Flagstaff Gardens are Melbourne's oldest gardens. They take their name from a flagstaff erected in 1840 at the settlement's highest point, in order to communicate between the harbour and town. This became known as "Flagstaff Hill". Before this, the area was used as a cemetery and was known as Burial Hill. The hill was at such a high point that people going to Flagstaff Hill enjoyed panoramic views of the bay. However, as city buildings rose up around the gardens, the views were blocked out. Today, standing in the gardens, it is hard to imagine that this was such a high point and that it was once possible to see the bay.
Although this is a five stage multi, it is a very short walk and will not take long.
The Way points:
1. Diggers 37 48.576 144 57.265
Probably not the type you are thinking of. How many are here (check with the geokiddies)? A
2. Separation 37 48.640 144 57.224
On the 11th of November 1850, this was the site of announcement of Victoria’s Separation from the Colony of New South Wales, resulting in celebrations with a huge bonfire with about 5,000 townspeople in attendance.
In 1853 the flagstaff was equipped with a time ball, signalling time for the ships in port. This continued until 1858, when the time ball was moved and an observatory was built here studying magnetism, meteorology and solar phenomena. This was under the care of Grorg Neumayer. This was continued until 1863 when all this work was transfered to the new Melbourne Observatory in the Domain.
How far did he walk (in 1000's)? BC
3. Burial Hill 37 48.647 144 57.240
Here is a memorial that marks the graves of the first European settlers. There is a Roman number that is hard to read, so all you need are the last 4 digits.
In our Arabic numerals the digits equal? DE
4. The Sundial 37 48.617 144 57.296
This is an interesting spot for a sundial given that the park has a number of large trees, thus not allowing much direct sunlight on this spot. However all that aside, there is some writing on the face that is a bit out. If you round to the nearest minute how far out? F
(Hint: Longitude)
5. Games in a row
You can sit here to do your calculations and the cache is close.
37 (F+A)(D+C).(D-B)(B-C)(E) 144 (D-A)(D).(A)(D+E)(F+A)