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No Sneyde remarks here! Traditional Cache

Hidden : 5/27/2025
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:


"No Sneyde remarks here" is a cache located on the side of Sneydes Road. The cache is a 250 mL container with a logbook and room for some small swaps.

 

At one time, the area around the cache was once Victoria's State Research Farm, a place where agricultural research was undertaken. With time though, things have changed and agricultural research is no longer the central focus of the area which has now become known as the Werribee Employment Precinct.

 

At GZ, and if you're facing the main road, then the heart of the farm was located to the right, on the other side of the road. It is now a heritage listed location, and further details can be found at http://www.onmydoorstep.com.au/heritage-listing/12272/state-research-farm

 

A bit of history about the site:

The Central Research Farm, now known as the State Research Farm, was established to support for the Closer Settlement programme under which, from 1898, parts of a number of large squatting era land holdings had been resumed and broken into farms intended for dairying, wheat growing and mixed farming in Victoria. Twenty thousand acres of the Chirnside's Werribee Estate had been acquired for closer settlement purposes in 1906. In 1912, an area of 1167 acres of this land was acquired by the Department of Agriculture for the establishment of a Research Farm. The first trials and experiments undertaken by the State Research Farm were concerned with soil renovation, rotation of crops, improvement of wheat and other cereals, irrigation practices, improvement of pastures, breeding and feeding of livestock, research into soil properties and meteorological observations.

Dr Samuel S Cameron, the Victorian Director of Agriculture from 1911-31, jointly established the State Research Farm with AE Richardson, Agricultural Superintendent and farm manager H.C Wilson. The SS Cameron memorial tree was planted in 1931 in front of the office.
The original buildings in an H-Shaped plan, designed by the Public Works Department and constructed in 1912, are situated in the centre of the farm. These buildings are timber framed, corrugated iron clad and weatherboard clad, with gabled roofs. They make up a coherent and identifiable group of agricultural buildings and were described when new as a model demonstration farm. The functions of this group of buildings were a farm managers' office, fodder building, silos and laboratory, dairy, stables, farm store and carpenter's shop,and bagged grain store. The brick silos were originally built to store chaff and silage. The iron building behind the silos was originally the hay shed and chaff cutter room.
The eastern end of the H-shaped configuration contained a laboratory and lecture room for students and trainees and it has also accommodated research units of the farm. The enclosed, open area in between these buildings was the horse yard and is laid with bluestone. Thereare also remnants of bluestone drains alongside the buildings. On the opposite side of the silos is another pair of original buildings. Existing roadways and path networks, reinforced with tree planting windbreaks, indicate the past use of this farmstead as the central focus of the research farm.
During the Second World War experimental activities were diversified and sections of the farm were utilised for the production of vegetable seeds to meet local and international needs. Also, the production of ergotine for shell shock, and opium poppies were sown to overcome the shortage of morphine at this time. There was a desperate need for farm workers and members of the Australian Women's Land Army Depot were employed to help maintain the research programs, records and production of the farm. Over 300 women were trained in farming practices and then went on to further employment on farms and mills.

A little more history on the farm can also be found at 
http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/portregn.nsf/pages/werribee_farm_history

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

FCBE

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)