With over two millenia of scientific consensus, misconception of a flat earth has been well and truly debunked. But to find this cache, you do need to assume the earth is flat. You also must assume an 'isometric' earth; i.e. latitudes and longitudes have a 1:1 aspect ratio, so one degree East is the same distance over-ground as one degree South.
When Jean-François de Galaup (for which the beautiful area of La Perouse is named) arrived at Botany Bay in 1788, there was told a now-forgotten and unconfirmed lore that his crew members hid a treasure chest somewhere in the area.
After decades of poring through archives, I have uncovered a parchment with instructions for locating the treasure chest.
Translated loosely from the French, it read:
- From the giant fig tree, head you in a straight line to the largest tree in view with bark of paper. Mark you well this first distance between trees.
- At the paper tree, turn left a true right angle and step out the same first distance. Here, to the ground a stake you shall drive.
- Return to the giant fig tree. Now you must proceed directly to the tallest pine tree on 'le monticule' minding this second distance from fig to pine.
- On arriving at the pine, turn a hundred grads to your right. Then stride out the second distance at which point you must drive down another stake.
- You shall find the treasure chest midway on a straight line between the two stakes.
It didn't take long to learn that 100 grads is equal to 90 degrees. But many years passed before I was able to locate the paperbark tree. Located at (Starting Coordinates) S33°58.319' E151°13.353', it seems this melaleuca has been removed when the area was cleared to build the NSW Port container terminal facilities.
A similar fate appears to have befallen the tall pine tree. Words have it that it stood on what is now Trig Hill in the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, and exactly at the centre of the 'checkerboard'.
Now I suppose I just have to track down the whereabouts of the giant fig tree.
Can you help find the treasure chest?
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This geocache was part of GC Project: It's Raining Caches 2025. |
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The project's aim was to create a rain of new geocaches to fall from the sky across the state of NSW at 9am on 19th January 2025 - 1 week before Sydney Geoquest, the first Block Party in the Southern Hemisphere.
Many legendary hiders came together to generously contribute their finest geocaches to build excitement and connection amongst the community and for all finders to enjoy years after the event. |
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This geocache helped make it rain. |
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