The Signs Publishing Company set up in 1905 was another Warburton business that used water as a source of power. Like the SHF it started out on the east side of the Yarra river. At the age of 18 Roy Wallace was given the job of setting up the hydro system and was involved in surveying the area and setting up the machinery. A dam was constructed by the the managers and factory workers working side by side. It was hot work as it took place in January & February using only manual labor and horse drawn scoops. A pipeline was set up from Rocky creek to fill the dam and another down to the factory below. Finally all the equipment was installed, the dam filled and the system set in operation. Unfortunately Rocky creek was a bit drought prone and when water was in short supply suction gas was used as a backup to the hydro.
Houses of the factory workers were also electrified but in those days it was lights out at 10pm. For a short time power was also supplied to the SHF next door. 1915 saw Wallace head to Asia to set up another system for the company before returning to take up an office job for the factory. After his departure it seems Reuben Bottril took over as the electrician come engineer.
System specs were:
50 HP Pelton wheel made by The Pelton Waterwheel Co. of San Francisco and New York
Working pressure 140 psi
DC generator
1934 saw the power of water taking it's toll in the form of severe flooding that caused 10,000 pounds worth of damage as workers looked on as items floated from the windows. After that the factory was relocated to the west bank to it's current location today.
View of a small flood from behind the old factory looking towards signs bridge just right of centre. The 1934 flood was much larger. Note the power poles.
The Cache
This cache has been made a multi to help you enter from the right area ie not via private property. At the posted location you should find your self at the end of the road near a gate. If you have trouble getting there park your car and walk the last 150 meters rather than muggling the road. Standing in front of the gate with it behind you will see a large flax / pampas clump in front of you. Start you trip to GZ from here and proceed as directly as practicable (not via the used vehicle track) until after about 70 - 100 meters you find you self on a old road that will lead you almost to GZ. Return via this route. The trip for this cache is a lot easyer than the two before it in the series.
On the last power pole on the road (as showen in the picture) with the transformer (big metal box thingo))you will find a yellowish plastic label with numbers on it.
These numbers equal AB CDEF.
The cache is at:
S 37° 44.F(B+1)(D*2)
E145° 42.(C/2)(A+4)3
The cache, a 2 litre Sistema box, is a short distance passed the item of interest. The cache is not covered and should be left visable from the top but leaves may fall on it. The clue will help if you GPSr is having problems.