Tues, 30th Sept, 2014 Sofala (Wattle Flat sightseeing)

Decided to do the washing today as a few clouds have started to appear. Got Mumma Mia playing and all was good. Steve fixed and checked a few things and transferred the water from the truck into the van. Will top it up from the rainwater tank when we go out later. The clouds rolled in and the wind got harder but the washing dried. Steve was breaking up some timber when a piece flicked back and hit him in the mouth, busting his lip and chipping his front tooth, luckily didn’t break his glasses. The tooth is bad enough.

When the first neighbours left they left their name and number in case we needed anything or info in Bathurst. Fantastic, as I gave Phyllis a ring and asked about dentists. I got onto a lady and he is booked in for Thursday lunchtime as it will need rebuilding. Now he is just like Dan, Jon and me who have all had our front tooth broken one way or another!!

After lunch (his tooth isn’t hurting yet) we topped up the truck water tank then headed into Wattle Flat. I dropped Steve off at the northern area of the Heritage Lands where he had his detecting course. We went a bit further in to the Lagoon – not the most exciting place.

I headed back to discover the history – I can find a lot of that – not like Steve finding gold!!! Wattle Flat flourished when gold was found in the 1850s. Went into the Wattle Flat Store that has the historic bakery at the back. The ovens are renowned to be the largest rural baker’s oven. The young girl had a torch so you could see into the big oven – only a little opening but huge inside. They used to have a van and deliver freshly baked bread to Bathurst. This is the only shop functioning out of the many that lined the road in the 1850s. there were 5 hotels, 2 stores, 2 schools and 2 churches.

There were 3 photos on the wall.

The old grocery store, built in 1895 (photo 1872), was made out of wattle and daub.

Isle of Dreams, Chinese settlement at Sofala (photo 1905).

Surface Hill Mines, Wattle Flat (photo 1905)

There was walking tour sheets on the wall but girl didn’t have any of those so I took photos of them then went for a walk. This is of the Turon River goldfields which went for 16 kilometres. That is why there is so much flat ground along the river for camping, from where the dredges worked - some nice big deeper areas too.

 

 

Brodie House, built in 1895, the Courthouse, was used as the Warden’s Court where claims were registered etc. The Post Office and Telegraph moved into the front of the building. It is now a private residence.

Mona’s Cottage was built by gold miner, John Bright in1860s. He had temperance hall built at the back of the property to make up for the bawdiness of the hotel opposite.

Somerset Cottage was a lovely stone dwelling built in 1856 by Michael Hackett. It was restored in early 1980s and then the verandah was added.

A lot of the other buildings were quite run down - can't believe people live in them. There was one for Sofala so will have to look at them and work out what’s what. Another about the Turon River area. Bit hard to work out things looking on my camera for the info so took a couple of photos then back to the truck.

I drove back towards Bathurst to find the southern Heritage area and went too far. I went off the flat ground and ended up down the range – bit steep and tight corners – 4km later I turned around and headed back up!! Found one entrance to the Heritage area and went for a little drive but got nervous – 4WDing isn’t my forte. Found a squawking black cockatoo.

Into the next entrance to the campground. Found some info sheets on the campgrounds and then headed back to Steve for a cuppa.

Found one happy chappy - he found pay dirt – a nice little nugget – 1.3grams and he is smiling – at last.

 Front side

 Back side

He found it just after I left and really thought it was rubbish as it was in the leaf matter – he didn’t even have to dig for it – goes to show, you have to check each signal. Unfortunately he didn’t find any more. After a cuppa he went out swinging again. I read up on the info of the Heritage areas. There is 250 hectares divided into 2 zones. The northern one has the Buurree Trail (the local aborigine word for wattle) which wanders through the eucalypt forest and wattles, past gold workings and eroded ravines and overlooks the valley below (takes 3 hours gentle walking). The southern one has open mine shafts from the ‘reef’ gold mining days. Both are still fossicked for gold but now everyone uses detectors.

Drove down to the southern area and followed the road in to find the mine shafts marked on the map. Found an echidna instead. So cute.

Kept following the road and popped out on top of the ridge to a forestry plantation.

Such pretty flowers here and there and the wattles.

Back down the track again as we missed the capped mine. Found it and is it capped or what.

Looked through the grate and it was full of water.

Steve keen to find another nugget.

Diggings everywhere.

One pine tree escaped the plantation.

These trees fascinate me with the weird lump that produces all the leaves and it cascades down from the tree.

Another lovely parrot – no hiding in the bushes for him.

Wandered down looking for another mine shaft but found this wallaby and her joey.

Back to Sofala – lovely view down to the river and the 4 way intersection into Sofala. Going to be fun when we have the van on and it is left and straight up a steep climb!!

Honey mustard chicken and noodles in the wok tonight. Rang Mum and Dad to skite about the gold. Then Steve rang Charles at the Palmer. Rang Jon then “he said Steve could use the gold to cap his tooth!!!”