2 Geckos Travelling Australia: Wed, 11th Feb, 2015 King William Lake to Gravel Oval, Queenstown

Another beautiful day. Cool nights still but we can start out in shorts and t-shirts now.

Rang Greg to wish Tracy a happy birthday but the poor girl has had to go to work. Her third day as Sister Brotherton. Will try her later tonight.

Headed off on the West Coast Wilderness Way. At 750m elevation took a great photo of Mount King William 1 (1324m).

Headed into the Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, World Heritage Area. Up a range to 850m to the King William Saddle lookout.

Overlooking part of the King William Range that divides east and west. Good info board. It says we are heading into an area that receives 2.5 to 3 metres of rain each year. Hopefully it won’t come while we are there.

Interesting info about the creation of this highway.

In the far distance I could just make out the quartzite peak of Frenchman’s Cap.

Amazing quartzite range.

Down the range with glimpses of great views between the trees of a deep valley. It is called Surprise Valley and we then stopped at the lookout (710m). It was a surprise as it is all overgrown. Stephen climbed up onto the fence to take this photo.

Dropped down off the range to 430m into a valley to Franklin River. Stopped at the rest area. The Franklin River is famous throughout Australia and overseas. About 500 people travel down the river each year in inflatable rafts. It takes up to 3 weeks to complete the 93 kilometre trip, from Collingwood River Bridge to Butler Island on the Gordon River. Fabulous photos.

Story of the first canoe trip down the river in 1950s.

Lovely quiet little river here.

Getting closer to Frenchman’s Cap but it is a long walk to get to it still.

Drove along the mountain edge then into another valley (380m) and across Collingwood River. More beehives in the natural scrub forests. Up onto the other side of the valley edge to look over the wide flat valley (450m). Big mountain ranges to our left called Raglan. Up to 570m and over Victoria Pass. Passed some cyclists pushing their bikes up the range and they weren’t young!!! Steep descent and windy, worst than Gillies Range till we reach the Nelson Valley. Stopped to do the walk into Nelson Falls. Lots of info as we head in about creating the Lyell Highway. Timber and mineral extraction continued into the 1970s, however an increasing realisation of the natural beauty and wilderness quality of this region culminated in the declaration of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area in 1983.

Nelson Falls is 35m high. Followed the creek along the boardwalk.

Nice falls but needed more water.

Thought there was a bridge over the top but it was a couple of fallen trees.

Tall skinny trees.

Lovely mossy area.

As we crossed back over the little bridge Steve saw a trout. The march flies were buzzing around so killed a couple and tossed them in and the trout dashed out and ate them.

Headed off again – looking to the left to Raglan Range.

On the other side of the road it was all burnt.

Amazing mountains in the distance of the West Coast Range. Heading towards Queenstown.

Crossing over Lake Burbury (250m), another Hydro-electric dam.

Fabulous views as we run along the edge of the lake. As we pass the valley area it gets very windy.

Climbing up then looking back over Lake Burbury. Spectacular.

The mountains are scarred from all the mining in Queenstown. Heading up the range to old township called Linda. Not much left.

Further up is Gormanston (380m). A few houses here.

Up to the top and pass the turnoff to the Iron Blow lookout (430m). Will check it out without the van on – looks a narrow road. Down the other side and WOW what views. I had read in an article about the ‘infamous Gormanston Pass’ and I figure this is it.

And what a range – 5 km of narrow and windy road with no trees to cover up the drops below.

It looks like a lunar landscape.

Dropping down into Queenstown (150m). Stopped at the dump point. While the boys were doing the jobs Leanne and I checked out the Gravel Oval. Amazing how they played footy on this gravel. Unreal to think that a football ground is Heritage Listed.

Decided to drop the vans off there, as it is a free camp area, so we can have a look around.

Heard the toot of the train so headed into town to check out the steam train. I got a photo as it puffed into the station.

Went into the station as everyone got off the train – Mount Lyell No. 1. It was lovely and shiny.

Climbed up over the bridge to get a better photo.

There is a turntable out the front too where the engine will turn around shortly.

Went outside to watch the train being turned around – by hand too. Got it on video too.

Lots of interesting posters to read.

Cute rail bike.

There was so much information and lots of photos to check out in the Museum.

The open cut mine.

Pouring the copper into moulds.

1912 was the year of a terrible mine disaster. This photo shows a few of the bodies.

Amazing bridge that the train goes over.

We decided to go on the train tomorrow to the half way spot at Dubbil Barril so bought our tickets. This section has the range and therefore the Rack & Pinion which will be good. Outside Rick found a great poster and laid down to be run over by it!!

This shows the angles the train goes up and down.

Across the road is the Empire Hotel built about 1901.

Went inside to check it out – so lovely old world charm.

Steve found an interesting painting.

Beautiful staircase is listed with the National Trust. Locally cut Blackwood was sent to England to be turned and crafted. It was returned to Queenstown in 1904 and assembled in the foyer and was renovated in 1994. Reminds me of the one in Millaa house. I love the acorns.

Photo of the first sawmill erected in Queenstown in 1895 by Robert Sticht who came here to build the smelters to start the mine.

Lovely old world tiles at the entrance.

Wandered up the street. Info and pictures in a shelter shed about the mining in the area.

Grand old Post Office built in 1902.

Misty clouds have descended on Queenstown so we won’t be going up to the lookouts now.

A lady at the intersection said Mt Owen is under that cloud.

Took a photo of the cute gecko on the back of a motorhome – should have got one for our van.

Steve enjoyed watching the bogans going up and down the street as we wandered back to our cars.

The boys wanted to check out this gallery!!

Back to the vans.

Had a cuppa then headed back in to check out the museum and other bits I noticed since we couldn’t go up to the lookouts. Queenstown is set in the Queen River Valley and was founded in 1883. It was once the richest mining town in the world. Cute chap in the window.

A piece of wooden pipe from Lake Margaret pipeline. There is another power station there that supplied power for the mines etc.

Notice about the Museum that was once the Imperial Hotel (1898 to 1918). By the turn of the century there were 14 hotels in town.

Chatted with the volunteers about places to go and see. Decided to go outside and check things out first before doing the museum.

This underground Bogger was used at the Henty Mine to dig dirt from the working face and transport it to the crusher, or load it onto a truck to be transported to the surface. It was purchased in 1995 for around $650,000. It was broken into 8 pieces and lowered 500 metres down the Henty Shaft, where it was reassembled. The Bogger worked for 5 years, or 15,000 hours, and moved about 500,000 tonnes of dirt. It was directly responsible for producing 5 tonnes of gold, equal to $100 million.

Across the road was the Miner’s Siding. This Atlas Copco “Jumbo” drill worked underground at the Mt Lyell copper mine for 20 years plus. On its introduction the Jumbo was revolutionary in the advancement of productivity underground. Over five generations of Tasmanians have mined for copper, zinc, tin, iron, lead, silver and gold.

Nice shot of Leanne and Rick.

Copper Ore. Lots of copper castings depicting the growth etc of Queenstown. They were cast in Queenstown in 1983 by Tasmanian artist, Stephen Walker.

1883 Discoverers of Iron Blow. Lyell Mining Field origins.

1896 The Abt Railway opens between Queenstown and Strahan.

1903 Social life of the 20^th Century, Masonic Ball, Queenstown.

1912 October 12^th, 42 miners die in smoke filled workings, North Lyell Mine.

1926 S.L. Nellie rafting Huon pine logs on the Gordon River.

1932 Motor traffic links West Coast by road to outside world.

1969 After 73 years of continuous operation the Queenstown Smelters close.

Photo of the railway yards where the Miner’s Siding is now.

A fly wheel that came from the hoist in the main shaft of the Mt Lyell Mine which was in use at the time of the 1912 disaster.

Drove over the river to check out Penghana which was built in 1898 for the first mine manager of the Mt Lyell Mining & Rail Co, Robert Sticht. It is used as a B&B now and is a National Trust Mansion. Long stairway up to the building above.

Stopped to check out the Queen River. Can’t get over the colour. It is from the sulphur and iron ore leeching out of the ground. Apparently it is ok, just looks terrible.