Thurs, 19th Feb, 2015 Luina to Cooee Point, Burnie via Warratah

19 degree start to the morning and overcast again. Packed up and headed up the windy range, 350m rise over 5 km. Rick & Leanne were leading. We stopped to check out the Whyte Hill Lookout and they kept going to Warratah. The bus chap said there wasn’t much room so I ran up the hill – but the hill kept going, puff puff. At the top there was a huge turn around area!!! Even someone sleeping in their car. There was a couple of lookout platforms. The first one looked back towards Savage River mine township following the power line poles (see the red dirt road under them). Took a video too.

The info boards tell the story of the towns that have come and gone over the years, like Luina where we stayed.

Around further was another lookout with info board about the rainforest and view over part of the Savage River National Park, containing Australia’s largest unbroken area of cool temperate rainforest.

 The hills and trees just go on forever!!

Further around was the tower. Wandered over to the edge there trying to look down to where Steve was waiting in the car. Looking at Mt Cleveland (858m) under cloud. Ran back down the hill to Steve – well I got my exercise for today!!

Passed the turn off to Philosopher Falls – will have to skip that one – seen lots of photos of it.

Back into Warratah (610m) and we parked in the park next to the Museum to make a cuppa then go exploring on foot.  I had a self guided tour map so off we wandered. Nice Lake Waratah in the centre of town that flows down and over the waterfall in the middle of town.

First info board.

Steve checking out James “Philosopher” Smith’s Hut. James discovered tin at Mt Bischoff in Dec 1871.

The bed doesn’t look too comfortable. Love the chair though.

The other side of the hut.

We liked the No Smoking sign as we enter the Museum.

Nice chap in the Museum. He said the silica from near Corinna was such high quality that it goes straight to Japan to be used in making computer microchips etc. Lots of info here.

This Log Shoe was used to skid logs with bullocks. It stops the logs digging into the ground.

Lots of old musical instruments – the drum is over 100 years old.

This mirror is framed in handcrafted leather (c. 1900s) – looked amazing.

Old poker and vending machine.

The chap had found another pile of photos to put up. Fancy travelling like this. It is a railmotor.

Great shot of the open cut mine at Savage River.

Some iron ore to feel.

 The pellets they get made into. After the slurry to sent along the pipeline to the Port Latta and then it is turned into the pellets there before being loaded onto the ships.

Rosebery mine, circa 1930s.

Very interesting place – there was so much to check out. But we kept on moving. Another info board.

Across the road is the Athenacum Hall which houses the Tarkine Interpretation Centre.

More photos of Philosopher Falls so we feel we haven’t missed it!

More boards to read – another brain overload coming up!!

Huon Pine.

Lovely display of timber. Sassafras.

Celery Top Pine.

Blackwood.

Huon Pine.

Loved this cute photo of the miner’s billy cans, full of their lunches, being kept warm by candles in the Crib Room at North Lyell Mine, 1923.

In another room there was heaps of information about Savage River mine.

One of the suspended slurry pipes.

Storage tanks at Port Latta.

Steve commented on the beautiful timber floor – we could imagine everyone dressed up dancing around the hall.

Back outside looking across the road towards the Mt Bischoff Mine.

Next is Kenworthy’s Stamper Mill. Lots of info here too. The stamper mill was purchased by the council in 2001. In June 2004 the first of many working bees commenced at Dead Horse Gully below Mt Bischoff to disassemble the stamper mill and put into storage. The stamper mill was moved here and protected in this shed. When you press the button the stamper starts up and water washes over the table. Very noisy.

Info boards explain how it all works.

More info boards.

Ladle trolley was used in Colbrook Smelters around 1905 near Rosebery. It is affectionately known as a “Banana Cart”, they trundled the hot molten dross to the slag heap.

Across the road again to check out the water wheel, slowing turning over. It was built in recognition of Dudley Kenworthy’s wheel concept and Waratah’s history as the first industrial site in Australia to be lit by hydro-electricity.

Lovely view over the lake.

The kids’ playground is like a mine site.

They found a use for all the big truck tyres – retaining walls.

Nice little town, still old world but well kept.

Even the old pole clothesline.

Not sure what this shop sold!!

The old Post Office. Shame it was a leaky building.

Lovely old pub. Only opens limited hours.

Around the other side to look over the waterfall. You can see the water wheel above it and the lake is on the other side of the road.

Nobody wanted to walk down the road to the bottom – spoil sports!!

Fabulous view down the valley.

Last info board on the walk about the mine and hydro power.

Mt Bischoff Mine.

Map showing the water races that fed the power station.

Lovely shaped pine in the park.

Made some lunch and sat in the park, cold again. Headed out of town then turned off to check out the water tunnel viewing area. Wasn’t much – just a grill over a deep hole. It is one of the ventilation shafts along the tunnel.

Info board was interesting though. Explained all about the water races to provide the water for the power station.

Great aerial shot of the town.

Back on the road again. Decided to go up the Ridgley Highway which we came down on in December rather than the Murchison Hwy (which is the main one) so we didn’t have to go down and back up out of Hellyer Gorge. Past all the eucalypt plantations again.

Low heavy clouds as we head north. Great to travel a road in a different direction as you see things you missed the first time. Clouds hanging over Valentine’s Peak.

Following the railway line that goes from Tullah/Rosebery area right up to Burnie. Now the dark clouds are dropping their rain as we head into Hampshire. Down the hill into Burnie.

Set up camp at Cooee Point.

Texted Alan and Dianne to say we have arrived. Went around to the Doctor Surgery they recommended to make an appointment to check out Steve’s foot. Got one for later today.

Drove back to Burnie to the Maker’s Centre to get our 5 day permit. I rang the Blood Bank to make an appointment too for a donation of plasma tomorrow.

Doc said it was probably a spur and said to get an xray at the hospital tomorrow. He gave him a script for some anti-inflammatory tablets.

Alan and Dianne called in to say hello and invite us all up for drinks tomorrow arvo. They are having a couple of weeks off work and are heading down to explore Bruny Island etc. We gave them (the Tassies) all the advice!!

Rang Bradley for his birthday then chatted with Amanda and David. Then rang Erica as Cyclone Maria is heading towards them as a Cat 4 to cross near St Lawrence (last report).

Leanne & Rick went off looking for penguins. After dinner I went and joined them. Saw some nearly fully grown babies and then the parents started arriving about 10pm. Leanne was most excited. Such cute little things to watch.