27 September 2011 A search for 2 indigenous sites in the southern Namadgi

Map: Yaouk 1:25000

Getting There

This walk was organised and led by me as a private Tuesday walk:

Tuesday 27 September - A search for 2 indigenous sites in the southern Namadgi - L/M,ptX. Stop at Shanahans Mountain car park and wander NW to a reputed site near SH1482. Drive to the Old Boboyan Rd (South) car park and wander along that road to cross Naas Creek at the ford. Climb to another site at 1200m then return along the NE bank of the creek. Around 17km and 400m climb. Map: Yaouk. Leader: John Evans - jevans@pcug.org.au, (h) 6288 7235. Transport: ~$12 per person.

A private walk, with just the 2 of us. You others missed a great day. We drove via Tharwa and the Boboyan Road to the Shanahans Mountain car park, wandered around, then drove to the Old Boboyan Road (South) car park.

Photographs

You can access all photographs here.

Walk

Track maps: thumbnails are active - click for a larger picture
Walk 1 and 2 overview	Walk 1	Walk 2	Walk 3

3 little walks.

The first, from Shanahans Mountain car park, across the Boboyan Road and NW to near SH1482, where Steve B said there was an indigenous site. Much wandering around and around and around revealed nothing. Hard to imagine a stone circle in this area of open forest, snow grass and shale rock.

Our main wander, from the Old Boboyan Road (South) car park, took us first to the Boboyan Homestead site. I never get sick of this wonderful stone chimney. Also, it's been a while since I've been to the associated sites, so we visited the dam, spring, fencing and graves.

Back on the Old Boboyan Road, we headed towards the Naas Creek ford. With it in sight, my companion kindly acquiesced to the suggestion to detour SW onto the spur above the Grassy Creek fire trail, to search for some yards we'd looked for on 3 Sep 11. Before that, we called by Alexander Brayshaws hut site and had morning tea by the rocks behind.

Find the yards we did, after searching diligently for evidence, as the site was not a likely one for stockyards with its rocky centre. But there was sawn timber and the fallen outline of at least two sides of the yards. We must have previously passed within 30m of them; this time we were right on the crest of the spur.

Returning to the Naas Creek valley floor, we picked up the Grassy Creek fire trail and followed its old alignment to the Naas Creek ford. We headed N on the Old Boboyan Road (South) for around 500m, then struck off to the E.

New country for me - and absolutely delightful! Gentle up over grassed going with light scrub, until we couldn't resist deviating from the bearing to our next objective to limb and scramble onto a huge and wonderful granite slab which we'd seen from the valley. It's at around the 1210-1220m contour. Grand views down to the Naas Creek valley from an angle I'd not seen before. The E end of the slab had some broken granite pieces on it, but some too big for a stone arrangement and no regular shape.

But hunting a second indigenous site we were, so back to business took us down through a drainage line and up through tight scrub to a knoll. Some level granite at the top, but no indigenous site. The top was marked by a couple of pieces of granite, one holding down an old-fashioned steel-jawed rabbit trap. There was an old moss covered cairn a few tens of metres away to the SE. Again, great views down to the valley.

We next descended S to the left bank of the Naas Creek, thinking it wise to check and mark every now and again where the creek could be crossed at this season's water level. We headed SE along the left bank. It was truly delightful - easy walking, the grasses not too highly clumped. The creek gurgled away beside us and the kangas stared insolently. One of the creek crossing spots had a tiny island and I jumped across to photograph Peter on the other side. Stopped at the two bridge sites. Our final objective was Thomas Brayshaws Hut site, which we found - the ubiquitous pile of granite amongst the grass.

Back down at the creek we lolled about and enjoyed lunch.

With darker clouds rolling in and talk of a beer at the Tharwa General Store, we crossed Naas Creek, gained the Old Boboyan Road (South) and returned to the car.

On the way back we stopped at another site that Peter had not seen. A pleasant ale rounded out a good day which included some successes.

BTW - I'd recommend a circuit including crossing the Naas Creek ford and a leg along the left (NE) bank of the creek. It was extremely pleasant. I'd planned to continue further on the left bank and attempt to cross near the car park - next time.

Thanks Peter J - a great walk in a known area, but from a different perspective.

Distance: 18.1km Climb: 300m. Time: 7.45 - 8.45am; 9.00am - 1.20pm; 1.45 - 2.00pm (5hrs 35mins), including 35mins of breaks.
Grading: L/E-M,ptX; M(10)

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: SB's indigenous sites

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This page last updated 28Aug22