Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog

Wednesday 2 September 2026: Searching for historical sites near Freshford Creek and the Murrumbidgee River – M/M. Join with experts.

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Distance: 13.04km

Ascent: 305vm

Grade: M/M; M(9)

Time: 3:20 moving + 1:32 stopped = 4:52

Recording device: Garmin H1i+ handheld GPS

Download the gpx file: Here

View the photos: Here.

Track map:

Detail of sites:

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Trip Report

I was last at Maloney’s Hut site on 26 Jun 26.

Today I was mixing with the big kids – Jenny H, local historian and author, Glenn S – Kambah/Tuggeranong local historian, and Fernando P – architect and pise construction expert.

Here they are approaching the Maloney’s site.

Experts are rightfully skeptical until real data is evident. That was the case today! But the site soon revealed secrets that were not evident on our first visit.

Glenn pointed out that he large log/post had a smoothed side.

Fernando found burnt down posts in the ground.

And, at an appropriately paced out distance, another.

A photo taken looking up to the site probably matched an old photo.

Here’s the photo from the CAS site 41 paper.

And a nail.

As Jenny had previously concluded:

“Jack Cregan, soldier settler after WW1, was granted a lease in 1920 on Black 13A at Lower Freshford – which included the area covered by CAS 41. This was poor country, dry and rabbit infested in the 1920s, and Cregan struggled to make a living as the price of wool dropped and he had to pay quarterly rent to the government for the block. His young family were still living out in a slab cottage in the Naas Valley. In 1922 Cregan sought permission to move to the block an old house of slab timber with a galvanised roof that stood on Block 30 in the Paddys River district and had belonged to the Maloney family. Cregan was finding it too difficult to work the property from the family’s house at Naas. Permission was given to move the house and in 1926 the Cregans set up house in the old slab cottage. By 1927 sheep yards and a shearing shed had been erected, a garden and orchard established, the paddocks were fenced and there was £60 worth of new material in the residence.“

So, yes, this is Maloneys Hut, but moved from its previous location to here by Jack Cregan.

Satisfied, we popped down to Freshford Creek for smoko.

As we left, it was my turn to be (privately) skeptical. Jenny was guiding us to the next site “… visited 20 years ago with nearby poplars …”. We started heading north, then turned around and walked east towards the Murrumbidgee River. Another bit to the N and she had us spot on. Jen and Rob have photographic memories!

We scouted around an orchard area first.

Glenn had some hard data with him, a printout of the ACT Heritage Council’s Unity Cunningham’s House and Garden.

We were able to spot a large fallen tree pictured in the area in 2015.

Heading that way, we immediately got several bingos, matching a series of photos from the same report.

Here’s the tree that got us the bingos.

Again sated, Fernando took a look at the printouts and we headed south, upstream, along the Murrumbidgee, looking for Ponsey’s Hut site. Nothing found, but a pleasant walk closer to the river.

We tromped back to our cars.

A great search, watching how the experts do it. Huge thanks Jen, Glenn and Fernando!

Party

4 walkers – Jen H, Fernando P, Glenn S, me.