30 May 2010 William Farrer's Grave and the De Salis Cemetery

Map: Williamsdale 1:25000

Getting There

This walk was organised and led by me as a combined CBC/Parkway Church ramble:

Sunday arvo 30 May - William Farrer's Grave and De Salis Cemetery- S/E. A combined CBC and Parkway church ramble. Cross an old stile in style on the edge of the Point Hut Road and wander up the ridge to William Farrer's grave. Farrer conducted experiments to find strains of wheat suitable for Australian conditions on the Lambrigg property below. Next, from Tharwa, walk from Tharwa bridge upstream across the back of Cuppacumbalong and Outward Bound to an interesting resting place of members of a significant European family who settled in the area. Bring arvo tea to share. Around 4.5km and 50m climb. Those who prefer an extended ramble will not be satisfied. Map: Williamsdale. Leader: John Evans - jevans@pcug.org.au, (h) 6288 7235. Please book with me, but make your own way to the meeting point. Transport: Meet at Parkway church, cnr Sulwood Dr and Tuggeranong Parkway, at 1.30pm and we'll car pool from there ~$5 per person.

After several cancellations (I agree, it was a bit damp), 5 of us met and drove down through Tuggeranong and out to the side of the Point Hut Road at the old stile.

Further Information

Have a look at previous walk report from 4 Nov 07 to get an idea of what we'll see. Those who prefer an extended ramble will not be satisfied. I have permission from the lessee to walk on her property, including down to the cottage if we want to.

Photographs

Access all primary pics here. All thumbnails in the walk report are active - click for a larger picture.

Walk

Track William Farrer's Grave	Track De Salis Cemetery

They who dare, win - we did and we did.

Parking on the side of the road, we wandered up along the ridge to the site. A bit rainy and one had to concentrate so as not to tread in a cow pat. We had a good poke about and it's marvellous what new eyes see. I'd always thought the trees to be pines; they are cedars. The inscription on William's grave top is: 'These grave stones were provided by subscription from the New South Wales Country Press Association'. At the prior invitation of the Lambrigg property owner, we wandered down to the homestead. Stopped at the boundary fence of the home paddock, one does not like to intrude. A beautifully maintained property. Back up the hill where Bill did a bit of fence repairing (an outdoors man's hands are never idle) and back to the car. We drove to Tharwa.

William and Nina Farrer's graves	Obelisk at William and Nina Farrer's graves	Lambrigg

From the car park at the top of the park, we headed round the fenced edge of the construction site and down to the public track. The weather was fearfully windy, but it stopped raining. Here was our real win - the avenue of Elms were in their Autumn glory, with the wind laying a golden carpet on the benched track (was that flowery or what, Elizabeth?). A stroll along the track. Wonderful new signage at the cemetery and the wombat hole under the wooden post stile over the central dry stone wall has been filled in. Congrats to whoever has done the recent signage and maintenance. Return and then home.

Avenue of Elms towards De Salis cemetery	Avenue of Elms towards De Salis cemetery	De Salis cemetery	Mt Tennent over De Salis cemetery

Thanks Bill W, Elizabeth C, Peter P and Tony T for your stout company.

Distance: 5.3km Climb: 50m. Time: 1.25pm - 3.20pm (call it 2hrs), with 10mins of driving.
Grading: S/E; VE(3)

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: William Farrer's Grave and the De Salis Cemetery

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This page last updated 19Aug22