This walk was organised and led by me as an irregular CBC Tuesday walk:

(Tuesday 29 January — Molonglo Gorge — L/E,X. Walk the Molonglo Gorge, the Molonglo River through the Kowan Pine Forest and Glen Burn Creek to the historic sites. Return same. Nearly all on fire trails. Around 20km and 150m total climb. Map: Bungendore 1:25000. Limit of 8. Leader: John Evans – jevans@pcug.org.au, (h) 6288 7235; contact me by 6pm the previous Sunday to discuss options. Transport: ~$10. Further details at http://jevans.pcug.org.au.).

3 of us met at the Molonglo Gorge carpark. Our guide, Jim D, walked in from the Kings Highway and we met him at the old picnic table overlooking the Molonglo River near the John Coppins Homestead site.

Molonglo Gorge - see http://www.tams.act.gov.au/play/parks_forests_and_reserves/recreation_in_acts_parks_forests_and_bushlands/molonglo_gorge_recreation_area

Charcoal Kiln Road - see http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/heritage/heritage_assets/charcoal_kiln_road.

Glen Burn homestead - see http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/heritage/heritage_assets/glenburn_homestead and http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/heritage/heritage_assets/history_of_plantatiohn_forest_areas_in_the_act.

Colverwell Graves - see http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/heritage/heritage_assets/colverwell_graves and http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/heritage/heritage_assets/history_of_plantatiohn_forest_areas_in_the_act.

Thanks to information from Jim D and Mike B, I contacted Col McAl and purchased his book Twelve historic sites in the Glenburn and Burbong areas of the Kowan Forest, Australian Capital Territory, Colin McAlister, published by National Parks Association of the ACT Inc, Canberra, 2007 the Thursday prior to the walk. There are 12 sites to visit:

I also have access to an article Colverwell Graves: The Case for Urgent Action by Colin McAlister in Canberra Historical Journal New Series No 55 March 2005 Graeme Barrow ed.

And we even have our own personal guide! Jim D has kindly offered to walk in and show us around. We meet him at a picnic table and fire place near the Molonglo River at GR08828892 at 10am.

I have obtained the permission of the leaseholder to enter the private land.

Route Card

Walk

The sky was overcast as we walked the Molonglo Gorge. I'd not been here before and the area is a delight. A flow in the river making the cascades rush and the still pools swell. The Molonglo Gorge Walk initially follows beside the river, but soon the well maintained benched track, with handrails in places, climbs high above the river (see pic 1). Lovely yellow trunked gums on the sides above us and, across the other side, the steady grade and rock dribbling sides of the railway line. We reached Blue Tiles picnic area in 3.1km and 1hr (leg 1 above).

Next, a pretty boring leg along River Road - hard, wide, exposed forestry road. The cloud cover quickly burned off and the mercury climbed towards the 34°C. We viewed a Molonglo River ford and pressed on further to a huge blackberry infested area which I thought could hide the first historic site. This leg 3.6km in 45mins - fast and furious, but hard on the feet.

We poked about a bit, returned to the road and soon spotted the chimney of the site in the edge of the berries. The stone chimney is all that remains of the John Coppins Homestead (see pic 2). A battered and rusted metal container lies nearby. We spotted the picnic table meeting place, but it being just 9.30am, kept on. The next historic site lay across the Molonglo River and we quickly found the little ford. A few tens of metres up the bank my companions found it, me having walked straight passed. Again, all that remains of Argyle is the stone corner chimney (see pic 3). We returned to the meeting place and settled in the shade at the edge of the pines just above it. Only there a minute or two and Dick appeared. This leg and exploration 0.7km in 30mins. We enjoyed morning tea for 15mins whilst Jim told us the history of the 2 sites we'd visited and a gave us a general introduction to the area.

We continued NE along River Road which followed up along Glenburn Creek. Huge hedges of blackberries. We turned right into Charcoal Kiln Road, carefully climbed over a gate and were immediately at our next site. The country opened out into cleared grazing land and we could see several of the historic sites. I'd recognised the pine tree skeleton described in Col McAlister's book but, as Jim said, one needed to use one's imagination to picture the Kowan Public School (see pic 4). I'm not going to write what Jim told us - buy a copy of Col's monograph from NPAACT and read the amazing detail for yourself. Also here were signs of 9 or 10 charcoal kilns (see pic 5).

We returned the few metres to Charcoal Kiln Road, crossed it and headed S to the Glenburn Sheep Yards and Dip (see pic 6). Cleverly sited so that the sheep had minimal view of their imminent plunge as they came through the downhill race.

Back to the NE, across CK Rd and through the grass and thistles to Glenburn Homestead (see pic 7). We had a good look around and in the slab and pise buildings and, as at each site, enjoyed Jim's history lesson.

Next generally E across the open, grassed grazing paddocks to the Colverwell graves (see pic 8). Much restoration work has been done, motivated primarily by Col's research and the application of an ACT Government grant. Much left to be done.

We were exposed to the sun and it was getting warm. The sky was blue and huge as we headed towards the Glenburn Shearers Quarters and Shearing Shed (see pic 9). The shed was locked, but we were able to look inside the shearers quarters. Modern history. The wash-house had a hole for a copper and still sported the twin concrete washing tubs; the old timber tank stand made a stark sight and the roofline of the meat room was interesting.

100m away was the Glenburn Hayshed remains and a grass cutter (see pic 10).

The Canberra International Clay Target Club lies to the S of these sites. We skirted its E edge along CK Rd, then SW to the site of the Kowen Copper Mine (see pic 11). We needed to eject a few cattle from the shade trees, but they returned after we moved on. Imagination needed here, too, although a couple of blue tinged rocks were found.

W lay the best of the sites - and lunch. We arrived at Colliers Homestead (see pic 12) at 1pm. It still is a substantial building ruin and has a remarkable history. Quality building - see the arched window top. A pleasant 45mins for lunch, lolling in the shade. A little way away was a blackberry clump - the site of the ruins of Curleys Hut (see pic 13).

Since meeting Jim, our near circumnavigation of the sites was 6.9km in 3hr 15mins.

Although the offer was there for us to return to the Kings Highway with Jim, we decided to walk back out the way we came in. Jim gave us a whip cracking demonstration, we gave him our sincere thanks for the tour and we parted company. An 8km hot wander back in 2hrs.

An excellent and interesting day. If done again, I'd probably walk the Molonglo Gorge, then drive along the Kings Highway and come in the shorter and more sensible route that Jim used.

Thanks Madeleine and Penny and Jim.

Distance: 22.4km  Climb: 200m.  Time: 7.30am - 3.45pm (8.25hrs), with 1hr of stops and times to explore each site.
Grading: L/E,X; M(9)

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Molonglo Gorge and 12 Historic Sites at Glenburn-Burbong