On the Flat Multi-Cache
Alansee: The area at GZ has changed and the hiding hole no longer provides the cover that it once did. I checked around for new hides but was unable to find one, so am archiving this cache after more than 4 years! It was the second cache that I ever put out.
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This is a simple one-step multi-cache showing off an area recognised as one of the Yarra River’s most significant locations.
Banyule Flats was used by the original inhabitants for thousands of years. The resources that were available here must have meant that this was a major meeting place and signs of their existence still exist if you know where to look. When the Europeans came they saw the resources a different way, and a few squatters already resided in the area by the 1830’s. In 1837 the area was surveyed, and by the 1840’s clearing had started for farms. At least one house had been built on the flats by 1843, and orchards and vineyards had been planted by 1845. Wheat, Oats, potatoes and dairy cattle were also here. This all then pressured the original people to move elsewhere.
A series of major floods put paid to most of the farming – at least 12 in the period 1863 to 1891, and the area reverted to mostly cattle grazing. Chinese farmers revived market gardening in the early 1900’s, but they too were driven out by a severe flood in 1924, and then the biggest flood on record in 1934. And it was BIG!
In the 1950’s pressure mounted to conserve the Yarra Valley, ultimately leading to the creation of the Yarra Valley Park, and land at the Flats was progressively acquired towards this, with some grazing lasting until the mid 1990’s. In 1997 the park came under the control of Parks Victoria.
Today the Flats are a decided mixture of limited original trees, especially around the billabong; remnant farmland, including some buildings; recreational facilities, particularly the ovals; and revegetation efforts which started in the mid 1980’s and are ongoing. The swamp had been drained when it was farmland, but has been allowed to revert to its natural condition. It is a particularly interesting area for birdwatchers. Although very small (less than ½ square kilometre) the variety of environments, mean that over 150 species have been seen here in recent times – an amazing number. I can vouch for most of them!
To the Cache
There are several places to park but the most convenient is a carpark at S37° 44.935 E145° 05.365. There is a path almost to the published coordinates. There you will find two seats. In front of you will be the swamp, and overlooking it is Banyule House, built in 1846. At your feet is a small sign regarding feeding the birds. Ignoring the Banyule logo at the bottom, you will need the following information:
A = the total of all the digits on the sign (yes, it’s a trick question)
B = the number of letters in the first word on the sign,
C = the number of letters in the last word on the first line,
D = the number of signs,
E = the number of letters in the last word on the sign, and
F = the number of letters in the first word of the last line.
The cache is about 200 metres south of you and is to be found at:
S 37° 45.ABC E 145° 05.D(E+1)F
It is a one litre systema container painted to suit its surroundings. It has been filled with bird-related items on a whim and does not have to stay this way.
Trees can affect your readings but should not unduly affect your ability to find the cache. Please also note that you should not climb over any fences – there is a gate at a very convenient location. Nor do you have to go bush bashing – occasionally cut grass is virtually all you need to encounter. The area of the cache floods every few years, but because of a drainage hole at the other end of the billabong mostly empties very quickly, so such floods should not affect your access to the cache for long. The cache itself should remain quite safe, and muggles are regularly nearby but relatively rare just here. Any will probably have binoculars!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Svir srrg uvtu