Towrang Convict Graves Boxers Creek, New South Wales, Australia
By
blossom* on 18-May-10. Waypoint GA1953
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | Traditional |
| Container: | Regular |
| Coordinates: | S34° 44.000' E149° 49.902' (WGS 84) |
| 55H 759270E 6152876N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 627 m |
| Local Government Area: | Goulburn Mulwaree |
/149.8317,-34.733333,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
These lonely convict graves are located on a riverflat, near the junction of Towrang Creek with the Wollondilly River.
Towrang was the site of a major stockade for the chain-gang of convicts and others involved in the construction of Surveyor General Sir T L Mitchell's Great South Road from 1836 to 1842. The stockade became the principal penal establishment in the southern district. In 1838 it housed "seventy men in irons working on the road and twenty one not in irons", but there were usually 250 convicts for most of its history. They slept on bare boards with a blanket apiece, 10 men to a box or cell. One of the two official floggers was later found murdered - I wonder why??!!
The Towrang Stockade Graves, where this cache is located, are an important part of the Convict Stockade Site. There are three headstones remaining which have been enclosed by a fence. The monuments face east and are constructed of a fine grained clay-rich sandstone similar to 'Marulan Stone' but possibly from Stonequarry Creek at Picton.
The largely unspoilt setting of the graves evokes the pioneer period of European settlement in this area. The epitaphs on the surviving headstones pre-date civil registration so they give us important historic and biographical information. The headstones also show us the high standard of workmanship in these early days. The site is signposted and access is across a bridge over Towrang Creek which hasn't yet been washed away by the various heavy rains.
Other remains from this period include the Powder Magazine where there is another cache.
Also, across the other side of the highway at the Towrang rest area, an information billboard gives details of seven culverts and a bridge, all built of stone by the convicts to carry the Great South Road.
Access: Park in the area provided at the Towrang turnoff (S34 43.918 E149 49.554) and walk along to the access gate (S34 43.965 E149 49.706). From here, head to the signpost and your gps will point the way.
Hints
ebpxl uvqr |
|
Decode |
Logs
This was the last cache completed on a big day of caching in this greater area. What a fitting last cache to do – a history lesson & a ammo can to book – love seeing these units out in the wild – should be more of them. Many thanks TFTC / TFTH / SL
Rated: for Overall Experience
Nice cache! thanks.
I couldn't help noticing the two cut loss beyond the graves. looks like they are meant to lead somewhere else off interest but I don't have time to explore today.
I couldn't help noticing the two cut loss beyond the graves. looks like they are meant to lead somewhere else off interest but I don't have time to explore today.
Caching in Goulburn today and our favourite cache of the day. Thanks for bringing us here and sharing this location with us. Cache and contents in good condition.
Many thanks Blossom for publishing this cache and adding to our geocaching experience.
Tassie Trekkers are now a locationless geocache we have published a 'Geocacher cache' - Travelling Trekkers GA10932 - so if you spot us in your area sign our log book and receive a code word to earn yourself a
Have you joined a clan? Enhance your geocaching experienace by joining a clan and being a part of the Dragon Zone. Choose a team
Gold - Griffin, 
Green - Phoenix, 
Blue - Cerberus or Orange - Minotaur. Earn trophies and rise through the ranks from Dragon Fodder to Ruler of the Universe. Rated: for Overall Experience
I was out on a Saturday drive and this one just needed grabbing. A nice little wander to the graves for a few minutes and then over to GZ for a quick find. I always love finding these containers!!!
Thanks Blossum* for a very enjoyable cache.
Thanks Blossum* for a very enjoyable cache.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found this one today as part of a caching mission collecting for States of the Nation 2017-18.
It's a great area, and a bit sad that its out of the way, although right on the way being easily within the traffic roar zone of the Hume Highway.
I had a look at the other features too - the magazine, the soldiers' hut area, and the general description boards in the area.
Well worth dropping in on for a break as you travel the highway. Parking is just on the Sydney side of the Towrang Road/Hume Highway intersection, and it's easy to get to whether you're heading to or from Sydney.
The cache is in excellent condition. TNLN. Many thanks for the cache BLOSSOM*
It's a great area, and a bit sad that its out of the way, although right on the way being easily within the traffic roar zone of the Hume Highway.
I had a look at the other features too - the magazine, the soldiers' hut area, and the general description boards in the area.
Well worth dropping in on for a break as you travel the highway. Parking is just on the Sydney side of the Towrang Road/Hume Highway intersection, and it's easy to get to whether you're heading to or from Sydney.
The cache is in excellent condition. TNLN. Many thanks for the cache BLOSSOM*
Rated: for Overall Experience
I keep driving past here, but no time to stop. Today on the way home, I called in on a windy afternoon not long before dark and made the quick dash to GZ. After checking a few tricky spots, found it OK in a much easier one. Cache in great condition (expected for this type of container). Hardest bit was getting back onto the highway!
Thanks
Thanks
Rated: for Overall Experience
Have been here a few years ago so knew exactly where to park and how to get to the graves. Such an interesting location. Cache easily found and in good condition.
Rated: for Overall Experience
For once, a nice dry afternoon this week. Time for a GCA cache or 2. This one's been on the radar for quite some time, so loaded up the geopup & headed north to the Towrang convict worksite. Have now found all the GC caches in this area, & fairly certain I found the now archived GCA Powder Magazine cache several years ago, too, though does not show in the e-log. A shame its gone now.
Great area for history, and enjoy checking out the old diggings & bridges convict-built. River is still at a higher level, too, after all the rain lately, but at least the little concrete bridge to access the grave site was useable.
Great area for history, and enjoy checking out the old diggings & bridges convict-built. River is still at a higher level, too, after all the rain lately, but at least the little concrete bridge to access the grave site was useable.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Stopped in on the way back to Mexico with Kazidy. Have driven past here so many times without knowing the history, thanks for the education blossom
#GA213 - 16:40; I was on the way to Sydney for the weekend and for the first time sat down and did a bit of planning prior to the trip. I was going solo and although I didn't get away as early as I'd have liked, still had a little bit of time up my sleeve for some caching. After inspecting the nearby Powder Magazine, I made my way over the footbridge to the gravesite. Gave the local farmer who was doing some spraying a wave on the way past, which he returned. Read some of the information at the gravesite before heading over to GZ, where I made things a little more difficult than it should have been. I was about to give up as I'd already spent too much time on this one and one close by (which I DNF'd), when I let the geosenses take over from the GPSR and spotted the hide. Log signed and cache returned, I was on the raod again. TFTC and the history lesson blossom*
Rated: for Overall Experience
I'd driven past here the last few times without working out how to get to this site. Today I finally just parked near the memorial to the highway and walked down to the gate through the fence. Not many people apart from geocachers ever visit this site I would bet - the catch on the gate was covered in spiderwebs.
Walked past the ruins of the quarters and again confirmed the powder magazine cache was gone. Had a look in the magazine which was rather cool. From there I set off for the graves. I was glad it was a relatively cool, drizzly day and the grass was short - a few days ago it would have been over 40C here.
There's a set of sleeper steps and then a nice new concrete bridge over to the graves. Interesting to see they've put plaques in front of the graves in case you can't read them properly. Walked over to the cache site and inspected the rocks before making the find. Well concealed and shouldn't be muggled. A cache in a cache! Signed the log and replaced. If I could give it a favourite I would - this is pretty close to the perfect cache - a site unknown to most people with some great relics and a well hidden cache which has the best container of all. Recommended!
Walked past the ruins of the quarters and again confirmed the powder magazine cache was gone. Had a look in the magazine which was rather cool. From there I set off for the graves. I was glad it was a relatively cool, drizzly day and the grass was short - a few days ago it would have been over 40C here.
There's a set of sleeper steps and then a nice new concrete bridge over to the graves. Interesting to see they've put plaques in front of the graves in case you can't read them properly. Walked over to the cache site and inspected the rocks before making the find. Well concealed and shouldn't be muggled. A cache in a cache! Signed the log and replaced. If I could give it a favourite I would - this is pretty close to the perfect cache - a site unknown to most people with some great relics and a well hidden cache which has the best container of all. Recommended!
Rated: for Overall Experience
Nice one. Lovely walk across the field from the Powder Magazine to this sad site. Always sad when there's a child's grave. Nice cache was found without too much fuss. Thanks blossom.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Love these surprise locations I would not have found otherwise!! Took the time to visit both locations and read all the info. Could be a bit warm around here on a hot summerday, but today was absolutely spectacular.
TFTC Wilbert67
TFTC Wilbert67
Rated: for Overall Experience
Thanks heaps for this cache and all the history. Love these so much as how often do we miss our hidden away history. Thank you so much Acko and Ute Dog II
Found on our Wollongong caching holiday. Wow, what a good cache to do, who would ever think that something as cool as this would exist next to a busy highway. After an unfortunate DNF on Powder Magazine (great location also), it was a short walk from there, down the steps to the graves. Had a small look at them, they're quite old graves. Then it was a quick walk to GZ, where the real search started. It took a few minutes before the hide was spotted. Nice hidey hole with an appropriate container. TNLNSL. TFTC, loved this one!
A fantastic location, one which I have driven by many times but this time I was determined to make time for the cache and it was well worth the effort highly *recommended*
Strike-a-light informed me of these Blossoms when I bought the Geomobile off him this month. So I resigned to targeting them on my next trip south, which was today! Pulled in for the quick GC cache at the parking lot then headed over to the Powder Keg cache which is now in fine condition. The sunlight on a low angle and clear blue skies added an idealic quality to the afternoon and finding such a well designed GCA cache in a great locations made my day. Awesome work with these ones Blossom, Ive recommended both of them but this one wins the awesome stakes.
Sad Zhaoy wasnt with me, I'll have to bring her back one day!
Sad Zhaoy wasnt with me, I'll have to bring her back one day!
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found both at Towrang. Thanks for letting me stop and find some history, whilst barreling up the Hume.
A nice easy find on a caching run to Goulburn. Like the double container, contents nice and dry, unlike the Powder Magazine one...Thanks.
GCA 300 - 4552. A day run around the Yass and Goulburn areas caching...
Walked in carefully through the grass on a bit of a path. Its a very interesting area to visit with a bonus of 2 caches. Just as I was about to go down the stairs at the creek I spotted a black snake sunning itself (!!). Walked a bit of a long way around to the bottom of the stairs then made my way to the Graves for a look. Across to GZ for a quick find - nice sized container and set up - the bottle sure helps ! Thanks for bringing me here.
TFTC !!
Walked in carefully through the grass on a bit of a path. Its a very interesting area to visit with a bonus of 2 caches. Just as I was about to go down the stairs at the creek I spotted a black snake sunning itself (!!). Walked a bit of a long way around to the bottom of the stairs then made my way to the Graves for a look. Across to GZ for a quick find - nice sized container and set up - the bottle sure helps ! Thanks for bringing me here.
TFTC !!
Rated: for Overall Experience
With thunder approaching I headed over from the Powder Magazine to look for this. Found fairly quickly in a classic blossom* container. Liked the upside down bottle with the date 1950 stamped on the bottom nearby - if you spot that you are in the right area. Then time to quickly retreat to the car just before the rain came - a shame as I would have liked time to read the headstones. Thanks blossom*
After catching up with the CO at the GCA AGM, I had to go to Canberra for work today so on my way home I stopped by to do these two caches. It is truly amazing story of the hardships the convict’s and I guess their minders weren’t that better off. Found the cache well stocked and exchanged swaps. It is one of those locations that you wouldn’t find unless you were into the local history of the area or of course geo-caching, thanks.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found on the way from Adelaide to Sydney for a work trip. A short walk from the other cache to this one. More interesting colonial history here. Definitely the right time of year to do this one- no snakes, only rain. Left a pathtag for the next finder.
The bridge has had some recent repast work and is much safer to cross.
Day 356 of non-stop caching.
The bridge has had some recent repast work and is much safer to cross.
Day 356 of non-stop caching.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found with geo-amba on a quiet Anzac afternoon drive around.
What else is there to do in this place when you have found all the GC caches, but to look for 2 GCA caches as well.
I did hesitate at the bridge but we got across it OK. There was some sprinkling mist just started again so it was a quick log and go again. TNLNSL TFTC Blossom,
Roostaman.
What else is there to do in this place when you have found all the GC caches, but to look for 2 GCA caches as well.
I did hesitate at the bridge but we got across it OK. There was some sprinkling mist just started again so it was a quick log and go again. TNLNSL TFTC Blossom,
Roostaman.
Found on the way to Sydney before a trip further a field.
Have driven past many times but never knew the area was here. Thanks very much for highlighting it to me.
No drama's with the cache, all is good.....which is more than can be said for the bridge.
Again, thanks for showing me the area.
Have driven past many times but never knew the area was here. Thanks very much for highlighting it to me.
No drama's with the cache, all is good.....which is more than can be said for the bridge.
Again, thanks for showing me the area.
Rated: for Overall Experience
After my encounter with the tiger snake at the nearby GCA cache, it was a slow and steady walk to this one. The bridge is officially out of action due to some flooding, but it was stable enough for me to get across.
Walking slowly through the tall grass, I firstly visited the graves and then spotted the cache. This container is in much better condition compared to its cousin nearby.
Another top little spot and very worthy of having a cache. Thank you again for this great history lesson.
Walking slowly through the tall grass, I firstly visited the graves and then spotted the cache. This container is in much better condition compared to its cousin nearby.
Another top little spot and very worthy of having a cache. Thank you again for this great history lesson.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found this one on a caching trip with jusojara and stacky68. Depressing grave inscription on the solider's grave TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
I have been to the bridge on the other side of the highway numerous times and have always been meaning to come for a look at this side. Well today was the day with mr_roo and Stacky68.
On our way to the cache we had a look at the Powder Magazine (without realising there was another cache there - oh well another excuse to visit). On our way to the Graves we met the landowner who was slashing the paddock. He told us that the are about to temporarily close the area to repair some damage the recent floods have done to the bridge. They also have some funding to fix up the Graves area a bit.
Anyway after looking at the Grave the cache was a nice easy find - thanks blossom*.
On our way to the cache we had a look at the Powder Magazine (without realising there was another cache there - oh well another excuse to visit). On our way to the Graves we met the landowner who was slashing the paddock. He told us that the are about to temporarily close the area to repair some damage the recent floods have done to the bridge. They also have some funding to fix up the Graves area a bit.
Anyway after looking at the Grave the cache was a nice easy find - thanks blossom*.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Very Very good cache showing to the history of the area. If you juts get out of your car and stretch the legs it is amazingwhat you can see!!!! TCTF NTNLRated: for Overall Experience
After negotiating the long grass, I took a look at the well preserved headstones then headed off in search of the cache. A very peaceful spot despite the proximity of the freeway, more history I would never have known about except for geocaching. Thanks blossom* for the cache and for bringing me here.
Left: Pathtag
Left: Pathtag
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found this substantial cache in a cache late in the afternoon after walking down from the other one. Half expected a convict's ghost to grab me by the leg as I walked over that bridge. Probably best that only a select few know of this location, thanks.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Another interesting spot, Thanks for the caches here.
Rated: for Overall Experience
This one, and Powder Magazine, are a couple of my favourites thus far. Fascinating history lesson!
TFTC!
TFTC!
108. Another wonderful spot and found after a pleasant short walk over from the magazine. FFP read the history of the graves while I made the find.
It was much nicer for us than for the convicts that's for sure. Great to see a couple of high quality GCA caches. Hopefully more like this will draw more people to doing GCA caches. Top effort blossom!
TFTC and the conviction.
It was much nicer for us than for the convicts that's for sure. Great to see a couple of high quality GCA caches. Hopefully more like this will draw more people to doing GCA caches. Top effort blossom!
TFTC and the conviction.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Another sobering reminder of the harshness of pioneer life. Made even worse by being a convict with no choice. Albida.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found on a 10th anniversary run from Canberra. After doing the Powder Magazine it was off to this one. Great spot to let the puppies frolick while we grabbed the cache. Great little history lesson here. SL TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
Woot - *FTF*
After our success at 'Powder Magazine' we were feeling confident that this would be a two-fer. Then the rain started coming
GeoPup wasn't to concerned but I was - wet dog smell all the way home - ewww.
Still, we persevered and despite GeoPup being sure that the bridge was about to collapse across we went.
The cache was soon to hand with another of the rather fetching GCA FTF Pathtags quickly finding it's way into my back pocket along with the FTF certificate. We left some stuff (more space in this cache container) and headed out to see what else was around.
Thanks blossom* for bring us to an area with great history and now with two great caches - I can honestly say that in all my time travelling this road I had no idea this was here.
After our success at 'Powder Magazine' we were feeling confident that this would be a two-fer. Then the rain started coming
GeoPup wasn't to concerned but I was - wet dog smell all the way home - ewww.Still, we persevered and despite GeoPup being sure that the bridge was about to collapse across we went.
The cache was soon to hand with another of the rather fetching GCA FTF Pathtags quickly finding it's way into my back pocket along with the FTF certificate. We left some stuff (more space in this cache container) and headed out to see what else was around.
Thanks blossom* for bring us to an area with great history and now with two great caches - I can honestly say that in all my time travelling this road I had no idea this was here.
Rated: for Overall Experience
