The Shootout at Stringybark Creek Tolmie, Victoria, Australia
By pprass on 23-May-09. Waypoint GC1RH9Y

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.

After camping out of Mansfield last night I was headed for Chiltern and thought this series looked interesting.

I found the first cache in the series and obtained the coords for this one. A short drive had me less than 100 metres from GZ, but once again a wall of blackberries snd overgrown scrub between me and the cache looked rather daunting. Fortunately there was a fairly easy route around them and the cache was soon spotted safely tucked away.

Everything was in good order, including the coordinates for the next stage and the very interesting map of the area and features relevant to the story.

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

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. [^]

Returning from the last location with heads still spinning with the sense of history laid out before us, we had a quick cuppa at the car before heading for GZ of The Shootout at Stringybark Creek.
A short walk later we were scavenging through a very well kept cache container that kept our heads in the clouds with the detailed information gleaned from within. [:o]
We also found something to sign and a good lead for where we had to head next.
Thanks for this bushranging adventure pprass.

The saga continues......after gleaning the information at Kelly's Hut dalerious and I continued on the Kelly adventure. After a spot of lunch and coffee 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 .

The short bush walk for this one saw us with a good container in hand with a log book that had been signed by muggles who had found it inadvertently on their wanders.
Thanks pprass for the shootout series bringing us to a fascinating historic location.

Date: April 2, 2021
Find #11437

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.

Continuing the series, we found only a small amount of bush bashing required for this one. A grand container found at GZ.

This 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 @14:33 #7658
What a great series and cache container for this one. This was the next one found and more information discovered at GZ on the historical events of this area.
Found with ahomburg.

TFTC pprass

Thankfully this was a much easier walk than number 1. Cache quickly located. Coordinates for number 3 entered in Garmin. Facinating area. TFTC

Wow this area has a lot more shrubs and bush since I was last here. This one was found really well hidden by some good cover up. Log signed and back safe again. A visit to the 2 fireplace remains and some pics.
Find 1344
A favourite point for this one.

Found with youngnils during a few days visit to this area. This took a little while to locate with the GPS swinging about but finally found it after fighting through undergrowth. Thanks

Much crashing through heavy undergrowth was needed to locate this one with Bill Gosse. Much care needed too as old mining shafts and pits are everywhere around here. Thanks pprass.

Our story continues...
Hmmm, how do we approach this one. A study of the area and the map was in order and a plan put in place.
Having just cleaned all the seeds out of the socks and shoelaces, we again ventured into the unknown.
Amazingly, the cache was in the first place we looked. "That wasn't so bad..."
Log signed, co-ordinates noted and we were on our way.
TFTC

Checked on the cache today and other than it being way over grown around here from when we placed the cache, the co-ords are spot on and the cache is still there.

Found with bucketeer on our 11 day pre Christmas trip to the North East of Victoria
Thanks for the hide

15/12/2015 5:16:00 PM
This was nice quick walk in and a quick find too.
Dispite not being found for quite some time in a hostile environment the cache and it's contents are still in good shape.
Coordinates recorded for next cache and away we go

Ll

A few months back myself, Quasar3671, Dogonit, Juccacher, Froglady, Dbelco, Sussvulture, Buckleysbabe and Pacman got our heads together and decided on a weekend of exploring Kelly country, with caches guiding us to places of significance. We counted the days, reading Kelly books, having Kelly related discussions, and before we knew it on Friday we were on route from Geelong to Kelly country. We met at campsite at Stringybark Creek and set off after breakfast to each cache location.

Pprass has put together a great series of caches in very significant spots for Australian history. At each location I felt the importance each spot held in unfolding events for the area. Off the beaten track as they say, off the tourist route to the spots where it all happened.

Each location was a fairly simple walk / bush bash and not too far from the main roads. The bush up here is beautiful and somewhere I'd love to return too.

A big thanks to Pprass and Bill for bringing us here and sharing this location with Geocachers. It's something I'll never forget, the Kelly story is still haunting me as I am now home writing this log. Quiet sombre thoughts at these spots, thinking of the Police who lost their lives undertaking their line of duty, may they rest in peace.

A big group of us travelled from Geelong to Kelly country for several days of history-related caching.
Working our way through this series, we learnt more and more of the incidents which still fascinate us today. I enjoyed the props in this cache.
Thanks pprass for bringing us here, the great history and the cache.

One of 21 caches 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 occurred. It was a fantastic experience and visiting each of the sites just made it all the more real.

Probably one of the most significant and famous sites in Australian history and the place where there was no turning back for the Kelly Gang. We made our way to the site earlier on in the day and stood and read the information, contemplating the chaotic events that had occurred here over 130 years previously. It didn't take too long to come up with the goods and after some photos to capture the moment, we headed off to our next destination..

Thanks pprass.

This was our second find of the day and one of many Kelly-related finds for myself along with Suss Vulture, Jacko83, Juc_cacher, Doggone, Quasar3671, ThePacman, dbelco and Frog_Lady on a trip to the High Country to follow in the footsteps of the Kelly Gang.
Our stay had been researched and planned over the course of months and finally implemented when we convened at Stringybark Creek on Saturday morning. Having successfully located the co-ordinates for this cache we parked at a convenient location and headed off to GZ. Another bush bash and another successful search and we had the cache located, the log signed and the required information to locate the next cache in this great little series.
It is quite strange to think that we were on the scene of such a significant event in Australian history.
Thanks pprass for bringing us here and for another cache in this great series !

This entry was edited by Buckleysbabe on Tuesday, 14 October 2014 at 03:37:28 UTC.

Armed with coordinates, we tracked down this hide near a place we had inspected before we left our camp this morning. Found a lizard and the treasure we were after.
Thanks for all the effort, especially the fantastic cache notes in this series!

This entry was edited by suss vulture on Tuesday, 14 October 2014 at 12:20:53 UTC.

#727 for us, found with the Geelong Chapter of the "Kelly Gang". Months of planning, looking at maps, reading and solving puzzles, along with countless Facebook messages and even a dinner or two culminated in this weekend. Along with Suss Vulture, Jacko83, Dog-Gonit and Tara the wonder-dog, Buckley's Babe, DBelco, Frog_Lady, Pacman and Quasar3671, our adventure started at Stringybark Creek and covered hundreds of kilometers over dirt and paved roads, 4WD tracks and trackless bush, up hill and down dale. We drove, we camped, we puzzled, we solved and we found (and a couple of times we didn't...). We learnt an enormous amount about the Kellys and their history and we got the opportunity to visit many sites of significance to this Aussie legend. At the end of it, I don't think anyone had really come up with a definitive answer to the question "Hero or Villan ?", but we had fun trying.
I came across the Strathbogies from Violet Town in time to meet the crew at the end of their morning stroll around the historical precinct, before breaking camp and heading off.

As we headed towards this one, we realised we were heading towards an area we'd been earlier, without knowing. The area had become much busier in the time we'd been away in the bush, but although they looked puzzled at a group of people wandering about staring intently at screens of various devices, the muggles were out of the danger zone and the cache was soon uncovered. As before, information was noted, photos were taken and historical discussions were had. After all was done, the cache was replaced and we were off.

The cache contents added a suitable atmosphere.

Thanks again pprass !


This entry was edited by juc_cacher on Wednesday, 15 October 2014 at 12:02:21 UTC.

More bush bashing.... good stuff! TFTC

#718 Followed the designated path to the shootout site, read the history along the way. Following that we concentrated on the cache. Although it was only "just over there", we had a few issues until we found the correct path to the cache. Yet another fascinating lesser known site associated with the story at Stringybark Creek - thanks pprass. Unfortunately we have to leave the other 2 caches for another day as not to push the recovering geohound too far.

10:19
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.
7318

16/11/2013 10:24 am Find #2796
found in conjuction with the Heroes or Villains event
with pprass, phetlern, 6hinamoa2, maccamob, if, skullracing
Great historic location.
took nothing, left nothing
thanks for the cache- highrod, from Ballarat.

This series has more history and mystery than you can poke a stick at [:o]
Lucky for me I was chasing this series in the company of the CO and a group of fellow 'Kelly-philes'

At each cache our lucky group was regaled with tales of what happened at each location.
It sure saved me reading the cache notes to find out what was going on

OK !!
Cache found and onwards to the next !!!

Once again the Kelly devotees headed off on foot for a short walk to find the next piece of evidence which of course was duly noted. There was far more evidence than I expected in this container. It was most appropriate though and caused many comments amongst the group.
TFTC 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!

Having located the coordinates for the cache it was a quick walk and the cache was in hand. We love coming to beautiful landscapes to find caches.

TFTC

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. All i can say about this location is WOW. We spent quite a while here getting a feel for the location and what had occurred here. T so much FTC. Imagine how much better this assignment will be after having completed these caches.

Along for the ride with the Walenator's "researching" for the youngest Walenators' Ned assignment. Jumped at the chance. Looked at these caches wistfully as we drove by them last Easter returning from the Mega. Was reading this cache description out to the Chief as we roared by last year and the comment was 'have to do those' so when the Walenators said they were going we jumped on board! This was found once we stop worrying about the multiple GPS units being trippy. With all 4 of us heading in different directions one of us had to get it right! Studied the map, signed the log and went off to check out the police camp site. TFTC would not know it was here otherwise.

Found at 1632 03 11 2012 we found the second cache in the series. This is where we had to stop as we had run out time. We will have to come back to complete the series.
Regards Crisp image

A double take to get the correct side of the creek, cache was soon in hand, dry and in good condition.
It's amazing how much water is present compared to the last several years, all the surrounding holes (old mine shafts? maybe) full as well.
TFTC and off to the next.

We found it! Took us a while but 'we' did it...rather leachy found it after sweetleachy couldn't so she took care of the mini cacher while dad went in. Great job so far and we should finish up this arvo. Thanks pprass for the tip about the campsite. We're cooking a lamb roast in the camp oven tomorrow night.

Found on a great day caching with DJ Rascal who had already completed the series, but was more than happy to visit all the interesting locations again.
It helped having DJ with Big Ez, as he knew the best way to GZ with too much of the bush bashing.
Many thanks again pprass for showing us these great spots. Located the cache no problems before off to the next.
TNLN SL

Second for the day for Sherb and the Scouts. We will have to resume tomorrow for the last two. Must get back to camp and start tea

Found at 11.25am. Found this one pretty quickly. We were pleasantly surprised to discover many more improvements and facilities have been added to this area since we last visited (BC-before caching). Ned, his gang and the troopers out looking for them would have been very appreciative of the loos and picnic tables and chairs to have at their disposal - had they taken time to use them instead of trying to shoot each other!! Took: some cartridge shells Left: music CD - we doubt it would have soothed the savage beasts involved in this melee tho'. It's pretty wild country up here. TFTC pprass and another opportunity to visit it.

Even today this area retains a wildness and air of mystery around it. It would surely be eerie at night with the ghosts of the past still here to haunt it.
So wild here that my GPS would not play ball. Still said 70m to cache when we found it.
Thanks pprass.

Been here before, in fact did a cache here once before but glad I wasn't around while the shooting was happening. Hard to imagine the scene now and tough too when I think that Ned died younger than my youngest son is now.
Thanks again Pprass.

We had made this one a bit harder than it needed to be, just as any cacher would We parked a little bit further up the road and went straight downhill to the cache through thick scrub. Although the 2 Gps units had th same co ords plugged in there was a 20mt discrepancy between the 2, and just to satisfy my curiosity I chose to follow the arrow on mine and discovered the cache in the process.
Also found the easier way out, had a brief chat with someone overlooking the area as we walked past but the real eye opener happened when we were standing on the road discussing the approach to the next wpt.

A car had slowed and stopped right next to us, thinking he wanted directions (as some people had done previously) he instead asked what we were looking for (he must have noticed the Gps units in our hands). Not sure if he was a cacher or not we gave nothing away and then he asked if we were part of the group that had come for the days information on the shootout. When answered with a "No, just stopping on our way through" he then proceeded to tell us what he knew of the Kelly shootout and the area. To our amazement he pulled a small plastic bag from his pocket and from it, he pulled out a single carbine shot, it was supposedly the only shot that was fired from the police at the Kellys during the shootout and he had found it with the help of a metal detector 14 years ago.
So there it was, the bullet that Ned had claimed "Passed through my beard", only a foot from my face and I was too dumbfounded to ask questions or even take a photo of it. Pretty much highlight of the day

TNLN, Cheers.

After logging a successful find on part 1, we drove to the new coordinates, parked up and bush bashed to the GZ. After a bit of a disagreement between two GPSs, we eventually had the cache in hand and realised (as usual), we'd made hard work of the approach and could have come in from a much easier angle! On the way back to the car, someone stopped for a chat about the Kellys (there seem to be a few 'enthusiasts' in the area) and showed us an old shell they'd found in the area and reckoned it had been fired through Ned's beard. Never a dull moment caching in the Kelly's stomping grounds!

#537 @ 1.55pm. A short stroll into this one for Dad and the Queen whilst the GeoPrincess staying in the warm playing Nintendo (not caching weather for her today). The tree and cloud cover had us wandering around a little but soon had cache in hand. On the way back to the truck the Queen took a dive - luckily no sprains but is getting used to a wet backside!

Took: Binoculars
Left: Koala with Boomerang

TFTC - a great spot to visit, we want to explore more in the warmer months when there is less likelihood of a cold rear end

Found by Mary & David at 1255. Not far to walk for this one. Delighted to see the map. A fascinating story and area. Took plastic torch, left Garfield toy. Out thanks again to pprass.

Great to see this area is such good condition to share Ned Kelly's story with others. Still getting used to GPS so took a bit to find. Left Smokey Bear, took nothing. TFTC

Very interesting bit of Australian history at this location. Much to read about, good walking tracks and a well maintained area. Lots of recent upgrading.
Found the cache easily, grabbed the co-ordinates and off we went again.

I went looking for this one but could not find it in the dark, will try again another day

This was a quick find after driving fairly close to GZ. Hadn't even started looking and there it was. With Kenndy Shooting coords in hand it was off to the next in the series. TNLNSL. TFTC.

A trip to Stringybark Creek has always been on my wishlist, and caching gave me the motivation to go today. Great to have the added info from the cache notes to get a wider view of events and locations. Tree cover caused a few problems with over shooting the mark but we came up trumps in the end. This is a better location to get an overall view of the area than that of the walking track. Studied the attached diagram to get a feel for the place. SL TFTC Left nil took TB.

bug drop

Found at 9.05am
We have been aware of the actual shooting site, have been to the area a few times
A shorter walk this time, although Meredith did take us through the only patch of scrub in the area to reach GZ.

Good cache container and contents
Took a TB

Nice one

Thanks
K&M

Rated: for Overall Experience

Went in the hard way.....

After carefully making my way to gz without falling in any holes i soon had the information in hand and continued my journey through kelly country alongside clueless couple, my mind racing through the facts we had been presented with. over and over red gums, poor ned keeps playing in my head, why i dont know...
TFTC

After the long walk up to the hut, this one seemed as though it would be a walk in the bush. And it was, complete with mineshafts and huge wombat holes, blackberries, branches and fallen trees everywhere.....which only goes to show that the direct route ain't always the best. We found the hide, gathered the required information, picked up the Piggy GC and trapsed back to the road.

We had got the clues from the previous cache and this one was a bit easier located even with the GPS jumping all over the place

Thanks

Found Kelly Hut in the rain but easing off a bit for this cache, but still managed to fall over

The rain was still coming down but a quicker find than the The Kelly Hut. and yes we had the shot guns going off in the back ground to add realism. Loaded up the coords for the next in the series and signed the log.

I parked at the Stringybark creek carpark, and walked to this easy find. The map inside I have seen before (when I was reading about these caches on night shift), but it was good to have some extra information at GZ. The work that the researchers have done is very interesting.
While I was at GZ, some shooters were firing several rounds, a topical reminder of how the sound echos through the area.
Great sized cache.
Thanks, Robmc.

Upon reading the additional information provided in the impressive sized ammo box I was reminded of my last trip to Stringybark Creek a few months back. On that occasion I had to stop several times on the way home to remove leeches that were attached to my legs. I looked at the info, I looked at my dry, warm, blood filled legs and decided I would like to keep them that way. I do plan to return however as my dad has never visited this location and I keep meaning to take him.

Great research once again and a beautiful little spot.

Thans,

R + R - B

Found 30/05/09 12:40 . WOO-HOO !! A joint FTF with Team Rubik ... the 2nd of 4 FTFs for the day

After a bushbashing 4WD trip to the first cache of this series it was nice to have an easy drive and a short walk to this one

We were able to walk straight to GZ for an easy find of the .50 cal cache can

IN: The Movie Maker TB (which I had forgotten to grab from GC1D6W7 )

Cheers pprass

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