Game: Where-is-it (Aussie)

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Main range track above Blue Lake? Approaching the saddle between Carruthers and Twynam?

[johnw]

Main range track above Blue Lake? Approaching the saddle between Carruthers and Twynam?

Yep, spot on. On my way up to Twynam via the standard route. That, often present, summer drift is an extra clue for those who know it.

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Thanks. Also NSW:

[johnw]

Are you on that new Guthega-CP track that I walked the other week, or at least the (pre-existing) Illawong section of it?
Snowy River backed by the Twynams.

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Are you on that new Guthega-CP track that I walked the other week, or at least the (pre-existing) Illawong section of it?
Snowy River backed by the Twynams.

Yes the pre-existing section, between Guthega and Illawong

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[johnw]

Long time since I walked that track previously, but some of it has been re-routed in the new configuration.

ACT:

Approaching the trig on Mt Boboyan/Yerrabi track, Namadgi NP via Tharwa ACT

[sandym]

Sticking with the total guess:
Mount Franklin?

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Yerrabi?

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[johnw]

Yerrabi?

Yes, approaching Mt Boboyan trig on the Yerrabi track in Namadgi NP. Lot of variety for such a short walk.

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Think I'll throw it open to someone else to post...

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[GregG]

Thanks WFBW, I'll take a free kick. Still in NSW, location and purpose of this structure please. Hint: if I went up the hill I could get a train at this time of year.

[johnw]

Greg I'll scream if I've been here but it's not ringing any bells. So let's start somewhere.
It looks BMs and I'd assume near the railway line from the clue, suggesting maybe a railway dam from the steam era.
The only thing that comes to mind is the Clarence/Dargan Creek dam, although I admit I haven't been there and it doesn't match the photos I've seen.

[GregG]

It looks BMs and I'd assume near the railway line from the clue, suggesting maybe a railway dam from the steam era.
The only thing that comes to mind is the Clarence/Dargan Creek dam, although I admit I haven't been there and it doesn't match the photos I've seen.

Those are all good assumptions John except that if you were at Clarence you must have nodded off and missed your stop by about forty minutes or so ( easy to do I know from long experience ) While I was on my way to the structure, floundering around fighting a closed matched battle with b#@$%&d scrub, I came across this sign:

[johnw]

Those are all good assumptions John except that if you were at Clarence you must have nodded off and missed your stop by about forty minutes or so ( easy to do I know from long experience ) While I was on my way to the structure, floundering around fighting a closed matched battle with b#@$%&d scrub, I came across this sign:

Ahem, yes did happen occasionally when I was working . The only thing that might fit is the Springwood Smallbore & Air Rifle Club at the end of Bee Farm Road.
I've walked Sassafras, Wiggins, Victory tracks et al many times but can't recall this small dam. I did have a look through my Bruce Cameron book to no avail, but it's a big book.
If you were off track could be a side creek? In which case I should make time to find it myself.

[jonnosan]

I think 40 min by train from Clarence puts you at Leura rather than Springwood, so possibly you are on an upper stretch of Wentworth Creek? Cant place the structure though

[jonnosan]

Ah, just found a David Noble blog post with a very similar photograph http://www.david-noble.net/blog/?p=53372
Seems to be a weir that was (probably) used for supplying water to steam trains? Am intrigued now - will have to check it out (I guess I better do it on a Monday or Tuesday!)

[johnw]

Seems to be a weir that was (probably) used for supplying water to steam trains? Am intrigued now

Me too. Maybe not for steam trains after all, could be this one?
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16470948

[GregG]

Quite right Jonnosan, this is the weir on the upper reaches of Wentworth Creek, about a klik downstream of the KRC stop-butts and exactly as described in the Dave Noble blog you found, so well spotted. John, thanks for finding the Trove article and I would be fairly certain that this is the weir and pump-house referred to there, built for town water supply and not steam trains. The pump house was built from corrugated iron made in 1939 (see picture) so that more or less fits with the Trove story. The weir and pump house is something of a time capsule, partly attributable to the difficulty of access no doubt, and is well worth a look both for the scenic beauty of the waterfalls as well as the early industrial history. Best access is the way Dave Noble went, wear long sleeved shirt and long trousers because of the scrub, watch out to not upset certain landowners, PM me if you need specifics of the best route. If you are up that way there is another similar, older and better constructed weir not too far away from Leura that is well worth a look, PM me for this one also ( yes I know I'm being antsy but there is a reason).
Over to you Jonnosan

[puredingo]

That corrugated iron is in remarkably good condition for its age!?

[jonnosan]

Have to stay in NSW sorry. Hope to get further afield very soon!

[GregG]

That corrugated iron is in remarkably good condition for its age!?

That is true puredingo. Although the hardwood frame is starting to rot out the iron sheeting is in remarkably good condition considering that it has a lot of rotting vegetation and soil piled up against it in many places. It must have also somehow survived the various fires that have gone through there over the years which is surprising considering the amount of very dense scrub that surrounds it now. I dont know how long ago it fell into disuse, a fair while by the look of things.

[GregG]

That rock retaining wall on the left of picture reminds me of Kings Cave but the cave overhang looks a bit on the short side?

[jonnosan]

Not Kings Cave - this is on the opposite side of the GWH.

[jonnosan]

Probably about a half hour drive from Kings Cave also.

[johnw]

Not Kings Cave - this is on the opposite side of the GWH.

Probably about a half hour drive from Kings Cave also.

Puts you around Blackheath, southern side. Many years since I was there, maybe Mermaids Cave?

[jonnosan]

Puts you around Blackheath, southern side. Many years since I was there, maybe Mermaids Cave?

You must drive a little faster than I do. Not Mermaids cave.
This cave has a pretty unimaginative name, and is at the same level as the bottom member of a more creatively named pair of caves that are nearby.

[ribuck]

The creatively-named pair of caves are presumably Upper Psyn and Lower Psyn ...

[jonnosan]

That is correct ribuck, and I realised I have inadvertently posted a photo that excludes the feature that gives this location it's name.

[johnw]

You must drive a little faster than I do. Not Mermaids cave.

Nope, I'd be one of the slowest drivers on the planet, never exceed the speed limit. 29 minutes per google maps (Kings Cave to Blackheath township).
Seems about right but might depend on time of day.

That is correct ribuck, and I realised I have inadvertently posted a photo that excludes the feature that gives this location it's name.

Are you able to post one?

[jonnosan]

I don't have another photo sorry but here's a video https://photos.app.goo.gl/M2dvmLBUYs5CRznR9