Wed, 5th August, 2015 Spring Creek Nature Conservation Reserve (exploring the State Forest)

7am 12 degrees in the van as it is drizzling with rain so not as cold overnight.

10am 9 degrees outside as we had a cuppa in ‘our backyard listening to all the birds in the aviary’. So good – if it wasn’t so cold!!

Penny texted that Today Show’s money has jackpotted to $110,000 so I have entered. You have to answer the phone saying ‘I wake up with Today’. Apparently a lady answered ‘hello’ and missed out on $90,000 – now that would be crushing. I have written a note and put it by the phone for when I answer it – how’s that for positive thinking!!

Headed off to explore along the dirt roads to find Mt Black and Melvilles Lookout. Stopped at some ‘State Forest’ type bollards below Mt Black. Wandered up the road to what looks like a hill climb. I climbed up further to take a photo – very steep – made my knees wobble. Nice view though from halfway up.

Looking up to the top.

We are at a steep angle.

Looking down to the truck way below.

Steve stopped to check out a crash site where a car must have flipped doing the climb as there was rubbish everywhere. Found an Eagles CD, money, some nuts and bolts (which of course Steve wanted!!) and the guy’s probation licence receipt. They must have been partying hard too as there were grog bottles everywhere.

Steve wandered up a bit further and found a spanner – definitely a beachcomber a heart.

The crash site.

Drove on a bit further to the turnoff to Melvilles Lookout and then wound 2km up the hill. It is also used for hill climbs. Melvilles Lookout is a prominent ridge where Captain Melville reputably waited in ambush for miners during the gold rush. Nice area at the top complete with picnic tables and fireplaces. Elevation of 320 metres.

Map of the area we are exploring.

Looking back to Mt Black where the hill climb was. Mt Black is the highest point in this area.

Looking in the opposite direction from Mt Black – I think over Puckapunyal Firing Range area.

Lots of bird boxes here, probably for the Swift Parrot.

Just left of Mt Black I could see the water in Waranga Basin glistening in the sunshine.

Lots of fat grass trees here too.

Back down to the turnoff to check out the Mt Black Quarry (240m elevation). The granite quarried from here was transported by horse and wagon to use in the construction of the Goulburn Wier. Of course the graffiti artists and hoons have dumped their grog bottles in the bottom of the quarry.

You can still see the marks where they ‘cut’ the stone.

A nice clean piece of granite.

View back from the other end of the pit.

As we headed off we found another quarry hole on the other side of the road. Back out to the main bitumen road then we turned off to find Majors Creek campground. Through farming area then along the boundary of Puckapunyal Military Area. Lots of electric fences and No Entry signs.

Found the boat ramp and picnic area by Majors Creek. Got out the chairs and had lunch by the water. The local chook came to join us for lunch.

Drove on a bit further and found the actual campground. It was big but all muddy. Looks like a heap of cars have been in there churning up the ground. There was a family camped there. The information board about “Major Mitchell’s Trail” has been wrecked. Further down the very potholed road we found an entrance to Puckapunyal.

From here we crossed over Majors Creek.

The first house had this cairn out the front. “Major Mitchell camped here Oct 8^th, 1836.”

Through Mitchellstown which is now just a few farms.

Then we came on a huge winery, Mitchelton, with a big timber fence going for miles around it – would have cost a packet.

Has a very impressive observation tower.

The wineries here must love all the available water as they are surrounded by it with Majors Creek and the Goulburn River which we crossed again. Glad we don’t have to go over that old bridge.

Nearly across to the Goulburn Valley Highway but we turned off another dirt road and headed back up to the Heathcote-Nagambie Road. Past another big winery then around the fenceline of the stud where Black Caviar was born – small sign said Gilgai. There were more horse statues by the fence and some in the paddock with the cows.

Back across the Goulburn River again and onto the bitumen back towards Graytown. Passed the Nagambie Speedway – looks a big turnout.

Back into Graytown we turned off into the POW area for Steve to check it out. He drove up more tracks and found more foundations further back in the scrub near a dam. Down the track past the cemetery and then we meandered along looking for other places to detect. Found a puddler by the road and Steve says you can see where the area has been worked over by a dozer etc. Up Surface Hill Road (named because they have ‘surfaced’ the area by scraping the top soil off and processing it. Found the Surface Hill Dam. Another nice spot to camp too but not with the van.

Back onto Ballieston Road, that we started on, to check out some workings. Steve went out with his detector while I read in the truck enjoying the sunshine. Unfortunately he only came back with three bullets.

Turned off into Boundary Road and past the van to check out what is further up the road. It just keeps going and follows the boundary of a property – hence the name. Headed back to the van for a cuppa. The sun was shining then we heard heavy drops on the van and a minute later it was sunny again!!

Tried the Best of the Eagles CD Steve found and it works but has a few scratches – oh well can’t be too fussy. I worked on my blog and Steve went out for one last try to find some gold.

Unfortunately no more gold from here. Will head back to Heathcote tomorrow to where we found a piece of gold at Argyle.

Steve checked the temp at 10pm and it was 2.2 degrees outside, nice and toasty 21 inside.