Cache #165
Tom Mitchell Reserve is named after Thomas Walter Mitchell and was officially opened in May 1974. Born in Towong in 1906, he was a barrister, politician and skier - he first represented Australia in international skiing at Mürren, Switzerland, in 1931. He was a gold medallist in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, Australian champion in slalom (1932, 1934, 1936, 1937) and downhill (1931, 1934) events, and also four times combined champion. Mitchell’s political career began in 1935 with his election to the Upper Murray Shire Council. He served in Malaya and Singapore in World War 2 and was taken prisoner in February 1942, and while held at Changi camp taught himself Japanese. In June 1947 he won Benambra for the Country Party at a by-election and served in the Victorian Legislative Assembly until his retirement in 1976. He was the initiator of the idea of ski villages (Mount Buller, Mount Hotham and Falls Creek) built in the 1950s. He died in 1984 and was buried on his family property "Towong Hill".
Enough history - this is a pleasant little rest stop on the Tallangatta-Corryong road - I regularly use it to break the drive (is a good butterfly spot as it is so high). There is a sign about Straited Sun-moths which are only know from Victoria around Shelley (I need to get up there on a sunny day to see if I can find them). There are picnic tables and a toilet, and accommodation is available just up the road at Shelley Forest Camp.
And there is a TRACTOR!
Everyone loves a nano, right? This isn't a big piece of machinery so it shouldn't be too hard to find. If you don't like nanos, maybe just enjoy the rest area.
It can get cold up here so bring warm gear (even in summer) and as always with bush caches, snakes might be present when the sun eventually comes out.
Enjoy!