is also guarded by a third gunport facing directly into the second room. Although the family had many scares, especially during the conflicts of the 1860s, they were never attacked. Until the mid-1980s the cave remained hidden behind bush and scrub.
The Owner is more than happy for you to go into the cave but please respect the land and any cattle that maybe gazing in the paddock.
To log this Virtual
You will need a torch and a measuring tape (and some gumboots in spring/winter as the paddock gets muddy) please do not publish your answers if you put your answer in the log, your log will be deleted. you will need to send the following answers: what are the measurements of the front entrance height and width and the height and width of each gunpoint (3).
Once you have sent in the answers you are welcome to the log the cache. Please add a photo showing yourself in front of the entrance to the cave in the online log - failure to send in the answers will mean the find gets removed.
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.