'Maid of the Mountains' Hut Brookville, Victoria, Australia
By
jody1470 on 17-May-15. Waypoint GC5VYAJ
Cache Details
This cache is listed on an external listing site.
By visiting the external cache listing you are leaving the Geocaching Australia website.
Geocaching Australia is not affiliated with the original listing site for this cache.
Please click here to view the caches listing.
If you wish to log this cache, you will need to log it on the external site.
This will require a separate user account on that site. (More Details)
By visiting the external cache listing you are leaving the Geocaching Australia website.
Geocaching Australia is not affiliated with the original listing site for this cache.
Please click here to view the caches listing.
If you wish to log this cache, you will need to log it on the external site.
This will require a separate user account on that site. (More Details)
Logs
3rd try at this one. My non-caching cousin spotted it.I grew up in the area & had encountered Lucy when she lived at the huts.TNLN TFTC
We and @mezza74 spent quite a while looking for this cache with no luck. We’ll try again another day.
As part of our VIC HIGH COUNTRY 4x4 Adventure we grabbed this cache.
I loved the history of this cache. I admired the woman for her amazing life, she must have been so tough.
Thanks for the cache jody1470
red tag (Cathy, Tasmania)
I loved the history of this cache. I admired the woman for her amazing life, she must have been so tough.
Thanks for the cache jody1470
red tag (Cathy, Tasmania)
All the three guides we had marked Charlotte Spur Track as "easy". We stopped here to look at Lucy's Hut. And find the cache. Interesting recent log (see photo).
The we continued up the hill and decided to come back down Dingo Ridge Track back to Charlotte Spur Track for an "easy" drive back towards Omeo. About 1/3 of the way along we met a local coming the other way. We stopped and chatted. He smiled wryly at us and inquire where we were going. Upon answering "we are just following Charlotte Spur Track", he gave a great big grin and the woman in the pasenger seat burst out laughing. Hmmmm.
He suggested that the road ahead was pretty gnarly. The woman implied that was a gross underestimate. They suggested we backtrack and add an extra 20kms. When we said we might continue the driver asked where we were staying overnight and then said he'd look for us in the bar in Omeo to hear how we went, which he did. In retrospect he was thinking he might need to send rescue out if we did not appear in the bar. When we did he spotted us immediately with a great big grin. We chatted for a while. He said he lives on Charlotte Spur Track but has not tried to drive in or out the northern end for the last two and a half years. And that none of the locals do either.
We know why.
It is a very gnarly descent. The deep washouts weren't so bad but then it got extremely rocky and narrow with a drop off from the top of a built wall to the left. We needed to do our own road buiding required a number of times. We made it but would not recommend the Track to anyone!
Brad&Janet are on a two week trip from Adelaide to the Victorian High Country. While this is not primarily a caching trip there are a few specific targets along the way. Including a potentially challenging unloved cache not visited for quite a few years.
Brad has ridden his bike through the area a couple of times while doing the Three Peaks Challenge, and is looking looking forward to exploring by 4WD this time.
On the way home the plan is to spend some days in and around Clunes so Janet and her sister can research a few of their ancestors who lived there in the mid 1800s. Brad may take the opportunity to visit the Ballarat Geotour while the research is happening.
The we continued up the hill and decided to come back down Dingo Ridge Track back to Charlotte Spur Track for an "easy" drive back towards Omeo. About 1/3 of the way along we met a local coming the other way. We stopped and chatted. He smiled wryly at us and inquire where we were going. Upon answering "we are just following Charlotte Spur Track", he gave a great big grin and the woman in the pasenger seat burst out laughing. Hmmmm.
He suggested that the road ahead was pretty gnarly. The woman implied that was a gross underestimate. They suggested we backtrack and add an extra 20kms. When we said we might continue the driver asked where we were staying overnight and then said he'd look for us in the bar in Omeo to hear how we went, which he did. In retrospect he was thinking he might need to send rescue out if we did not appear in the bar. When we did he spotted us immediately with a great big grin. We chatted for a while. He said he lives on Charlotte Spur Track but has not tried to drive in or out the northern end for the last two and a half years. And that none of the locals do either.
We know why.
It is a very gnarly descent. The deep washouts weren't so bad but then it got extremely rocky and narrow with a drop off from the top of a built wall to the left. We needed to do our own road buiding required a number of times. We made it but would not recommend the Track to anyone!
Brad&Janet are on a two week trip from Adelaide to the Victorian High Country. While this is not primarily a caching trip there are a few specific targets along the way. Including a potentially challenging unloved cache not visited for quite a few years.
Brad has ridden his bike through the area a couple of times while doing the Three Peaks Challenge, and is looking looking forward to exploring by 4WD this time.
On the way home the plan is to spend some days in and around Clunes so Janet and her sister can research a few of their ancestors who lived there in the mid 1800s. Brad may take the opportunity to visit the Ballarat Geotour while the research is happening.
Had heard about Lucy for a long time so it was great to finally see where she lived. Looked for the cache after checking out the hut. A quick find and signed the log. TFTC
Found this cache whilst on my way to Albury (Made a slight detour.)
Very interesting history.
[Scrat visited your Cache whilst on his Great Aussie Adventure.](https://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=4376822)
TFTC jody1470
Very interesting history.
[Scrat visited your Cache whilst on his Great Aussie Adventure.](https://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=4376822)
TFTC jody1470
Came to the area to checkout this spectacular old hut and was not disappointed .What a story ; A quick find of the cache which was a bonus after checking out the hut. Thanks Jody1470 for the hide . Cheerio 4 Now ps gets fav point from me.
An absolute coincidence we ran into relatives of Lucy whilst looking at the hut, and they shared some sensational stories about their "aunt". It was a pleasure to meet them.
However they also shared some upsetting stories about the huts being slowly destroyed by careless people, including the glass being stolen from the windows and the floorboards being pulled up. Why do people such a criminal things?! Never understood the point of vandalism ourselves.
So if there are dodgy people hanging around perhaps report them so the huts can remain historical markers.
We found the cache in great condition, and we award it a favourite point! Absolute cracker. Thank you for bringing us here jody1470!
However they also shared some upsetting stories about the huts being slowly destroyed by careless people, including the glass being stolen from the windows and the floorboards being pulled up. Why do people such a criminal things?! Never understood the point of vandalism ourselves.
So if there are dodgy people hanging around perhaps report them so the huts can remain historical markers.
We found the cache in great condition, and we award it a favourite point! Absolute cracker. Thank you for bringing us here jody1470!
Great spot - although first approach via N.Spur track was not such a good idea in our little pseudo 4wd, so stuck to things labeled 'roads' 
After a VERY cold morning, the day was fine and warm. Balmy for this time of year. What better for a drive in the mountains to grab a couple of caches. Frozen snow at higher altitudes on the way to this site, but roads good but wet and muddy.
Have visited this site previously, and heard tales of Lucy, and know a couple of locals who knew her. Sadly the hut is very run down now.
The cache was quickly found, and is in good condition. TNLN. SL and replaced cache in its hideout.
TFTC jody1470
Have visited this site previously, and heard tales of Lucy, and know a couple of locals who knew her. Sadly the hut is very run down now.
The cache was quickly found, and is in good condition. TNLN. SL and replaced cache in its hideout.
TFTC jody1470
Had a great long weekend in the Swifts Creek Area. Great story about the Maid and really cool place to visit. Geokids loved it, nice place for a belated Halloween
Not sure if this was a cache or a toy shop. Good work. Pitty I didn't have the kids with me. Might have to go back with them next time I'm passing. TFTC
***FTF*** First to find for the greynomads. Whoopee!! A nice sunny Sunday - what to do? caching of course. This 'out of the way area' has an interesting history documented in the cache description.
The road is suitable for 2WD and offers great views of productive small farms just off the Great Alpine Highway. The hint was used as it would be most disappointing to come this far and log a DNF.
Left a ceramic keyring and a plastic whistle that has lost it's pea.
Greynomads - Bill and Diana TFTC Jody1470, TN Left stuff, SL Picture attached.
The road is suitable for 2WD and offers great views of productive small farms just off the Great Alpine Highway. The hint was used as it would be most disappointing to come this far and log a DNF.
Left a ceramic keyring and a plastic whistle that has lost it's pea.
Greynomads - Bill and Diana TFTC Jody1470, TN Left stuff, SL Picture attached.
