The Kelly Outbreak Tolmie, Victoria, Australia
By pprass on 23-May-09. Waypoint GC1RGCK

#7070

Day 3 of the birthday/Fathers Day Kelly Country caching trip. Driving from Beechworth to Mansfield today, targeting specific caches to bump up our DT average and work towards a local challenge… we’ll call it a day when we run out of light!

Thanks for the cache!

#7070 on Sunday 3/9/2023
Day 3 of our Ned Kelly Country roadtrip, Beechworth to Mansfield!

The last full day of caching, so we’re making the most of it! Grabbing whatever we can (above 2/2) along the way, and also grabbing a few caches in Beechworth this morning.

With not much time left today, this was one of our final stops. We checked out the area, the signs and the campground but only had time for one cache, and this was it. We parked and walked in, avoiding the bramble and soon the cache was in view.

Insides were *soaking* wet, so we went back to the car and grabbed a sistema with a logbook. Sistema is now inside the bucket, but may not last too much longer, depending on rainfall.

Thanks for placing and maintaining this cache pprass!

I found this cache while slowly meandering my way from Adelaide to Rutherglen to attend the Mega Event over Easter, seeking out some caches of interest along the way.

I camped out near Mansfield last night and was headed for Chiltern. I thought this series looked interesting.

I found the three prerequisite caches after quite a bit of bush-bashing. The route to this one was similar, but at least this time there were no blackberries. When I got to GZ I was surprised to find it very quickly at what seemed to be spot-on coordinates, particularly given the tree cover. But I wasn’t complaining after the travails associated with finding the other three. I was pleased that the last turned out to be the easiest for me.

Once again the cache and contents were in good condition.

Thanks pprass for the adventure and the cache. This is an excellent and very informative series of caches, certainly worth a favourite point.

To think this has been a DNF since 2014. Quite a detour to come back this way, 8 years in fact. When this time, coming back with two kids, one a huge Kelly enthusiast. I must have punched in the coords wrong at first, as we were bush bashing through horrible scub searching for nothing. Tried again, realised an error. Back to the cache, then went to the old one where the container of course is, full intact! God this was a mission, but one I won't forget. Such a great series, and awesome to put a final to it. A FP from me.

The saga continues......after gleaning the information at Kelly's Hut dalerious and I continued on the Kelly adventure. We set off to gain more vital information to get us to where we needed to be. The attention to detail and quality of information provided on the cache page, and in the cache itself was well researched and concise. The cache was found safe and sound and replaced as found. I have awarded a favourite point for each and every one of these caches. Thank you again pprass .

Having completed some of the other big Kelly caches, I found myself drawn here with a need to complete this series as well.
I was so glad to have catnap777 with me to share the day and already we are planning our next adventure in Kelly country. [^]

So it has come to this.....
Having visited the Kelly Hut and the sites of both The Shootout at Stringybark Creek and the Kennedy Shooting, we finally made our way to this final GZ. [^]
I was more than a little apprehensive cracking open this cache container and elated to make the final discovery that we did.
The adventure continues.

Thanks pprass. A fav for this whole amazing bushranging experience.

We searched the original replacement coordinates first to find the same container that the 2 previous finders found. Then we searched the next replacement coordinates to find it half full of water. Tipped it out and dried it but the logbook is quite slimy in its zip lock bag. Info all good.

Thanks pprass for the fantastic adventure here today as we relived the Stringy Bark Creek 'Ambush'. We were able to appreciate the ambience of the Toombullup State Forest as it is today as we imagined the events that took place here all those years ago.
A favourite point for the efforts put into this series.
PS we did enjoy the daisy chain, its a pity they are no longer allowed.

It seems we found the ammo can!

Date: April 2, 2021 Time: 3:42 PM
Find #11439

Easter extra Long weekend and SedgwickDave and I were headed for the hills. A glorious sunny 4 days were on the way and we were both super keen to test out some new hiking and camping gear.

Last of the series today, the easiest of the lot, but some funny business is going on with the log book.

Cache is loved again

Thanks to pprass for the cache.

Big things are continuing to happen! *Are you joining the fun again in 2021?*
[**THE**](http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC8EW45)
[**WANGARATTA**](http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC8EW45)
[**EVENT 2021**](http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC8EW45)
*13th / 14th November 2021 – GC8EW45 – Wangaratta – Victoria*

Found @15:37 #7660
The last found in this great historical series. I do like the dasiy-chain style would be great of there were more of these.
Some fascinating history at this spot and the cache was well hidden with some deep scrub to push thru. Was good there were two sets of eyes on this but in the end ahomburg spotted it. Took is 2hrs to do the series a must do for all. Favorite for the series and topic. [^]

TFTC pprass

The trek to this cache was an adventure including me ending up in Stringbark Creek at one stage. On arriving at gz I realised coming from the opposite direction would have been a much better idea. Nala loved it, Michelle didn't bother crossing the creek but eventually the cache wasin hand, log signed and a very interesting, historical series on the polarizing Kelly gang was complete. Thanks for putting this series together, we had a great day out and learnta lot

#3603 Some 5 years after completing half of this interesting series we were back again to finish it off. The geohounds once again taggin along . Of course we had to start all over again because any notes we took were long lost...
The area has changed quite a bit since we were last here. There are new interpretive signs and walking tracks around the Stringybark Creek area.

After recovering from the previous cache adventures, we were pleased this location would not be as challenging. As we searched for the cache container, Max the geohound temporarily went AWOL, not a good feeling when your dog is deaf! Max located again and back to the search and Mrs BGF came up with the well hidden container.

Another great day out to finally finish this series and time to go home. TFTC and effort researching and setting these up pprass, much appreciated!

09/12/2018 7:04:00 PM
After a DNF two years ago we came back for a second attempt and not ever rain and misleading directions from our Tomtom navigator could keep us away today although we did get to see much more of teh surrounding forest than we bargained for.... Once we finally got to GZ it was a quick find. Cache and log bokk held a little water which we drain and dried as best we could considering it was raining at the time.
Happy to have the series finally completed.
Thanks for the journey.

Yet another DNF on this one, I'll get you yet you devil ! Need to confirm the coords I have are right, as I'm not convinced.

After learning that a couple of old fellas had been lost overnight in the Toombullup supposedly Geocaching I decided to come and help with the search. The police and rescue crews set up HQ at Stringybark creek so I reached out to PPrass to see if he’d share the coords for his Kelly Caches in case they were the ones the men had gone after. I reached the campground before the police so I decided to check this cache out while I waited for the next move. This was an easy find and looking at the other locations I’d be very surprised if anyone would get lost in search of them. I put a new log sheet inside the water logged container as the original log book is completely soaked.

When I final caught up with the rescue crew I learnt that they knew nothing about Geocaching. They did however have the coords for where the car was found and this soon led me to the nearest cache... one of mine 10km away! Coincidently, about 15 minutes after I gave them the coords to my cache the men were found, somehow safe and well after a cold and miserable night.

Thanks Peter for the help today, I have been meaning to get around to solving these caches of yours and finding them. I’ll be back for the others another day.

Find 1347
After gaining all the series so far I had the right info. Some knowledge of this location made for a very easy get. Cache in good nick considering it has not been found for awhile.
Log signed and back safe again.
Took some pics at this historic location.
Thanks for the series.

Think we had the wrong cords - blast! Unlikely to come past here again - blast!!

Our story continues...
Well, after picking the seed heads of that wonderful Bidgee-widgee plant out of the socks and laces again, we were glad to see a minimal bush bash to the final cache.
All things needed were noted.
As for who shot who, and with what gun, we think Fitzpatrick’s claim is false.
And on that note, we bid you farewell for now.
TFTC

We have replaced the cache in a different location as it seems that some local likes our ammo cans!
It is no longer an ammo can and if you have the -ords for the final and haven't found the cache, you will need to do the following to get to the new final:
Subtract - .046 from the East decimals!

15/12/2015 8:01:00 PM
We bush bashed and crossed a stream to get to this only to discover a road within 50 metres of GZ and no sign of the cache despite a thorough search, this one eluded us today

On the way to our Easter camp (with muggle friends), we made sure we returned to Mansfield and to Stringybark Creek. After setting up camp and enjoying a bite to eat, we "went bush" to find what was missing during our historic trip with our own Kelly Gang last October.
The moon was utterly helpful this Maundy Thursday night, and after a few "discussions" with brambles, we were delighted to locate the great cache, open and sign the logbook and admire the content of the cache container! Co-ordinates are spot-on. [^]
Thank you again pprass for helping us explore the fascinating stories and the beautiful landscape that surround the original Kelly Gang! We are very happy to now have completed the series. Thanks also to Rhinogeo for making this possible.

I set out for two days with the intention of doing some high D/T caching, starting in the Cathedral Ranges and then working my way to Mt Buller where I would spend the second day. I was looking forward to the caches and hiking around Mt Buller but unfortunately mother nature had other ideas with my plan as on the Friday afternoon, as I arrived at Buller, severe storms hit the region and thats when the downpour started and continued for the next 48 hours. So the long hikes were out this time and some slip sliding muddy 4WD caching resulted instead up around Yackandandah and the Barandudah Ranges.

I had been out here previously during a fantastic trip with 'The Kelly Gang' during and epic Kelly themed caching trip. Back them we had a DNF but with the cache back in play it was on the must find list during my ventures today. Once again I left the car in the nearby carpark and made my way to GZ, and searched the same places we had looked before, but no cache. Hmmm. I assumed then it was in a slightly new spot and it took a good 20 minute search before I finally located the cache.

This was the last 'Kelly' cache to be found and I happily signed the new logbook. Thanks pprass for a great series of caches and thanks to Rhinogeo for replacing the cache. A fav for me.

A huge thankyou to Rhinogeo for helping us to replace this cache - which is also vital for another hidden reason

The cache is back in play

Looks as though it has gone which is hard to understand considering where it was hidden. Will have to replace when we are down there - don't know when that will be though!

A big group of us travelled from Geelong to Kelly country for several days of history-related caching.
After finding the first 3 in the series this morning, we stumbled on this one and unfortunately could not complete the final.
I'll have to return to get this one later. Still, some great history and historic spots visited today.
Thanks for the series, pprass.
(*Late log edit - I'm glad to see the cache is now back in action*.)

One of 21caches found today during a big three day cache run, up to and around Kelly country which included Benalla, Tolmie, Beechworth and Glenrowan. A great three days spent exploring and discovering with a fantastic group of fellow cachers, which we collectively called ourselves 'The Kelly Gang'.

We spent the night at the Stringy Bark Creek Camp ground, and after a fabulous camp fire meal, settled in for a few drinks and some great conversation around the campfire.The next morning we prepared for the day ahead, which we were all rather excited about. The sites we were to eventually visit were amazing, and many of great historical significance in relation to the whole Kelly Gang story. During the journey, I learnt much about the Kelly saga, the characters involved and events that occured. It was a fantastic experience and visiting each of the sites just made it all the more real.

We arrived at GZ and set about looking for the hidden cache but after a pretty extensive search it seemed the final cache in the series may be no longer there. Will love to come back one day to finally sign the log for this one.

Searched in a group but no luck today. Still, enjoyed reading your detailed re-telling of the whole, outrageous story!

This entry was edited by suss vulture on Tuesday, 14 October 2014 at 12:17:28 UTC.

Armed with the info from the previous cache, we descended en-masse to interrupt the tranquil rest of the resident. We searched high and low in obvious and less obvious hides, but no cache could we find.

From there, it was off to start on some of the other caches that had brought us to these parts.

Thanks for the series pprass, even though we couldn't finish it off properly today. I have a watch on the cache and hope to visit if it is replaced.

This entry was edited by juc_cacher on Wednesday, 15 October 2014 at 13:05:31 UTC.

Confident we located GZ but no cache to be found. Thanks pprass for a good day out.

11:03
Accompanied by the tymbalic sound of the male greengrocer cicada - which incidentally is among the loudest in the world! It was interesting to compare the shootout site around GZ with the sketch in the cache notes. The find was made in the company of Highrod, 6Hinemoa2, IF, maccamob, Pprass and Skullracing.

TNLN . . SL . . Thanks for the hunt pprass.
7320

16/11/2013 11:11 am Find #2799
found in conjuction with the Heroes or Villains event
with pprass, phetlern, 6hinamoa2, maccamob, if, skullracing

took nothing, left nothing
thanks for the cache- highrod, from Ballarat.

The fourth of a great little series in the Stringybark Creek area
With pprass along to provide extra comentary, the Heroes or Villains mob got a real good dose of Kelly history today

I thought I knew the story, but after this series of caches, it is obvious my knowledge was ... er .... lacking [:o]

TFTC and an excellent series and adventure

Here we are now at a most important waypoint. It was disappointing to note that 'the evidence’ had been tampered with even though a swap was carried out.
I would have loved to see the container in its original state and can only imagine the effort that Pprass would have gone to, to provide this important link in the saga.
My thoughts at this stage: Fitzpatrick was covering for his own errors in judgement once he returned home. He prepared an embellished statement to present to the court painting him in a better light and in so doing damaged Kelly even more as an outlaw.
A wonderful start to our quest to learn about Ned. now it is back to String Bark Creek to meet the rest of our group and continue the hunt for both evidence and knowledge.
A fav because of your passion on the topic and the effort in setting up this third, pprass

The Lost Wanderers headed to Melbourne. This series has been on our targeted list for a while, finally we had the time to hunt for them!

What a lovely location! It is a beautiful area with a lot of historical significance! Thankyou for the series and bringing us up this way!

As the youngest geokid has a Ned Kelly assignment for school we decided on a geocaching trip to Ned Kelly country so she could get as sense of where it all took place. We took off for the day with Earthbounds for some caching fun. Getting to GZ was probably the easiest of them all except for the fact we had to do all the others in order to get this one. Interesting bit of local history here. TFTC.

The last one for the day before we have to head home. Couldn't believe someone would try to farm up here, a tough life indeed. We wondered through the scrub until one of us located the right spot, dodgy signals with 3 GPS units pointing in 3 different directions! Ignore! EB Nano enjoyed handling the cache contents but wondered if the artefact was really real? Hmmm. Really enjoyed the series, well worth the trip today, perfect weather too, ahhh such is life! Thanks Pprass.

Interesting memorial on the way to the final destination.
Sometimes, today, we think that it would be magic to live in an environment like this, but reading the memorial shows how hard it must have been in reality.
Final cache in hand and log signed. Cache was found in 30-40mm of water in it's hidy spot but was dry inside, built a small platform of sticks to get it out of the water and rehid.
TFTC and the series pprass. Thouroughly enjoyable on a beautifully sunny spring day.

This entry was edited by BernieH on Tuesday, 11 September 2012 at 10:31:12 UTC.

Our last find in a truly enjoyable series of caches.
Found in company of DJ Rascal on a great days caching in the area. Didn't wanna go home without grabbing this series today and so glad we did.
Cache was located as it was clearly visible today. Heeaded towards home after appreciating the area.
Many thanks for a great series of caches and for all your information. Definately learned a thing or two today.
Thanks for your efforts pprass. Cheers.

Found the last of the 4. Worth the effort.

And so we come to the final cache in this series - what an adventure it has been. Found at 1.25pm. We have to say we take the side of Ned in all of this, not least of all because family stories have it that Ned would drop in for morning tea at Geoma's great grandfather's home in the Ovens Valley. They were both Irish ex-patriots. There are so many conflicting stories it is hard to sort what is truth and what is fiction. All of those involved in this past history are long dead now and all the writings make most interesting reading. Life for bushrangers, farmers and policemen alike was a much harder haul than now. May they all R.I.P. Took: model car (which Geopa is having fun putting together) Left: bullet casing. Thanks for a great series and a real 'hands & feet' look at the actual countryside it happened in. from us.

The final in a series that really brought me out here this weekend.
I had been a little disullusioned with caching of late but a clever series of caches tracing the history of this historic place was the highlight of the weekend in the NE.
Well I'm not going to believe Fitzpatrick's version of events. Anyone who attempts to seduce the delightful Miss Kelly while on official duty cannot be trusted.
That leaves the Kelly's. The revolver obviously fell out of Fitzpatrick's hands and at some time later the Kelly's.
Even no it is of no use to any of them anymore I have a funny feeling that it might be of some use to me!

Thanks pprass for a great little series. Learned a lot.

Hi Pprass
Finally gotten around to completing this series and rightly so since I now live in the heart of Kelly country. Not long since read the Kelly story again so you might say I'm full bottle.
Thanks indeed.

I came real close to Gz the night before without realizing it whilst out looking for firewood. Of course this was another that we chose to make harder by parking in the wrong spot, seeing us negotiating blackberries and crossing the creek via slippery log and fighting our way through scratchy undergrowth to get to Gz. On arrival I had to smile once I knew where we were.
We of course took the slightly longer but much easier walk back to the car.

A great cache series, well thought out and rich with history. Love these types of caches, well done Pprass.

TNLN, Cheers.

Finally, stage 4 in the series. Once again, we made life hard for ourselves, approached from the worst possible angle and ended up having to clamber across felled trees to get across streams! Had the cache in hand before too long, then took the easy way out! Thanks for a great series - it's fascinating to learn some more about the stories in this area and visit some of the locations involved. I feel lucky to have had this free guided tour and history lesson. Thanks!

#539 @ 2.50pm. What a wonderful series of caches and the history behind them is truely fascinating. We were able to drive close to GZ but the Queen, in true form, took the hardest way possible in to GZ [:o)] which meant bush bashing though blackberry (why, o why do I do this to myself? I'll blame the Garmin ). Anyway the cache was soon retrieved and the OBVIOUS exit was taken back to the truck to log the find while Dad looked on in amusement from above.

Took: Smokey Bear Keyring (the GeoPrincess has a collection now)
Left: Flower Eraser

TFTC pprass, we love taking in the places of these historic series & we enjoyed every minute of this despite the Queens misfortunes

Found by Mary & David at 1405. Amazing to walk in the shadows of history. We both knew of the stories, but you have brought them to life. Sadly, many people today, when asked about 'such is life', would name Ben Cousins' (and Rhino's?) tatt. Mary loved the nearby historic site and the story behind it. Out thanks yet again to pprass for the detail and effort that has gone into this series.

Love this find! Not far to walk this time. Took Tempio Travel Bug, left Colorado pin. TFTC

This was a great way to spend an afternoon. Thoroughly enjoyed the walk and the history involved.
Left Tempio TB
TFTC

Didn't expect it to be in the vicinity of the historic grave site (photo). I really enjoyed this series of historic Kelly caches. I now know a little bit more about those days of 1878, and where it all took place. Thanks also to the historian, Bill Denheld, for researching and locating the locations and to pprass for setting it up. (I reckon Fitzpatrick was a rotter, but the Kellys weren't innocent either.) I loved walking through the bush. TNLNSL. TFTC.

[This entry was edited by barryi on Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 8:51:33 PM.]

The last one for the day and a great sense of satisfaction. I don't know whether or not I am closer to concluding my opinions about the motives behind the two forces of the story. Although I do have trouble with a murderer (regardless of circumstance) becoming an icon. One thing is for sure though, Ned's die was cast as a result of the actions that took place here, and the next set of events were bound to bring about his downfall even if his plans succeded. I must track down a copy of the " A short life" and follow up on what I've earnt so far. Thanks for the series and resurecting an interest that has been with me ever since watching the mini series in the 1980 as a rebellious teenager and singing Redgums' "Poor Ned" after a few beers. NINO SL TFTC.

Found at 11.00am
We have really enjoyed this series of caches surrounding Stringybark creek.

We had visited GZ the previous evening unaware of GZ close by

Another good cache container with goodies, a final clue to the mystery to boot

Thanks for entertaining us this weekend Peter

TNLN

K&M

Rated: for Overall Experience

Another great spot, Thanks pprass for the day out.

So once armed with all the clues I managed to finally come to a decision as to the events that this cache led me on and other information I’ve guessed or gathered over the years. Ok so this Fitzpatrick guy had a soft spot for Kate and Kate Fitzpatrick had KK inscribed on his sig and gave it to Kate and wanted to get with Kate, but Ned and Dan would have no word of it so they refused to let him see Kate again. All Ned’s time spent with the notorious Harry Power persuaded Fitzpatrick to leave Kate alone. This didn’t deter Fitzpatrick for long; he soon came up with a plan to get back at the Kelly's. Fitzpatrick made up a story that he was shot at and well, they rest is history.
really enjoyed finally making it to see some spots I've only ever dreamed about, fantastic cache on a bit of Australian history

So finally we arrive at the place where it all started, more than 130 years ago. It seems odd when looking around at the area today that this is the site of the start of Australia's most famous legend. Was Ned just a bloke who was so persecuted that he revolted against the rich, imperialistic ruling classes of 1870's Victoria? Or was he just a ratbag who looked for excuses to justify his crimes? It is hard to judge by today's standards. Thanks for a thoroughly engaging series of caches, on a theme that will always be contentious, in an area that everyone should visit.

The last one for the series and it was found after a great series that took us around a beautiful area!

Thanks pprass

What a great history lesson we've had today. I think the police back then were bigger crooks then the Kelly Mob

Thanks pprass for a good day and Allancoden for good company
TTB

Its now almost sunshine, the rain coats are packed away and the end is in sight. We give our respects at the lonely grave site and proceed to find the final Gz. A bit of a celebration really. Signed the log and discussed the great day and the amount of effort put into the series, Thanks pprass for a really enjoyable day and we realized that we had never ventured into this area of our great land.

When I saw the co-ords for the final, I thought - I know where that is!. Nice spot for the final of a great series. And another great sized cache.

The whole series took less than about two hours - no 4WD.

My verdict? I suspect Fitzpatrick was a bit of a ratbag. His story sounds like a bunch of excuses. Interesting reading about a significant item in our history.

Thanks, Robmc..

Unlike Rhinogeo I had only visited this spot once before (about and hour earlier actually!) but I was reminded of the significance of this location for a now archived cache that existed in the area.

After collecting all the evidence today I'm of the opinion that Fitzpatrick probably had a crack at Kate Kelly, after all she is pretty cute. Her choice of hats is not to my liking, but the look isn't nearly as disturbing as the site of Fitzpatrick in his tight riding slacks! In fact I think you can see where he was concealing that small pistol in that photo.

Anyhow, Rhinogeo and I were so proud of our FTF efforts and inspired by the Kelly legend that we went in to get some ink done when we returned to Benalla. Rhinogeo's photo really shows the benefits of his morning workouts with Malby. Unfortunately my tattoo wasn't quite what I was after. There was some confusion with the tattooist about who Ned Kelly was (kids these days!), so I explained he was the guy in the movie with Heath Ledger in it. Perhaps I should have been clearer. Oh well, at least I didn't opt for "I'm Awsome"!

Thanks Pprass,

R + R - B

Found 30/05/09 13:36 . WOO-HOO !! A joint FTF with Team Rubik ... the 4th of 4 FTFs for the day

What a satisfying series to knock over after a bi of bushbashing by 4WD and on foot I was familiar with the general area around the Kelly Tree but it was great to visit the actual locations relating to such a prominent part of the history of Northeast Victoria

Team Rubik and I had a sense of deja vu approaching GZ ... it looked like a rather cachey spot, and so it proved to be. I was particularly impressed by the historic artefacts present in the cache [:p]

Cheers pprass and thanks for a most enjoyable and well researched series

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