Last updated 15Apr24
Are you a serious ACT trig bagger?
Lauren O, the queen of trig bagging in the ACT, is. She’s allowed me to share her current record, as at September 2023. Want to get started? Maybe the best is the Publicly accessible trigs sheet. As always, respect private property and do not enter without permission.
Download a Guide to ACT trig hunting, an Excel workbook.
Technical ACT Trig Bagging
So you want a complete list of ACT trigs to bag? I know I’m slow on the uptake, but I’ve just been pointed to a new-ish area on ACTmapi which gives both grid (UTM/GR) and geographical (lat/lon in decimal degree) coordinates for ACT survey marks. So, whether you’re an old-fashioned bushwalker using GR or a young hiker using lat/lon on your mobile apps, you can find a trig.
- Go to ACTmapi at actmapi.act.gov.au
- Activate the ‘New GDA2020 Survey Infrastructure’ tile
- (OK through any layers not loading messages if the layers are not relevant – I understand there can be server capacity issues)
- Activate the Layers link bottom left. Ensure you have Survey Control Marks GDA 2020 and Survey Control Marks ACT GRID ticked
- Pan and zoom to an area of interest
- Activate (click on) a survey mark. Activate the View Additional Details link. You’ll see details about the mark, including location in UTM and lat/lon in decimal degree format.
- Pop that in your navigation device and go bag a trig!
Of course, some ACT trigs are on private property. A line from the non-PC ‘Adventures of Barry MacKenzie’ applies – “how would you like someone frigging about on your front lawn” without permission?
ACT Trigs
Here’s a list of 105 trigs/structures regarded as trigs in the ACT.
Here’s the gpx file of ACT Trigs.
The entries are sourced from:
(a) A List of Standard Grid Co-ordinates of Beaconed Trig Stations and Other Features Compiled as a Field Aid, 2nd edn 1979 (less Other Features and Trigs in NSW);
(b) A List of Standard Grid Co-ordinates of Beaconed Trig Stations and Other Features Compiled as a Field Aid, 3rd edn April 1985 (less Other Features and Trigs in NSW);
(c) Trig points know by me from maps, etc.
(d) From ACT Survey Office via Lauren O. But not listed in (a) or (b)
*94 in the ACT, which includes Ainslie and the ABC transmission towers (this number was sent via email, however they actually agree with 101 on our lists)
*The ACT list includes some in NSW which are managed by ACT (I have not included these)
*Some of the trigs are unbeaconed, but still count because they have ‘proper’ names
*The NmC ones don’t count
*Some are in the ACT, but not in the ACT trig book eg. Palmer and Rob Roy. They are likely in the 1891 NSW trig book as they predated ACT borders
(e) Geocache GC5MCG0 Corin’s Crown
Are you a serious trig bagger? Here’s a comparative list prepared by Lauren O in November 2017.
And here’s a map (show in full screen for best results):
Trig
|
Height
(m) |
Location (UTM 55H MGA94) Source |
Date Visited
|
Photo
|
---|---|---|---|---|
1 ABC Masts
|
||||
2 Ainslie
|
850 | (a), (b) | many times including 15 Oct 22 12 Oct 22 1 Oct 22 |
|
3 Amungula
|
915
|
711135-6092604 (a), (b) |
||
4 Arawang
|
765
|
685878-6084365 (a), (b) |
18 Feb 23 4 Sep 22 12 Oct 13 11 May 13 16 Jun 12* 29 May 11 29 Dec 08 14 Oct 07 13 Aug 05 26 Apr 04 |
|
5 Atkinson
|
765
|
710650-6088466
(a), (b) |
28 May 13* | |
6 Bald
|
899
|
717750-6090607
(a), (b) |
||
7 Baldy
(on private property) |
757
|
27 Oct 13 2 Jul 13* |
||
8 Barnes
|
824
|
683512-6075432
(a), (b) |
24 Apr 22 24 Jun 14 20 Jul 13 6 Jul 13 29 Nov 09 4 Aug 07 14 Jul 07* |
|
9 Bendora
|
1148
|
666708-6080732
(a), (b) |
||
10 Big Monks
(was on leased land, but confirmed 2/2/15 that it’s now back in the CNP)) |
916
|
691236-6071328 (a), (b) |
||
11 Bimberi
|
1913
|
662077-6052360 (a), (b) |
||
12 Black Hill (Murray)
|
868
|
677316-6083175 (c) Marked on 1st edn Tidbinbilla 1:25000 map as Murray 868 |
||
13 Blundell
|
1047
|
666488-6087810 (a), (b) |
||
14 Boboyan
|
1459
|
679650-6036532 (a), (b) |
||
15 Booroomba
(on private property) |
1012
|
681650-6069923 (a), (b) |
||
16 Booth
|
1584
|
684553-6044209 (a), (b) |
||
17 Brett
|
881
|
682376-6079002 (a), (b) |
||
18 Brown
|
719
|
680536-6088928 (a), (b) |
||
19 Bullen
|
757
|
678812-6085130 (a), (b) |
||
20 Bulls Head
|
1368
|
664735-6082700 (a), (b) |
||
21 Castle Hill
(on private property) |
942
|
684426-6071676 (a), (b) |
||
22 CE1
|
547
|
676938-6089479 (b) |
||
23 Clear
|
1603
|
686357-6027823 (a), (b) |
||
24 Cohen
|
918
|
712848-6091820 (a), (b) |
||
25 Condor
|
736
|
672985-6088677 (a), (b) |
||
26 Cooleman
|
727
|
684420-6085692 (a), (b) |
||
27 Coree
|
1421
|
664567-6091358 (a), (b) |
||
105 Corin Dam
A ‘private’ trig Geocache GC5MCG0 Corin’s Crown made mention of a trig. The ACT Office of the Surveyor-General believe it could be a private trig. Lauren, Jasmine and I visited |
1070+ | 666896-6066277 (e) |
19 Nov 17* | |
28 Coronet
|
1494
|
667815-6053115 (a), (b) |
||
29 Cotter
|
920
|
670303-6083302 (a), (b) |
||
30 Crace
(on private property) |
622
|
694355-6099543 (a), (b) |
||
31 Davidson
|
750
|
692317-6087541 (a), (b) |
||
32 Deadmans Hill
|
1317
|
681924-6062200 (a), (b) |
||
33 Dowling
|
763
|
673511-6095073 (a), (b) |
||
34 Duntroon
(on private property) |
638
|
701093-6088490 (a), (b) |
||
35 Fitz
(on private property) |
1000+
|
682261-6055332 (a), (b) |
||
36 Forster
|
688
|
683465-6082440 (a), (b) |
||
37 Franklin
|
1646
|
661119-6071682 (a), (b) |
||
38 Gigerline
|
834
|
690072-6066532 (a), (b) |
||
39 Gingera
|
1850+
|
661256-6061567 (a), (b) |
||
40 Glade
(on private property) |
670
|
701165-6096315 (a), (b) |
||
41 Goodwin
|
612
|
683920-6101951 (a), (b) |
||
42 Gooroo
|
750+ | 700038-6104185 (d) |
13-14 Jan 23 5 Dec 22 8 Oct 22 10 Oct 09* 17 Jan 09 |
|
43 Greenwood
(Majura Range/ Goorooyarroo NR (administered by NSW and closed to public) |
875 | 704112-6098989 (d) |
10 May 11* | |
44 Gudgenby
|
1739
|
672652-6039656 (a), (b) |
||
45 Harcourt
|
693
|
689665-6104833 (a), (b) |
||
46 Hardy
|
964
|
672415-6085569 (a), (b) |
||
47 Kelly
|
1820+
|
669851-6046039 (a), (b) |
||
103 Kowen Forest Fire Tower
|
(a), (b) | 10 Jun 08* | ||
48 Lanyon
(on private property) |
746
|
688583-6072562 (a), (b) |
||
49 Mahon
(on private property) |
612
|
697509-6087006 (a), (b) |
||
50 Majura
|
890
|
698490-6098390 (a), (b) |
||
51 McCormack
(on private property) |
891
|
688282-6059873 (a), (b) |
||
52 McDonald Ecce
|
788
|
676552-6091181 (a), (b) |
||
53 McKeahnie
|
1496
|
669766-6063766 (a), (b) |
||
54 Melrose
|
764
|
693845-6076168 (a), (b) |
||
55 Mike
|
626
|
698428-6083269 (a), (b) |
||
56 Miowera
(on private property) |
856
|
681037-6076430 (a), (b) |
||
57 Narrabundah
|
689
|
683792-6087686 (a), (b) |
||
58 NmC 105
|
1365
|
676828-6058342 (c) |
||
59 NmC 106
|
1327
|
675610-6054657 (c) |
||
60 Oak
(on private property) |
798
|
695802-6109113 (a), (b) |
||
61 Oakey
|
684
|
687943-6087541 (a), (b) |
||
62 Old Joe
|
813
|
699415-6103207 (a), (b) |
||
63 One Tree
|
876
|
690522-6109197 (a), (b) |
||
64 Orroral
|
1609
|
674901-6053719 (a), (b) |
||
65 Orroral Ford
(on private property) |
910+
|
680361-6051677 (a), (b) |
||
66 Painter
|
742
|
687747-6095143 (a), (b) |
||
67 Palmer
|
||||
68 Percival
|
662
|
690916-6102993 (a), (b) |
||
69 Pialligo
(on private property) |
570
|
698436-6090081 (a), (b) |
||
70 Pierce
|
1363
|
672657-6080390 (a), (b) |
||
71 Pine Ridge
(on private property) |
657
|
681371-6098223 (a), (b) |
||
72 Plains
(on private property) |
590
|
700911-6094903 (a), (b) |
||
73 Poppet
|
918
|
709060-6094353 (a), (b) |
||
74 Quartz
|
602
|
696195-6084491 (a), (b) |
||
75 Ranger
(on private property) |
690
|
681226-6092859 (a), (b) |
||
76 Reedy
|
763
|
705418-6090537 (c) |
||
77 Reservoir
(on private property) |
637
|
690175-6099353 (a), (b) |
||
78 Rob Roy
|
1094
|
(d) | ||
79 Rogers
|
704
|
687220-6102901 (a), (b) |
||
80 Rose
(on private property) |
1026
|
691669-6068020 (a), (b) |
||
81 Royalla
(on private property) |
801
|
694815-6068149 (d) |
||
82 Stinging Nettle Hill Ecce
(on private property) |
561
|
678140-6100626 (d) |
9 Apr 13* | |
83 Stranger
|
660
|
688891-6076604 (a), (b) |
||
84 Stromlo
|
782
|
682766-6090038 (a), (b) |
||
85 Taylor
|
858
|
688550-6083731 (a), (b) |
||
86 Telecom Tower
|
||||
87 Tennent
|
1384
|
685331-6064039 (a), (b) |
||
90 TG 184
(on private property) |
731
|
695246-6082121 (a), (b) |
||
88 TG 26
(Urambi) |
713
|
686646-6080385 (a), (b) |
||
89 TG 84
(Tuggeranong Hill) |
855
|
691280-6074661 (a), (b) |
||
91 Tharwa
(on private property) |
657
|
687350-6067520 (a), (b) |
||
92 Tidbinbilla (Peak)
(1st class timber beacon burnt 2003)
|
1561
|
670681-6076920 (a), (b) |
||
93 Tuggeranong
|
630
|
688685-6079373 (a), (b) |
||
94 Uriarra
|
951
|
669581-6091841
(a), (b) |
||
95 Walker
(on private property) |
645
|
677991-6095231
(a), (b) |
||
96 Wanniassa
|
809
|
692097-6081474
(a), (b) |
||
97 Wrights Hill
|
1345
|
677475-6025678
(a), (b) |
||
98 YA 90
(YA 90 is NOT Sheaffe trig) |
810
|
692590-6084421
(a), (b) |
||
99 Canadian Flag pole
|
(a), (b)
|
|||
100 Carousel (Red Hill)
|
(a), (b)
|
|||
101 Capital Hill flag pole
|
(a), (b)
|
|||
102 City Hill flag pole
|
(a), (b)
|
|||
104 US War Memorial
|
(a), (b) |
Gemma Wilson
14 October , 2018 9:17 pmHi, my kids and are slowing ticking off the trig points around the ACT. What do you do when they are on private property? Do you ask the owners or are we allowed to respectfully walk to them? Thanks, Gemma
Johnny Boy
14 October , 2018 9:45 pmHi Gemma. That’s a great objective. All power to you and your kids. I had a few of the private property contacts; otherwise, I’m afraid, I snuck in :-(. Cheers. john
Ian W
17 July , 2019 5:46 pmHi John, I have a general question having been inspired by your site to do a bit of Trig walking. In the process I have come across a number of yellow posts with TG numbers on them e.g. TG169 & TG119. on bumps in the landscape, There not on your list so I guess don’t count as trigs, so what are they?
Thanks Ian
Johnny Boy
17 July , 2019 9:06 pmHi Ian. Great fun and provides an added incentive to get out and have a walk. I think the multitude of yellow post sites are local survey points. Little picture stuff rather than big picture. Now that’s not very scientific – you may get an answer if you ring Access Canberra. Sorry, best I can do. Cheers. john
Mitch
19 April , 2024 10:14 pmHi Ian W, if you still have access to this site then hopefully I can help.
TG169 etc. are ‘regular’ survey marks installed & coordinates published by the ACT survey office. TG stands for Tuggeranong, BL for Belconnen, HL for Hall, GN for Gungahlin etc. These are Sectional Control marks named roughly after the district that they serve. https://www.planning.act.gov.au/professionals/survey-spatial/survey-marks/survey-mark-types
Cheers, Mitch (surveyor)
Johnny Boy
19 April , 2024 10:19 pmHi Mitch. Much appreciated. Thanks. Cheers. john
Elyssa
15 April , 2020 10:17 pmHi John, great resource thanks for sharing with us all. Curious, have you been up to the Tralee trig. Technically in NSW, but not sure if it’s on private property or can be accessed. Thanks!
Johnny Boy
16 April , 2020 2:17 pmHi Elyssa. No, I haven’t been to the Tralee trig. From my maps, it looks like it’s on private property. Sorry, that’s the best I can do.
Tyson
9 June , 2020 2:52 pmHi Elyssa.
Yesterday my Aunt and I trekked up to this very trig, it’s on private land but we snuck through a few fences. Outstanding 360 degree views can be had. Royalla, Queenbeyan, Jerra, Tuggeranong, Fyshwick and beyond!
John I’ll send you an email this afternoon, I’ve completed 10 suburban trigs yesterday, bringing my total towards the early 60 mark now !
Tys.
penrose drain
13 November , 2020 7:34 am❤
Clare
25 April , 2021 5:44 pmHi John, I’ve been to 43 trigs since August last year. A great COVID challenge! Your website has been invaluable!! Can’t thank you enough. Not sure I’ll ever get to them all but will keep trying.
Johnny Boy
26 April , 2021 4:57 pmHi Clare
So very well done! Keep at it, great locations. Cheers. john
Lisa Bradley
5 May , 2021 11:55 amHi Johnny Boy,
I just wanted to send you a bit of fan mail. I’ve done Gingera (from Corin Dam), Barnes, Brett and Miowera, Stinging Nettle and Bendora recently. I certainly wouldn’t have found the Gingera and Bendora trigs without the coordinates! So thank you for providing them.
Cheers,
Lisa
Johnny Boy
5 May , 2021 5:17 pmHi LIsa. Well done! And plenty more to do. Thanks for your kind comments. Cheers. john
Lisa Bradley
21 May , 2021 3:21 pmHi John,
Rob Roy isn’t on your trig map or gpx file but is on your list with coordinates and photos. I see the note at the top that it pre-dates ACT borders. Is that the cause of the confusion?
Cheers,
Lisa