Captains Flat

The trip to Captains Flat from Bungendore is a leisurely  3-4 hour drive.  The road varies from a good surfaced road, to some rather ordinary forest tracks - some we discovered-very poorly sign posted.  (We sauntered off down one track for a few kilometeres, only to find a "track closed" sign!!! -  Why it couldn't have been at the beginning of the road - is anyones guess) - oh well- 

Along the way we stopped off at the town of Captains Flat,   a sleepy little village nestled on the Molonglo River, among hills adjacent to the Jingera Mountains. There is some dispute as to the exact origins of how the town got its name. A Captain William Sawyer settled in the district in 1833. It was believed that he received land as a wedding gift from Governor Arthur (Tasmania) who had been his wife's former employer, but it was subsequently discovered that he in fact, only rented the land. Furthermore, it transpired that he was not a captain at all, but a private Gold was discovered in the Captain's Flat area in 1864.It wasn't until 1882 that a large productive reef was discovered on a ridge above Captain's Flat township by Hugh McNeill, William Harkness and Edward Holehan. The Molonglo River Goldfields were proclaimed on 27 September 1882, which started the Molonglo River goldrush. Over the years, many miners lost their lives while extracting the ore from deep within the bowels of the Captain's Flat mine. It is said that one miner died for every year that the mine was open, a terrible price for any town to pay for its industry.

After attempting to find somewhere to eat within the town - only managing a meat pie ($4.00 ea!!) at the local general store (half of mine still lays on the footpath) .On the weekends, a couple of small Cafes and galleries are open to cater for the tourist, so you may well find more than a pie!

Heading off we followed the signs to Lowden Park Forest and located the Old Water Wheel, which was used to generate power and lighting for the old logging camps that once inhabited the area - There was also the remains of an old steam engine and jig still in the area.

Getting back into the car, we followed the signs towards Braidwood.  Travelling through some of Australia's most beautiful country side, we were unfortunate enough to find ourselves behind a logging truck, which we followed all the way into Braidwood.

Overlooking Captains Flat

The Entrance to Lake George Mine

Old Bridge

Mine Artifacts

Snow Gums

Old Railway Bridge

Delias Nigrina Butterlfly

Snow Gums

Purple Berries Growing in The Forest

Plaque (The names mentioned on there - Spencer Hush was an ex-landlord of mine

The water wheel built by Spencer and Bill

Following the Logging Truck

If time had,  permitted, this trail finds it way to the Deua National Park, which holds its own special delights.  Save that for another day.

The beautiful butterfly you see here is called the Delisas Nigrina - usually confined to the east coast of Australia, but when seen flying around they are fairly ordinary white with a black edged wing, but when they land they look like this.

A Great Day - lets see what tomorrow brings.

Thought of the Day

There is more logic in humor
than in anything else.
Because, you see,
humor is truth.”

~ Victor Borge