3 centuries and still going Locationless, Locationless, Locationless
By corunnaroad on 16-Jun-13. Waypoint GA6349

Has been several banks, most recently ANZ and is now a Real Estate agent! On the corner of Main Street and Eskbank Street in Lithgow.

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The pub In Dunolly, Victoria. Still operating as a pub.

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Ourimbah Public School.
Established 1863

We were actually alerted to the age of this school when we were completing an Urban Discovery walk created by the local scout troop during lock down. Apparently this was the first primary school opened on the Central Coast.

It has obviously had a few additions over the yearS, not the least being the big metal fence surrounding all schools these days which made the photos a bit hard to get. The first photo does show the date above the door Arch, but I couldn't zoom in enough with my phone to get a great shot. We will try to go back one day with our DSLR.

S41 31.603 E146 49.970 WESTBURY TASMANIA

The Holy Trinity Catholic Church was built in 1874 and is still in regular use today. The Clock Tower was added in 1901 in remembrance of the Venerable Archdeacon Hogan who was the resident pastor for fifty years.

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S41 35.648 E147 07.260 CHRIST CHURCH LONGFORD

Christ Church, in Longford Tasmania, is a distinctive architectural attraction of the historic town's centre. The corner stone was laid by Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Franklin on March 16, 1839. Parishioners donated both money and labour towards their new church's construction. It is still in use today.

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S41 35.446 E147 07.253 LONGFORD TABERNACLE

This Tabernacle at Longford Tasmania was built in 1880 as a Baptist Church. It is still in use as Lethborg Family Funeral Parlor.

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S41 25.239 E147 07.917 INVERMAY PRIMARY SCHOOL

Invermay is a suburb of Launceston Tasmania and this school has been in operation since 1889. The original buildings are still in use although there was originally a bell tower which I suspect was removed for safety reasons some time in the past.

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S41 15.022 E147 13.040 BARDENHAGEN'S STORE LILYDALE TASMANIA

In the late 1880s Ludwig Bardenhagen was a very significant owner of land in the township area of what is now known as Lilydale.

In 1888 he built his new store on a different site after fire destroyed the original on his farmstead block. The new substantial brick
building was erected at the south-western corner of the Station Road and the Main Road intersection where it rapidly became a prominent landmark and focal point of the township and remains so today.

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Found this example in Grenfell as we drove through a back street.

Thanks for the cache corunnaroad.

Found this example in Grenfell as we drove through.

Thanks for the cache corunnaroad.

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It’s over six months since this has been logged, but when I saw this shop today I thought it would fit the bill.
Now divided into two businesses, a butcher, and a baker, all it needs is a candlestick maker and it would be back to being a general store.
I can heartily recommend the bakery. We had lunch there today and the service was quick, friendly, and very obliging. To say nothing of the very generous serve of delicious salted caramel ice cream - not something you’d expect to find in a baker’s shop!
Thanks Corunnaroad for this locationless

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The Goulburn Weir was constructed from 1887 over a four year period, being updated to modern standards after a century of use, and is definitely still going strong.
The original structure was completed in 1891 and continues to supply water to pproeries in the Central Goulburn Irrigation Districts, as well as filling the Warangal Basin storage and forming Lake Nagambie.
The area south of the Weir is haven to many different types of waterbirds, and, an ideal spot to paddle a kayak or canoe to explore the backwaters, and try to locate many of the T5 GC caches, only accessible by water craft.

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This is from the Uki Public School, established in 1895 and still going strong.

They must be pretty proud of their history. We count no fewer than 5 signs featuring either their foundation year or the fact that in 1995 they celebrated their centenary. I think that's a pretty good thing to do.

Thanks for the locationless.

Whilst wandering around Sydney back in November, I came across these steps. They were built in 1868. I don't have the exact coordinates but the coordinates above are from a geocache across the road, 'The Mystery of Sydhenge'.

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The bridge over Galston Gorge in northern Sydney has been in place since 1893. A nice twisty road that tends to trap a lot of truck drivers who ignore the 7.5 meter length limit then find themselves hung up on 5 kph hairpin bends, and a fine in excess of $2200. The bridge is currently undergoing refurbishment during the week but was open today while I was out scavenging. Thanks corrunaroad.

Rous Primary School.

Kempsey Show grounds community Hall was established is 1887 and still going strong. TFTC

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Round House, Fremantle 1830
Oldest remaining building in Western Australia

Today we found the oldest house in Sydney: Cadmans Cottage. Built in 1816 and it's still there, despite the effort of various developers to gain access the grounds.

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Parkes Court House was built in 1895 and still going strong.
Thanks for this cache.

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Our local Sherwood state school celebrates its150th anniversary this year.
Thanks for the cache, Corunnaroad.

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Hubby and I on a night out in Fremantle, WA. I took the locationless list to see if we could find some for the summer scav hunt and we were lucky in this endeavour. Scots Presbyterian Church, est. 1886.

You made us look at a lot of signs in Freo tonight, so thanks for the history lesson and cache!

"Something" a little different! Spotted this beauty while passing through Tumbarumba. It is planted just outside the court house. Very well established now!

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Boags Brewery - Launceston Tasmania. An iconic building and brewery est 1881 and still going strong.

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St Luke’s Anglican Church Liverpool.
Found while out exploring Liverpool, visiting Bigge Park and collecting scavenges for the States of the Nation game.
This lovely old church in the heart of Liverpool is the oldest continually used Anglican Church in Australia. Building of it commenced in 1818 and it still operates services each Sunday.
Thanks for an interesting locationless Corunnaroad.
GCA Find #16

EA Joyce & Son Jewellers was established in 1893 in Wilson Street Burnie and is still operated by the same family after four generations. The business was inducted into the Burnie Retailers Hall of Fame in 2012. Funny that it's EA Joyce & Son when it's been operated for the last 27 years by the great granddaughter of the original proprietor! TFTC

Hoghams Buildings in Fremantle WA. Est. 1853

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Fremantle markets.
1897 and still going strong

The Lion of Waterloo Inn in Wellington NSW. Established 1842.
This Inn is still used as a pub and restaurant. I stopped here for a drink on Wellington's bicentenary day and enjoyed local live music in the courtyard. Unfortunately we couldn't hang around till the reenactment of the last duel in Australia later hat evening - would have been interesting! I did however meet the fellow that owns one of the other houses/inns across the road and he said I could have some of the original shingles off the roof that he has stored out the back for no real reason after replacing the roof a long time ago.

I didn't think to take a photo then, so grabbed a shot on my way home from the coast. Photo taken less than 2 minutes to midnight Christmas day.

Went out with KittyKatch and Joolay to grab some cache4s for the state of the nation game and this church was dedicated in 1873 and is still running

Menzies Town Hall was originally built in 1896. It was then partially burnt down and rebuilt in 1901.
It is still the Town Hall today after more renovations but the original par still stands.
TFTC

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I'm looking at a slightly diffetent angle for this log. St Peter's Anglican Church Glenbrook was erected in 1893. It was moved a couple of times till it ended up in its current location in Glenbrook. My mother was christened in this Church in the late 1920s. When we moved back to the Blue Mountains in the 1980s we found it had been sold and was part of the Glenbrook Garden Centre. I headed back there recently and the original Church building is now a cafe called "The Church". There is a plaque on the wall near the door that i have inserted on the photo. Churches are places that bring people together and I feel that this is still happening in this beautiful old original building.

On the lookout for Locationless that are needed for the States of the Nation. In Tallarook and spurs the Mechanics Institute Hall built in 1891 and is in very good condition and still used today. The building under went extensive restoration in the early 2000’s according to the plaque on the building

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Old Canberra Inn, Lyneham ACT
The OCI is one of the earliest licensed pubs in the Canberra region. The building pre-dates the city itself. It is located in the present day suburb of Lyneham. The original slab hut was built in 1857 by Joseph Schumack and in 1876 it was licensed as an inn. It was a coach stop on the Yass to Queanbeyan run until 1887.
I have been going there since I was a kid and my mum would meet up with her mates there on Sunday afternoons. Us kids would be left to explore the paddocks nearby, all which are filled with houses now. Lots of memories here! TFTC

Saint Saviour's Cemetery, Punchbowl, has the first recorded burial as Catherine Elizabeth Pearson (age 36 years) on 19th February, 1878. Although plots can no longer be purchased in the cemetery, people with existing rights can arrange for relatives to be interred here, so technically, it's still going!

Coolabunia State School established 1891 approximately half way between Kingaroy and Nanango in the South Burnett Region of Queensland.

After great agitation throughout 1890, the Minister of Education challenged the Coolabunia community
with supplying the timber for the school building, forms and desks. On completion, slates, books (for the 18
eligible students of 6 families) and 40 pounds per year were provided for a teacher. The first teacher was
Mr Fred Horne, a local and former pupil teacher in Yorkshire, England.
And so on 16th June, 1891, Coolabunia’s first day of instruction and the beginning of what will soon be 125
years of learning, community spirit and pride began.
Since then, over 1940 students have enrolled and experienced the “Coolabunia way” of learning. This
means living the school motto “Strive to Achieve”, making the best of every opportunity, looking for a
bright future and learning to give back to the community.
The school has a current enrolment of 132 students, who are drawn from the Coolabunia, Kingaroy and
Nanango districts. Families choose to be part of our school for many reasons, but ultimately, it is the 125
year old “Coolabunia way” that is the lure.
This has challenged the leadership and teaching through the years. The school has been blessed with a long
list of staff members who have worked beyond expectations for their students, their school and their
community. They have been ably and enthusiastically supported by families, both old and new. Coolabunia
State School is at the hub of its community. Its challenge for the future is to learn from its past, embrace
change and be forward thinking.
In 1991, the school celebrated its Centenary. This was an outstanding success. The grounds were ‘alive’
with excited chats, fond memories, smiles, laughter and the reuniting of old friends.
On Saturday 28 May, 2016, the school celebrated 125 years of education. (source Wikipedia)
TFTL Ccorunnaroad

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Found as we are doing the SoN game. We chose Blundells Cottage because of its age and history and because its still being used as a tourist attraction. TFTC

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Hi corunnaroad
This is St Patrick's Church in Colebrook, Tasmania.
It was constructed in 1855-57
Restoration work has been done but the church is still in use
Sainted at 1530hrs
MERRY CHRISTMAS and cheers
OldSaint

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The Tamar Rowing Club, established 1876. A rowing club located on the banks of the Tamar River at Launceston in northern Tasmania. A club with a long standing and proud tradition.. thanks..!!

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BOWRAL COURTHOUSE
BENDOOLEY STREET
BOWRAL NSW

Built 1890 and still holding together. It is not longer used as a courthouse, I guess because it is quite small.

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St John's Anglican Church, Heidelberg, VIC

St John's Church is a simple Gothic style church comprising a gabled nave, without aisles, a narthex below the west tower and a sanctuary and vestry at the east end. The narthex was extended on each side of the tower and the sanctuary was opened into a new side chapel in 1965. (Victorian Heritage Database Report)

This church was opened on 26 Oct 1851. Restorations and additions were done in 1965 and it is still a very active church.

My husband's 3x great aunt was married in this church in 1869.

TFTC corunnaroad. Logged as part of the "States of the Nation" game.

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The Whaler was opened in 1929 The historic building has operated as a pub since it was founded as The Whaler's Return in the early 1800s by Reverend "Bobby" Knopwood. It was the place whalers returned to through the 1800s to be paid and drink with their mates. It has operated under a number of names and was renamed in 1980 after its founder as Knopwood's Retreat. In 2015 it was renamed “The Whaler” as the new owners tip their hat to the history of the Hobart whaling fleet.

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Royal Tennis Court, Davey Street, Hobart. Opened in 1875 it is still used today for Royal Tennis. This is the oldest Royal Tennis (now known as Real Tennis) court in Australia. The club here still has an active membership, and in fact a Tasmanian was world champion in sport from 1994 to 2016! During my college years I played Real Tennis is a lunchtime elective and would visit here once a week for a hit - it's a game. Thanks for this cache Corunnaroad.

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This is very annoying.... I have been researching the town of Tallebudgera for several years now. I have made numerous visits to the buildings and spaces which remain from its 1875 beginnings. One of those spaces is the Presbyterian (now Uniting Church). Being a wooden building, it does not have a foundation or dedication stone. The pioneers of Tallebudgera would not have gone in for one, but its did have a lovely sign just near the front door giving the history of the church. It clearly said that the church was built in 1888. Perfect I thought, it has a plaque with the date and its still being used as a church. Except when I got there today, the plaque is missing. It looks like the building has been repainted since our last visit. However, the church's website has a photo of the plaque so I have used that. All the rest are my photos, taken today.

There used to be another church, St Malachy's Catholic church, built in 1978 but its now gone. Since the original pioneers to the area were a mix of Irish Catholics and Protestant Irish, one of my favourite stories is how the whole community rallied to build both churches.

Thanks for the locationless.

Sale Historical museum couldn't be better housed in a building constructed in 1863 as the original Sale borough offices. The power pole out front is the start of the Sale Historical Walk which will take you around this lovely town, originally named Flooding Creek and which boomed during a gold rush in Omeo as Sale became a fully functioning port city. TFTC corunnaroad!

When I saw this for the summer scavenge event I thought of this location not to far from home.

The Ebenezer church is the oldest continuously operating church in Australia. Built in 1809 and still used as a church today

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Came across some very old graves at the Windermere Church on the Tamar River, Tasmania that are still in service 3 centuries later. This particular one has been in-situ since 1874. Thanks Corunnaroad for providing this locationless cache.

Mr W was passing through Lenah Valley, Tasmania on his way to do 4 GC caches in the foothills of Mount Wellington when he spied 'Ancanthe'meaning vale of flowers. Lady Franklin opened the Lady Franklin Museum Ancanthe in October 1843. It is still an Art Museum today and is open on weekends. A museum that has survived 3 centuries. TFTL. Claiming as part of the States of the Nation games.

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After a quick Google I was able to find a bunch of local building that fitted the criteria. The one that I chose was mcrae homestead. Built in the mid 1800s this building still going strong. Thanks for the scav

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Sutton's Bakery is a well known institution in Echuca. Revered for their variety of breads and pastries, Sutton's has been baking in the same building since 1864.

Windsor Court House - The oldest existing court house in New South Wales, the building was instigated by Governor Macquarie, designed by Francis Greenway and built by William Cox in 1821. The court house is still operating today.

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Lithgow Primary school established 1875 and still going strong, you can still see the original sandstone on the ground floor with later additions including a top floor!

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St Martin's Catholic Church at Muskerry had the foundation stone laid in 1875.
It still has services every Sunday.
We only discovered it because there was a Geocache hidden nearby: GC6YN50.
It is in a very pretty little spot, just off the main road, with plenty of room to park the car and walk around.
A delightful little spot that is well worth a visit.

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This locationless has only come to my attention due to the States of the nation game and a fellow Tassie caches saying they were searching for somewhere to log, well I started thinking about a few of the local old buildings to log that could be from the 1800s but then I noticed that a location can only be logged once, then it dawned on me I have pictures of me in places in the UK that fit the bill from before I moved and recent holidays, so i'm going with one of these since it will leave other Tassie locations open to other cachers.

I have chosen to log YE OLDE DOLPHIN in Derby England since I was back there a few years ago and have pictures that meet the logging criteria, it's funny how you dont think about places local to you that you go to all the time until you look back on them, before moving down under this pub used to be one of my regulars with me calling in as part of a pub crawl at least every fortnight.

Taken from the Dolphin website:-
The Dolphin dates back to 1530a.d, the time of Henry VIII. It was constructed a good thirty years before even potatoes and tobacco were introduced to the country! The Dolphin Inn is one of the very few pubs to continue its’ business making it the oldest pub in Derby!

Edit to add website link to remove any doubt as to the pubs age:-
http://www.yeoldedolphin.co.uk/home.html

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Moving around Crookwell today finding caches for the 2017-18 States of the Nation Scavenge.

I've loved this old church since I first found it, and was delighted to find I could claim it in both this Locationless AND States of the Nation.

Double value! TFTC CORUNNAROAD.

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Richmond Bridge, Tasmania, 1823.

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#GA2218 - 00:00; This is the third cache I've claimed in relation to this old church. The first a GC earthcache, the second a GCA virtual and now this locationless! The cathedral has operated as a place of worship since it was completed in 1890.

Saints Peter and Paul’s Old Cathedral is situated in Goulburn, New South Wales. Goulburn was the first inland city in the Colony.

The first Mass in the Goulburn District was celebrated by Father Therry in 1833 at Matt Healey’s Inn (now called “Riversdale” – a National Trust property).

Archbishop Polding visited Goulburn in 1840 and laid out the site for the first Church. Other sites were also considered but in 1844 the construction of the Saints Peter & Paul’s Parish Church began on the current site at the corner of Bourke and Verner Streets. The original brick church was completed in 1848. Some of the old church foundations are still visible under the Cathedral floor today. After the church was opened in 1848, work began on the construction of the presbytery next to the Cathedral on Verner Street.

In 1864 Goulburn was created a Diocese. In 1871 the construction of the present Cathedral was commenced. The Cathedral was built in two stages. The nave of the Cathedral was constructed first. The nave of the old church was demolished and taken out through the western doors of the Cathedral. The second stage commenced in 1887 and was completed in 1890.

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Red Bridge in Campbell Town, Tasmania was opened in 1838 and you will still drive over it today if you are travelling on the Midland Highway.

We just happened to be here after the Victoria - States Of The Nation event - with CybergranV
127 and still going strong. They certainly don't know how to build real schools these days.

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I heard Suzy and Pete discussing this and wondering where they could find a building around here that was built in the 19th Century, had a date, and was still in use for what it started out as. They know a lot about historical stuff. But couldn't decided... the church might have been that old but was disappointed to see that the foundation stone said 1954. Oops. then they thought that the Tumbulgum hall might just be old enough, but the sign said 1906, not quite old enough. I suggested the school but they said.... no the school moved, where it is now won't be old enough. But we ended up outside the school and there was a heritage trail sign outside. I hopped out of the car for a look.

The sign said that the school started in 1872 on the other side of the river but in 1891 the government decided to move it to the south side of the river to where it now. The first building was finished in 1892. So I guess that makes a 3 centuries building.... I was right. And its still used as a school but they keep on adding buildings as more and more kids started coming to school.

Thanks for the locationless.

Knapsack Bridge
Leonay, NSW

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ziggiau

F & W Stewart Jewellers in Launceston in northern Tasmania, established 1880 and still going strong.. thanks..!!

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A historical old building located in the Launceston CBD in northern Tasmania. The Perpetual Trustees building, est. 1887 and still doing today what it was doing back then.. thanks..!!

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The Albert Hall in Launceston in northern Tasmania. Built in the 1890's this grand old hall still hosts functions and concerts.. thanks..!!

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Ebenezer Church and Schoolhouse - Coromandel Road Ebenezer (NSW)
This church can lay claim to the first Presbyterian church and the oldest church still in use today in Australia. The church building dates to 1809 and the schoolhouse to 1817.

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Tizzana Winery - 518 Tizzana Road Ebenezer (NSW)
Purpose built winery - building established 1887 with grapes first planted in 1882 by Dr Thomas Fiaschi. Still used today as it was originally intended.

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Hobart Town Hall 1846 is still used today as the Town Hall. Logging as part of the Summer Scavenger Series games. TFTL

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"BRAHAN BANK"
57-59 MERRIGANG STREET
BOWRAL, NSW

"Brahan Bank" was built circa 1880. It was the residence of Mr Mackenzie who opened a boarding and day school there about 1889 until about 1906, and subsequently, it was a country resort for many years, and a set of flats in the 1980s, before returning to a private residence. Much to my surprise, I have found it was only single storey in its earliest years, now being double storey.

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Carrington Hotel
Katoomba Street
Katoomba, NSW

Built in 1880 . . . Still in operation!

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Grafton Court House.(built 1880)
Victoria Street, Grafton.

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Collitt's Inn
Hartley Valley
Hartley, NSW



This famous inn was started in 1823 and is still function as a 'bed and breakfast' establishment!

Drove by while geocaching nearby.

Very remote and very beautiful area.

Saw a mob of wallabies not far from the inn.

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A church in Latrobe in Tasmania. It was Tasmania's third largest settlement between 1870 & 1895 and has many old buildings.

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I was down in Sleepy Hollow for the Head of Schoolgirls regatta and was passing by an old watering hole when I realised that it qualified for this locationless. I quickly stopped for the pickie at 11:20 and was on my way before the temptation of going through the door got too much.

From their website, here is the history:

History
The original hotel was built and opened by John Jackson in 1850. Jackson entered the business of innkeeper with interests also as a timber merchant. It was used often in its early days for political and social gatherings.

Other licencees include Jack Jennings, a former Geelong football club president who changed the name to Kardinia Park Hotel. Eileen Clatworthy affectionately known as Mrs Clat along with husband Kenneth took on the lease in 1958.

Until this day the hotel has remained a popular meeting place for locals to gather for a drink and a meal.


Although it's been a pub in 3 different centuries now, I can only say that I've had a beer (or two ) there in two of those centuries.

Thanks corunnaroad.

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The Hope and Anchor Tavern
Cnr Macquarie Street and Market Place
Hobart

This tavern was built in 1807 and is still operating as a pub today.

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A favourite watering hole still going in Rangiora, NZ

Ipswich West State School
Omar Street

This primary school opened in 1861 and is still going strong.

Thanks for the cache.

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Ipswich Central State School
Griffith Road

This school was first opened in 1861 and still has a strong enrolment this year.

Thanks for the cache.

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Brisbane GPO
Queen Street

This building was built in several stages. The 2 storied Northern wing was completed in 1872, the Southern wing and Central tower and arch were completed in 1879.

TFTC corunnaroad

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Stock Exchange Hotel
Cnr Edward & Charlotte Sts
Brisbane, Qld.

Built in 1863 and still going strong. Stock Exchange has moved address tho'.

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No doubt this building has seen a lot of interesting characters in it's time.

The Block Arcade - established in 1896 and is still a popular shopping destination in Melbourne city. Thanks corunnaroad for a great locationless

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This beautiful little country church is still used regularly.

300 Years in the Blue Mountains

Gardner's Inn
Great Western Highway
Blackheath, NSW

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Was in Fremantle on the weekend and spotted the required date above the Markets.

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Nindigully is a locality in South West Queensland. The locality is in the Shire of Balonne local government area and on the Moonie River, 515 kilometres (320 mi) south-west of Brisbane.

The Nindigully Pub, built in 1864, is believed to be one of Queensland's longest continually licenced premises. It was a Cobb & Co changing station between the late 19th century and the early 20th century.
The Nindigully Pig Races and Country Music Festival, and fireworks are held annually. The hotel is used for many functions and is common,y known as the Nindi Pub.

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The Brekky Creek Hotel - very popular watering hole ... established in 1889 and still going strong ...

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There is a cache hidden at this beautiful old church-one of many old churches in NZ that are still going strong.

Birdsville opened for business in 1884. There have been several alterations over the years but the main structure still remains.

Location
Address Burt Street
Town / Suburb BIRDSVILLE
Post Code 4482
LGA DIAMANTINA SHIRE COUNCIL


Cultural Heritage Significance
Principal Period
of Significance 1880s (fabric) 1884c-ongoing (historical use)
Criterion A The Birdsville Hotel, erected c1884, survives as an important link with the earliest establishment of pastoral settlement in the Diamantina district of far western Queensland.
Criterion B The place is rare as one of only three surviving masonry buildings in Birdsville, the others being the c1883 former Royal Hotel and the 1888-90 police station and courthouse. These contribute significantly to the historic character of the town which, in the last quarter of the 20th century, became a principal Queensland tourist attraction.

The Birdsville Hotel is also a rare surviving late 19th century outback hotel, and besides being important in illustrating its type, also has the potential, through physical investigation and documentary research, to reveal important information about the design, form and function of far western Queensland hotel complexes of this period, and about the people who erected such buildings.
Criterion C The Birdsville Hotel is also a rare surviving late 19th century outback hotel, and besides being important in illustrating its type, also has the potential, through physical investigation and documentary research, to reveal important information about the design, form and function of far western Queensland hotel complexes of this period, and about the people who erected such buildings.
Criterion D The Birdsville Hotel is important in illustrating the principal characteristics of a vernacular style of masonry construction that spread throughout central Australia, across South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland in the late 19th century, efficiently controlling the extremes of temperature in the hot, arid interior of the continent, and compensating for the lack of locally-available timber.

Criterion E The place is rare as one of only three surviving masonry buildings in Birdsville, the others being the c1883 former Royal Hotel and the 1888-90 police station and courthouse. These contribute significantly to the historic character of the town which, in the last quarter of the 20th century, became a principal Queensland tourist attraction.
The place has aesthetic value, and is important in defining the Birdsville townscape.
Criterion G The Birdsville Hotel has social value as an outback cultural icon of national significance, a place that has become part of central Australian legend.


History
History This singled-storeyed sandstone building was erected c1884 as the Birdsville Hotel, Birdsville, for publican William Blair. Although European explorers had passed through the Diamantina district in the 1840s and early 1860s, pastoralists did not occupy this semi-arid region until the mid-1870s. Annandale, Pandie Pandie, Glengyle and Roseberth were taken up in 1876; Sandringham, Cacoory and Haddon Downs in 1877; and Dubbo Downs in 1878. Monkira, Mt Leonard, Cluny and Coorabulka were other early holdings.

In the early 1880s the towns of Birdsville and Bedourie were established to service the newly taken up pastoral holdings of the Diamantina. Reputedly, a merchant named Matthew Flynn, who carried stores for the stations, built a rough depot in the late 1870s at the site of the present town of Birdsville, then known as the Diamantina Crossing, on the stock route from Boulia south to Adelaide. By mid-1885, when the township of Birdsville was officially surveyed, a number of buildings had been erected at the Diamantina Crossing, including a police lock-up [1883], Groth's Royal Hotel [c1883], Blair's Birdsville Hotel [c1883], Curtain's Tattersalls Hotel, and at least 3 stores and 1 shop. Diamantina Shire was established in 1883, and its headquarters were at Birdsville until moved to Bedourie in 1953.

The name Birdsville was not adopted until the 1885 survey, and is thought to have been suggested by Robert Frew, owner of Pandie Pandie Station, who also had a store and shop at the Diamantina Crossing, in reference to the profuse bird life of the district.

Birdsville, over 1,000 miles west of Brisbane and 7 miles north of the Queensland-South Australian border, developed as an administrative centre for police and border customs. Nearly all the trade of the town was with Adelaide, and it became an important marshalling point for cattle being driven south to markets in South Australia. By 1889 the population of Birdsville was 110, and the town had 2 general stores, 3 hotels, a police station, school, 2 blacksmith shops, 2 bakers, a cordial manufacturer, bootmaker, saddler, auctioneer & commission agent, and a number of residences. The population peaked in 1895 at 220.

Almost all the buildings in the town were of local sandstone, there being no local timber available. Distance and the lack of good access roads or a railway created prohibitively high transportation costs, so imported building materials were kept to a minimum.

The earliest section of the Birdsville Hotel is likely to have been constructed in 1883 [possibly from stone quarried at a site about 16 kilometres from the town], as the first license for this hotel was issued to William Blair in that year. On the official Birdsville town survey plan of mid-1885, the building is marked as Wm Blair's hotel. On 24 February 1886, Blair purchased from the Crown, for £206, the allotment at the corner of Adelaide and Burt streets which contained the hotel. A month earlier he had bought for £12 the allotment at the rear, which contained a fenced yard and had frontages to Burt & Graham streets; also an unimproved allotment adjacent to this, fronting Graham Street, for £8. Each block comprised 2 roods.

Following Blair's death in 1898, title to all three blocks passed to Queensland Trustees [Charles H Morton was the licensee during this period], then to the Hayden family in 1912, the Gaffney family in 1918, and the Dixon family in 1947. The building continues to function as a hotel, and has become nationally famous. With it's longevity, romantic remoteness, and as a focus for festivities associated with the annual Birdsville Races, the Birdsville Hotel has become an outback icon.


It is understood that in 1905 a cyclone destroyed all of the structures on the site other than those constructed in stone. In 1964 the southeast corner of the building collapsed, also as a result of a cyclone. This section was reconstructed c1990-91, although not to original detail. A fire destroyed the front bar, also in 1964; this has been rebuilt. The major changes to the building have been the replacement of the front verandah, additions to the northern end, and reconstruction of the southeast section. Internally, no original finishes appear to exist as the floors have been laid in slate, walls plastered and painted, and ceilings altered. The building however retains its essential character.


Description
Description The Birdsville Hotel is a single-storeyed building constructed of local stone rendered and scribed. It has elevations to Burt and Adelaide Streets and the corner of the building at the street intersections has been truncated marking the original main entrance. The hipped roof is clad with corrugated iron and is concealed by a low masonry parapet raised at the corner to carry the words 'Birdsville Hotel' and 'Established 1884'. An awning of corrugated iron supported by timber posts runs and decorated by a scalloped timber valance runs along the street elevations and is also truncated at the corner. Quoining at the windows and doors is picked out in a dark colour, as it has been since at least the 1920s. There are extensive modern additions including a beer garden and extra bars.

Birdsville Hotel
Design Period 1870s - 1890s Late 19th century
Construction Period 1884c - 1990s
Fabric (Exterior Structure) Stone - rendered

Fabric (Roof) Metal sheeting - corrugated iron

Roof Form Parapet front - hipped roof behind

Source of information courtesy of the below.

Information about places in the Queensland Heritage Register is maintained by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. Information available here is only part of the full Register entry and should not be taken as an official entry. Absence does not mean a particular place is not in the Register.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Was caching in the Mt Mee and Caboolture today and noticed the sign on the school.

The area around Mount Mee was known to the indigenous inhabitants of the area as Dahmongah, a word meaning "flying squirrel" or glider. The European name "Mount Mee" is possibly derived from another local word mia-mia, meaning "lookout", but this name was not formalised until the establishment of the school in 1899.

Settlers began arriving in the area around Mount Mee in 1873, many being timber-getters attracted by the red cedar timber that was readily available in the area. Initially, timber cut down in the area was exported to the nearby towns of Caboolture, D'Aguilar and Woodford, but a sawmill was eventually built in the fledgling town. A number of larger mills were operated on various parts of the mountain until the last closed in 1982. A special tractor called the Linn tractor was used to haul logs instead of bullock teams in the early 1930s. Over time, agriculture became important to the economy of the area, with dairy farms and banana plantations being particularly important.


Mount Mee State Forest and Forest Reserve is a nature preserve located in Mount Mee. It features eucalyptus forests, small sections of rainforest, and plantations of Hoop Pine.[5] They adjoin the Brisbane Forest Park. The park features six different walking tracks, two picnic grounds, a camping ground, and numerous tracks for offroad driving.

Mount Mee State School, a government primary school was founded in 1884 and it was not till 1899 that it was officially gazetted. The school today is still very active in the local community and thanks to progress and new residential estates in the area it is assured of a good student base in the mid term.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Spotted this school established in 1871 and still open today Tua Marina School Photo to follow

Rated: for Overall Experience

This building is located in Bourbong Street Bundaberg Qld opposite the main Post Office on the corner of Barolin Street. As the date says 1849 as the Australian Mutual Provident Society. Today there is still a AMP insurance agent located in the building aw well as a café and a fabric shop. the Building is in excellent condition and is on the heritage list.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Scots church in Bathurst street Hobart. Established in 1823 and still used as a church today. Thanks for the cache

1828 Law Offices at Windsor, NSW

These law offices have been used more or less for the same legal businesses for the past 185 years!

Windsor, on the Hawkesbury River, is one of the famous 'Macquairie Towns' and is one of the old settlements in Australia.

Spotted this building while geocaching nearby . . .

Rated: for Overall Experience

Still being used as it was when it was built in the 19th century.

Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME
U. S. A.

This is my alma mater and I lived around this area for five years, graduating in 1971.

The '1794' photo of the College Seal on the glass door, with a reflection behind, is the date when the College was founded. The '1802' photo of Massachusetts Hall shows the oldest existing building on the campus. I used to go to class there.

Other photos show the campus as it is today. When I visited, there were a number of new buildings, because the student body has grown by 50%. When I attended, there were only 900 of us, all men!

Those were the days . . .

(Coords given are for Massachusetts Hall.)

Rated: for Overall Experience

My father, a retired librarian, has a pretty decent library at home. I mentioned this virtual cache to him and he produced this book of "Proclamations, Government Orders, and Notices" published in 1825.

Located on the New England Highway South of Toowoomba and North of Warwick there is this little community of East Greenmount.

Emu Creek State school was established in 1875 and is the hub of the Emu Creek 9 east Greenmount) community. the " Emu Creek" area was one of the first localities to be closely settled due to the Government's attempts to populate the farming land in the Steele Rudd ( Arthur Hoey Davis) area.

Many of the new selectors had young families. Some children as old as eleven had had very little or no formal education. In August, 1873, Mr Peter McIntyre suggested a meeting of concerned community members, that the district was badly in need of a school. The opening of the emu Creek primary school took place on Monday, 31st may 1875. the school and teachers residence cost 40 pounds. the school has a current student population of 20 and is a one teacher school.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Looking through the locationless caches tonight I found McCrae Lighthouse was an eligible find for Lighthouses of Australia. I then spotted this cache and realised that although the lighthouse was old enough, in it's current decommissioned state it wasn't valid... Checking the map though I discovered that the black lighthouse (high light) at Fort Queenscliff hadn't been claimed.

This lighthouse is one of only a handful which are made of black stone and unpainted, and it's the only black lighthouse in the southern hemisphere. The current black tower has been there since 1862, replacing an earlier underpowered sandstone one that was deteriorating structurally. More information can be found here:
http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/vic/Queenscliff%20Black/Black%20Lighthouse%20Queenscliff.htm

S31 25.370 E152 52.460
Port Macquarie
Have found heaps of hotels, churches, schools, etc that fit the bill for this cache during our travels on the 'big island'.
Found this one today and it's a bit different from the norm. It is a boat building yard and in one of the photos you can see a workman busy at his trade. There are lots of boats in various stages of repair and there's also a really nifty GC cache here called Hibbard History [GC233HM].
Thanks.

Went to the Osaka Aquarium and whilst there went for the virtual cache Temposan Mt Tempo,The Lowest Mountain in Japan. This place was started in 1831/2 by digging out the river to clear for shipping. The mound of dirt and sand was used as a landmark so shipping could use it as guide. People came here as local authorities planted Cherry Trees Pines and Stone Lanterns. Today it is still used as a relaxing park and also as a Secondary Trig point for the Japan Geographical Survey Institute.