B&W (T) Camp VII. (Matheson's) KNOWSLEY Knowsley, Victoria, Australia
By
Phetlern on 20-Aug-10. Waypoint GA2505
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | Burke and Wills |
| Container: | Small |
| Coordinates: | S36° 48.295' E144° 34.669' (WGS 84) |
| 55H 283916E 5924031N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 193 m |
| Local Government Area: | Greater Bendigo |
/144.577817,-36.804917,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
The Victorian Exploring Expedition of 1860, usually known as the Burke and Wills expedition, stands as a landmark in Australian history. They succeeded in crossing the continent form South to North, at the cost of several lives. This is one of the geocaches marking important points associated with the Expedition.
The Expedition was finally beginning to make better time. After covering about six kilometres in their first day, the pace had picked up considerably. Here the Expedition artist and naturalist Ludwig Becker outlines their day leading to this location:
Monday Aug 27 1860.
Marched at 9¼, via Wild duck Creek to Matheson’s. With some difficulty we got the Camels through the Creek, they never before went through water worth mentioning. The road being good and level, we once more mounted the Camels and arrived at Matheson’s hotel at 4 o’C p.m. Distant 14 miles from the Mia Mia.
Marched at 9¼, via Wild duck Creek to Matheson’s. With some difficulty we got the Camels through the Creek, they never before went through water worth mentioning. The road being good and level, we once more mounted the Camels and arrived at Matheson’s hotel at 4 o’C p.m. Distant 14 miles from the Mia Mia.
Ludwig Becker, First report
A Bit of the History
Going north from Mia Mia, they crossed what was then the Wild Duck Creek but is now the Derrinal Water or Lake Eppalock, this being the first time the camels were taken through water. Then crossing the Melbourne-Bendigo road near Matheson's Hotel, they made camp some two miles along the ‘old bush road’ leading to Goornong and Barnadown, probably close to the Heathcote Park Dragway on rising and comparatively drier ground. This old hotel is less than 2.5k to the north of the present township of Knowsley, though then the maps showed only Matheson's.
Donald Munro Matheson established this hotel in 1852, and by 1853 it had become a flourishing resting place for travellers to and from the Bendigo and McIvor goldfields. Well situated at the junction of two busy roads, it thrived as a staging point for the coaches, providing a most useful service until the railway to Heathcote went through from Bendigo in 1888. About that time, another hotel was built in the new township and eventually Matheson's ceased trading. The remains of the second hotel are at S36 49.576 E144 35.242.
Becker’s records remain the best of this part of the Expedition. Despite the constant public hunger for explorers’ memoirs, Burke himself barely put pen to paper in the course of the Expedition. It is possible he intended to write on his return, or hire a ghost-writer, or not publish at all. The only published volume by one of the officers of the Expedition was Dr Hermann Beckler’s book, published in German in the 1860s but not in English until the 1990s. Much like his fellow German, Ludwig Becker, the Expedition medical officer was a talented artist. Wills liked to go on the camels because he could keep his journal, read, register the barometers and make calculations while riding.
About the Cache and Surrounds
The cache is located in the vicinity of what we believe was formerly Matheson’s Hotel. The old hotel has been preserved in good condition, with only the minor change of two rooms having been added to its southern end. Now known as Cosmo, it has been in the hands of the White family since about 1903, and is occupied as a private residence but can be viewed from the adjacent highway.
Because of the very busy highway, we suggest the parking area at S36 48.238 E144 34.570 be utilised, with only a short stroll to the cache site.
Hints
haqre oynpx. |
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Decode |
Logs
On our way to The Whittlesea Mega with Geovan in tow and stopped to find this cache. Made our way to GZ from the suggested parking coords and made a quick find. Cache and contents are in excellent condition. Many thanks Phetlern, nice to find a B & W cache in our travels.
Rated: for Overall Experience
I believed this cache may have been missing and, knowing we were coming here today, had been in touch with the cache owner, and had been given permission to replace it if necessary.
Whilst I was searching in my caching bag for a replacement cache, dalerious was checking out the area and returned jubilantly holding the original cache aloft.
He said the coordinates were exact.
Thanks for keeping the B&W trail alive Phetlern.
The cache was in excellent condition and the contents clean and dry.
Whilst I was searching in my caching bag for a replacement cache, dalerious was checking out the area and returned jubilantly holding the original cache aloft.
He said the coordinates were exact.
Thanks for keeping the B&W trail alive Phetlern.
The cache was in excellent condition and the contents clean and dry.
Rated: for Overall Experience
#GA1021 - 12:15; I decided to make use of a spare day in Victoria with the geoteen to head north from Melbourne along the path taken by Burke and Wills (and others) to collect some more of the caches in this series. The plan was to reach Bendigo, then head on to Elmore before heading back to the big smoke. I'd collected my first for the day at Queens Park in Moonee Ponds, which had proved a bit of a nemesis cache for me until today. I'd collected a few more in the series at Bolinda Creek, Lancefield, Baynton, Mia Mia and Heathcote, with this cache my last before hitting Bendigo. Pulled of the highway and drove in close to GZ. Checked a few options before resorting to the hint after which a quick find followed. TFTC Phetlern 
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found by caughtatwork at 17:02 on 25/06/2016
A fantastic cache. For some reason I had never been able to make it across to these caches before today so after we did some walking around and before dinner we drove off to see what we could find. The cache is still in great condition and a great day to come looking for some older B&W caches.
Took nothing, left nothing.
Thanks for placing this cache here for us to come, visit and find. With no-one to hide there would be no-one to find.
*Overall Experience: 5*
GAFF 1
A fantastic cache. For some reason I had never been able to make it across to these caches before today so after we did some walking around and before dinner we drove off to see what we could find. The cache is still in great condition and a great day to come looking for some older B&W caches.
Took nothing, left nothing.
Thanks for placing this cache here for us to come, visit and find. With no-one to hide there would be no-one to find.
*Overall Experience: 5*
GAFF 1
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found with caughtatwork and Lady caughtatwork while on a long weekend in Bendigo. I love Burke and Wills caches.
Found on our way out of town. Heading to Melbourne to get the boat back to Tassie. We've really enjoyed our three week caching holiday on the big island, would have loved to stay longer. TFTC
Pulled off the road and down to GZ. Took a few mintues to locate it as the grass is sort of long at the moment. After grabbing a stick, I managed to drag the cache out of its hiding place and all was good.
Log signed and cache repalced waiting for the next cachers to head past.
Thanks for another one Phetlern....
Log signed and cache repalced waiting for the next cachers to head past.
Thanks for another one Phetlern....
Rated: for Overall Experience
Even after two and a half years we're still ticking off B&W caches as we travel roads that are not on our normal path.
Today the traffic heading toward Melbourne was very heavy so we decided to take a back road to Heathcote.
Cache was found quickly and is in excellent condition.
Thanks Pete and Helen for another cache in this great series.
Today the traffic heading toward Melbourne was very heavy so we decided to take a back road to Heathcote.
Cache was found quickly and is in excellent condition.
Thanks Pete and Helen for another cache in this great series.
Found it, also got approached by a land owner in a red 4WD.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Lovely drive into country.
Found it nicely
Thanks for the cache
Found it nicely
Thanks for the cache
Rated: for Overall Experience
This cache took a few minutes to locate. It was a very good hide in a container which blended well with the surroundings. The cache and contents were in good condition. TFTC
This cache was found on my trip to Victoria and New South Wales for the Oz Mega event at Albury. Great trip which included finding over 230 caches in the 6 days.
TFTC
TFTC
This was the last of 4 B&W caches for me today and I had it in hand at 16:25 after a short search. Another one where I couldn't help wondering if they stayed right here and what the landscape must have looked like over 151 years ago.
TNLNSL. Thanks Phetlern.
TNLNSL. Thanks Phetlern.
A quick find. Almost at the end of our day of caching from Echuca to Heathcote and back home around Lake Eppalock.
SL TFTC
Love GA Cacher on my android phone.
SL TFTC
Love GA Cacher on my android phone.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found on the return trip to Adelaide from Sydney. After finding the cache and walking back to the car, I was approached by the local farmer in his Land Rover. He didn't see me retrieve the cache, just saw me walking around the area. He was very grumpy and wanted to know what I was doing.
Thank goodness it was a B&W cache, as I explained about retracing significant places in the B&W journey, he seemed satisified by this. I didnt' tell him about the hide as I think he would muggle it. Chatted to him and his wife for about 5 mintes and mentioned the river crossing up at Balranald, etc. By the end he thought I was some sort of history nut and was happy with that.
Day 360 of non-stop caching.
Thank goodness it was a B&W cache, as I explained about retracing significant places in the B&W journey, he seemed satisified by this. I didnt' tell him about the hide as I think he would muggle it. Chatted to him and his wife for about 5 mintes and mentioned the river crossing up at Balranald, etc. By the end he thought I was some sort of history nut and was happy with that.
Day 360 of non-stop caching.
Rated: for Overall Experience
A quick grab while down in the area attending the Pre-Easter event. It was nice to be able to grab a few B&W caches while in the area.
Found with Just a Cacher, Candy Cane 101 & Mr Roo.
Thanks for the cache WazzaAndWenches
Found with Just a Cacher, Candy Cane 101 & Mr Roo.
Thanks for the cache WazzaAndWenches
Rated: for Overall Experience
Got to gz and after alittle searching came up with the cache. Was wet so replaced the log. Was interesting where these explorers camped TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
found with black bunny, just a cacher and mrroo. It was very wet
Rated: for Overall Experience
Great weekend of caching, met lots of wonderful people, and found some interesting caches.
Found this one with Black Bunny, Candy Cane 101, and Mr_Roo.
Great to finally find some B&W caches that we didn't place!
Found this one with Black Bunny, Candy Cane 101, and Mr_Roo.
Great to finally find some B&W caches that we didn't place!
Rated: for Overall Experience
2010-11-21T19:30Z,Found: #112 On way home from Bendigo, the Scenic route. Odd little stop, no markers here. Found myself at the fence looking about and saw the cache in its hide. A nice find. TFTC. Took pathtag SL
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found by PR&F on 9/10/10 @ 11.20am with The Empire.
#10 of 26 finds today as we traced the Burke & Wills Route.
TFTC!
#10 of 26 finds today as we traced the Burke & Wills Route.
TFTC!
Found by The Empire @ 9:45am with PR&F
12th of 28 today on the Burke and Wills route. Quick find off the busy road, thanks for the cache.
- M
12th of 28 today on the Burke and Wills route. Quick find off the busy road, thanks for the cache.
- M
Rated: for Overall Experience
Driving past this one on our way to an event, we decided to do this one, on approach to GZ we realized we had already done this one, will log on find date 29-8-2010
Strangely enough this cache was not in either GPS, checked log book and sure enough we have done this one, TNLN TFTC
Strangely enough this cache was not in either GPS, checked log book and sure enough we have done this one, TNLN TFTC
We loved locations such as this one on our two-day B&W trip - located just before a critical corner where we headed off the main roads. A quick find here at 12:05pm in a location that should be safe for a long time. Many thanks to Phetlern for your contribution to this very enjoyable series - we loved it. Cheers!
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found 9.40am
With all the recent rain there was plenty of standing water around on the short walk to GZ but with the sun shining it was getting quite warm. The cache was soon found in a logical hiding place.
Left KoT pathtag
Thanks Phetlern
With all the recent rain there was plenty of standing water around on the short walk to GZ but with the sun shining it was getting quite warm. The cache was soon found in a logical hiding place.
Left KoT pathtag
Thanks Phetlern
Rated: for Overall Experience
Driving past this one on our way home from a roundabout caching trip, come out with the intention to grab a couple of these new caches,
Love the idea of a series like this, well put together
SL TFTC
Love the idea of a series like this, well put together
SL TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
We set off to do a bit of loop from Bendigo to Heathcote and Mia Mia and this was the first for the day. Left a pathtag. That is one impressive building that I have never really noticed before. Love the cache container. TFTC
A nice easy find on our way home.
Took the Morris pathtag to add to our small collection.
TFTC
Took the Morris pathtag to add to our small collection.
TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
As a result of information received co-ordinates rechecked and adjusted from S36° 48.296' E144° 34.707' to S36 48.295 E144 34.669. Sorry for any inconvenience and thanks Romax.
Looking into co-ordinate accuracy after information received yesterday. May move location.
4.15pm
Found by Roma and Max.
As we approached your hide we found we were having difficulty with patchy satellite reception and couldn't establish a logical GZ.
We approached from another direction to see if this helped and unbeknown to us this attracted the attention of the nearby land owner who arrived to see if we needed help!
Thank you Peter for both your help and for placing this cache at a very appropriate location.
The best numbers we could come up with finally were S292 and E667 which were alternating between 2 - 3m.
Cheers,
from Romax.
Found by Roma and Max.
As we approached your hide we found we were having difficulty with patchy satellite reception and couldn't establish a logical GZ.
We approached from another direction to see if this helped and unbeknown to us this attracted the attention of the nearby land owner who arrived to see if we needed help!
Thank you Peter for both your help and for placing this cache at a very appropriate location.
The best numbers we could come up with finally were S292 and E667 which were alternating between 2 - 3m.
Cheers,
from Romax.
Rated: for Overall Experience
