Thanks go to Budgietas and gooseandegg for placing this cache.

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Waterhouse Conservation Area

​Waterhouse Conservation Area is a well-kept secret near Bridport in Tasmania’s far north-east. This tranquil wetland community encompasses a diverse range of vegetation, including one of the largest areas of heathland on the North-East Coast. Vast relict dune systems, formed during the Ice Age, tower over the horizon in the north of the reserve.

The conservation area houses three major permanent deep-water lagoons, each with their own qualities. One of these – Little Waterhouse Lake – is listed under the Ramsar Convention as an internationally significant wetland and supports a diversity of species, including the rare Wolfia australis, which boasts the impressive title of being the smallest flowering plant in the world.

Waterhouse Conservation Area provides important habitats for nine threatened bird species, at least three types of threatened mammals and the rare freshwater dwarf galaxias fish. Blackmans Lagoon and its feeder creeks are the most significant site in Tasmania for the precious green and golden frogs.

A    The habitats of Waterhouse Conservation Area support a rich diversity of wildlife. More than how many bird species have been recorded? 

0. 135

1. 136

2. 138

3. 139

B     During their 1798 circumnavigation of Tasmania, Mathew Flinders and George Bass named Waterhouse Island for the? 

2. Governor of the New South Wales Colony

3. Minister for Justice in England

4. Captain of HMS Reliance

5. Captain of HMS Renown

C   The first land grants in the Waterhouse area, including the original Waterhouse block granted to wealthy Hobart-based merchant William Morgan Orr.  When did this occur?  

0. 1820s

1. 1830s

2. 1840s

3. 1850s

D    The Waterhouse Protected Area was declared in?

3. 1990

4. 1992

5. 1995

6. 1996

E    A stockman employed at Waterhouse found specimens of gold ore on the property, sparking a stampede of miners in the?

6. Late 1870s

7. Late 1860s

8. Late 1850s

9. Late 1840s

F    Keep your binoculars handy for mammal spotting as well. You might be lucky to spy a spotted-tailed quoll, eastern quoll or? 

0. Tasmania devil

1. Tiger quoll

2. Eastern bettong

3. Drop Bear

The cache can be found at S 42° 36.ABC′ E 147° 28.DEF′ 

(Source: Waterhouse)