We all know of, or have heard of a story or a saying that is about the Black Stump. References are usually made to something either “this side of the Black Stump” or something “beyond the Black Stump”. It is a uniquely Australian expression.
Have you ever wondered where the Black Stump really is, or what it is?
There are a few of them in Australia. And one is at the listed coordinates in Cowell, S.A., near the corner of Main Street and High Street, opposite the Commercial Hotel. It may not be one of the original Black Stumps, but it does have a classic Aussie tale attached to it.
As a new year’s eve prank in 1972, a large stump was placed between two hotels in the main street, on which signs placed on the stump read:
"best pub this side of the black stump".
The original stump was stolen and the local council decided, because Cowell is very small and very inconsequential, that the “Black Stump” was a tourist attraction and so a larger stump was erected to replace the original joke. This larger stump was erected in its place, and moved up the street, also paying tribute to pioneer land clearing battles.
After several fires, the weight is 2060 kg.
It is a truly typical Aussie story.
To log this virtual cache, you will need to provide answers to a question, and perform one action.
Examine the Black Stump carefully. Please document any unusual feature you might see on, in, or about the Black Stump.
Please include a photo of yourself in your log in front of the Black Stump, or your team name plaque (or piece of paper) on the Black Stump.
You may log your find immediately, but your answers must be submitted in a reasonable time. Do not include any answers or hints in your log. When you compose your log, get inventive, and include your own saying or tale about “The Black Stump”.
An optional, but interesting exercise, not required for logging this virtual cache. Provide the location for one of the other Black stumps in Australia. A town or region will be sufficient. There are a few to choose from.
Logs that have not met the requirements will be deleted without apology.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.