Lal Lal Iron Lal Lal, Victoria, Australia
By wozzle68 on 24-Aug-17. Waypoint GC7BB9C

Such a beautiful day to go for a walk in a gorgeous area! I have been out here previously but only to the blast furnace. Was so cool to check out another spot! Little Goat stopped to pick up many cool rocks on our journey and we had fun checking out the plants along the way too!Thanks for the cache, a ripper to log for my Earth Cache souvenir

I completed this earthcache with FeatherWaite on a 4-day trip to Victoria. From Adelaide.Our main aim was to complete the Ballarat Geotour and other caches of interest in the broader Ballarat area. There were also a number of events and a CITO to attend.The weather was on the warm side, but not too bad for this time of year, which made for pleasant camping each night. Our answers have been sent to the CO.Thanks wozzle68 for an interesting earthcache.

Stopped here to do the research on this earthcache during an extended weekend in the Ballarat area with e.gregory1. The main aim of our visit was completing the Ballarat GeoTour, but taking the opportunity to attend a number of events and CITOs, and searching for a good range of caches while touring around the district. Thanks for interesting earthcache wozzle68!

Found It!Wandered over here after finding the other cache nearby. Interesting place with lots of history!TFTC

Interesting area. The approach from the north is blocked for cultural heritage reasons. Ta: David

Out enjoying the morning bacon and eggs event at the picnic area and headed over to give this earthcache a go. Wandered down the channel to the GZ area and set about answering the questions. No issues there and my answers have been sent to the CO.

An interesting area and another piece of local history I have learnt about.

Thanks for the EC and history lesson wozzle68. Fav point added.

morning in lal lal after an event, going to go home and go to another one then a cito, busy saturday

Today the snuggle muggle was catching up with her friends for a ladies day, which meant I had the whole day to myself. So of course what am I going to do with a whole day of free time...

Cache of course! So I decided to make a day trip up to [Ballarat](https://www.visitballarat.com.au/) and cache along the way. Today's main focus was on finding oldies and virtuals, but I did grab a few others along the way, like this one.

I had originally came out to the [Lal Lal Iron Mine](https://www.goldfieldsguide.com.au/explore-location/107/iron-mine-and-blast-furnace/) in order to find [maccamob's](https://www.geocaching.com/p/?guid=a50e4bd2-6d69-4af7-a203-19897cf3814b&wid=1ad82198-ffbc-4b92-a9ca-f5e2d64437fa&ds=2) 2002 cache, [The Palindromic Alchemist (GC689B)](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC689B_the-palindromic-alchemist), However after I made that find I noticed this Earthcache was only a short walk away.

I am always on the hunt for Eartcaches as they usually take me to interesting places and teach me interesting things as well as I am trying to qualify for [McLookers'](https://www.geocaching.com/p/?guid=7853428d-4ac9-4406-a8f5-fb630dc21c01&wid=2f1ff0fd-0a37-4eae-9fe4-aeadc6511855&ds=2) [100 Earthcache Challenge (GC6WJ7F)](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC6WJ7F).

It turned out to be a beautiful walk over to GZ, the weather finally started to improve today, and after a cool foggy morning, the sun was shining and the weather was perfect.

This Earthcache was excellent. It was so neat to see such a unique Earthcache, and although I love a good Earthcache about granite, it is nice to find a different style of one. The location looked amazing as well. I really enjoyed walking around this area today and just trying to imagine how it looked like when the mine was operational.

A big thanks goes to [wozzle68](https://www.geocaching.com/p/?guid=044f7883-6e4b-4763-a1f4-7efb77697809&wid=871dbace-0da3-4d35-bcf0-dbde2f1ecb18&ds=2) today for bringing me to such a cool place and for the unique and fun Earthcache. TFTC.

Found with Juggling Ogre

Great spot here. We had a blast learning about the iron works here.

Tftc with goblinrider

Answers sent to the CO. Good to see the old furnace restored

This was an interesting little journey into the past, i really enjoyed poking around the remains of an industry i never knew existed. Thanks for the lesson.

Hopefully my answers are correct. Very interesting area. I've never given much thought to iron and steel before! Many thanks

We received a call from Sims_family asking if we would like to go out with them to join them when they made their 6,000th find.

After finding the number 6,000, we stayed in the area for a few more caches.

Neither Neville_Devil nor we had found this Earthcache, so we wandered across to this historic site.

We walked around the road, and when we arrived, we realised we could have walked across from the car park very quickly.

We knew about the gold mining in this area but had never realised that iron was mined here.

Thank you, wozzle68, for this Earthcache and the time and effort put into creating and maintaining this Earthcache.

After attending a nearby CITO and a stroll around the Union Jack Reserve, I headed out to Lal Lal for a gander around the area. After checking out the Lal Lal Iron site, I wandered around the picnic area checking out some of the historic relics. The blast furnace was particularly awesome.

Thanks Wozzle68 for bringing me to this very interesting area.

Found it and answers to be sent through soon. Would probably never have seen this without geocaching.

The sun was shining, and regional covid restrictions meant we could at least get out past our 5km zone, so we seized the day and headed out to Lal Lal to explore an area neither of us had been to before. What a terrific historical area you have brought us to. We enjoyed exploring the mine, then heading off to check out the nearby blast furnace, then the Bungal Dam. A fun afternoon. TFTE wozzle68

A camping and caching trip out towards the Brisbane Ranges, we were not as prepared as usual so freestyle cached our way around. The last day of our trip, we found some caches closer to camp and then started back towards home, grabbing a few more on the way.
An interesting little earthcache in a pretty historic area.

Yet another interesting location. Top spot for an earthcache. Answers sent awaiting approval. TFTC!

Thank you for showing us this informativ area. You can still see most of the places.
TFTC

Find number 8669 at 10:50:05 am
After a long year and too much isolation I finally got a chance to travel up to Ballarat to visit a long time mate before Christmas. Decided it was time for an earthcache run along the way, seven in two days oughta do it
It's amazing how much some mining reveals of what is generally hidden below the surface and we would never know the secrets. And the earth still has a way of healing itself, given enough time (so long as the damage is not too great).
**Thanks for placing this cache wozzle68**

---
We’re all going to Wangaratta to participate in Victoria’s next Mega!
*Are you coming to join in the fun?*
[**The Wangaratta Event 2021**](https://coord.info/GC8EW45)
*13th & 14th November 2021 - GC8EW45 - Wangaratta - Victoria*

Drove past Lal Lal between Geelong and Ballarat many time...
This time I have a spare time to visit Lal Lal... to my surprise I haven't been here before.
I can image hard work guys were here back then.
Enjoy explore around here.
Thanks for a quick reply with approval.

I have been here a couple of times but never stopped long enough to look around.
Email sent and thanks for the cache.

Very interesting area.
TFTC

I have been to this area at least 3 times before. Great relics and a fascinating past. I convinced featherdown to come with me as she prefers earthcaches and virtuals and labs rather than hunting boxes.
Answers finally sent to the CO today.
Many thanks - fav point

#socialdistancing is still very important!

I am disabling this cache during this public health crisis.
PLEASE STAY HOME GEOCACHING IN NOT ESSENTIAL.

A quick visit to Lal Lal with the family to grab this Earthcache for International Earthcache day.
Sims_family mum loves Earthcache me not so much so when we get a chance to get out together an Earthcache if always on the cards. With a souvenir on offer today it was our main goal. Most Earthcaches are so far over my head they make my brain hurt but not this one. It was good to be able to answer the question easily for a change.
Thank you wozzle68 for providing this Earthcache for us

Interesting area to visit out here. Love an earth cache where I get to learn something new about the places I’m visiting. Greatly enjoyed exploring briefly around here and the stunning views at the reserve. Tftc

Coke as fuel.

More of a city thing, didn't know this was used as bush as much. An expensive substance to use as fuel. But effective. Alongside brown coal and local timber.

Today was beautiful spring weather, the grass was green, wind was low and the sun just right. It was a nice little walk along here. Aysen wondered if there was dinosaurs along here. Maybe, somewhere amongst the iron ore. A nice little pit stop. Now off to Ballan - for a sandwich. And a coke.

Found by The Empire + H
Another sunny, winters day on the July school holidays, another chance for a lovely drive. After finding a couple of traditional caches, we took a little wander around - checking out the area and working out the answers to this cool little earthcache. Answers sent. Thanks for the earthcache, wozzle68.
- M

@empiregeocaching

Some solo caching today which meant i could tackle some of the longer walk and higher terrain caches around Lal Lal as the geofamily struggle a little with these ones.
In previous visits to this area i had seen the Blast Furnace but didn't really take the time to learn more about it. Thx to this EC I've made the effort to have a good look around and find more of the information boards showing us the history of this site.
Thx Wozzle68, answers sent as required, and thx for the history you have highlighted here.

Can’t even remember when I visited this interesting area. Loved the rich colours at the site. Answers sent TFTC Wozzle68

Firstly, apologies for the lateness in logging.
Despite my tardiness, you can be assured I enjoyed each and every cache found and not found.
Apologies if this is a generic log, my memory is good, but not that good.

On this day I was out with Sorceysal and Tessie the geodog.
Logging as SS has provided the answers for both of us

Thanks wozzle68

Out and about with bogonghazy to clear up some local caches, well almost local. Made the short walk to gz and got the required answers which have been sent to the CO. A great area with lots of history. Thanks for showing us this area wozzle68

Suscoe was heading home from a trip to Ballarat for this morning's event and then a few caches.
Dropped by here to take in the information and the area, have been here a few times over the years, when we were little kids we would occasionally come here for a picnic lunch on a Sunday drive.
We have sent the answers through to wozzle68.
Thanks to wozzle68 for highlighting this area, it would have been a hard life out here as brief as it was.
A lovely quiet area today but it would have been a bit noisy back then.

What an interesting place and with this earthcache put a bit more understanding why an industry to extract the pig iron was developed in this area. A bit of history of Victoria hidden away. Thanks for the earthcache, answers sent.

FBTJ #2458

Interesting little spot, been here before but didn't discover this part. Sending answers TFTEC

Visited Lal Lal falls for lunch and then headed over to the Blast furnace with friends from Landcare. Picked up the information required for the Earthcache while we were there.
Something of note was that they have cleared the trees from the entrance to the mine and maybe they are going to put a tramway in.
Thanks for the Earthcache.

In the rain everything looks wet! That eventuates the colours and puts a shine on the surfaces. Took a few photos but probably have to keep them to myself. Will check them before posting a spoiler. Thanks wozzle68 for finding this place to share with the geocaching community.

After completing a fun series in Steiglitz we headed up towards Ballarat on a secret squirrel mission Noticing 2 new caches in an area one half of us knows very well we diverted to Lal Lal to make the finds. Well after thinking the CO was mad for putting the starting coordinates where they were, we went and visited the furnace ruins first before investigating the old iron ore quarry. Hmmm well what do you know , he isn't crazy after all, Im just blind. We have camped here over easter and not even know the quarry was situated so close.
Learnt some real interesting facts today about the iron and the reason behind its colour and the role of the ironworks in this area.
Thanks wozzle68 for the informative earthcache and showing us this significant heritage blast furnace and quarry.

We actually disturbed a number of rusty coloured butterflies walking to this one, wished we'd taken a photo, found the information and had a good look around

Catching up with a missed log.

We have visited Lal Lal falls a couple of times but had no idea that this area existed. It took this event and a short walk to see what we had been missing. This is a very interesting place with quite a bit of relics left from when it was in it's hay day.
It was so peacefull at the event with the biggest noise being the chatter and laughter of the attendees but we know it would have been a totally different matter when the quarry and smelter were working.
Many thanks wozzle68 for teaching us a bit more about history and Geology, a favorite point from us.

If our answers are not good enough we will happily delete our log.

This earthcache had lots going for it. The International Earthcache Day event was a great social occasion. The location was beautiful and so out of the way I would never have visited or known about it otherwise and the mining history was fascinating, Thank you very much Wozzle.

Just as well the White Beast had a full tank of diesel before leaving Geelong as I sure took the long way around to finally get here'
A very quick reply from the CO giving MM and myself permission to log this guy but we did get a tap on the wrist as our wording of one answer was not quite right but at least we had the correct words.
Thanks Wayne for a very informative cache page and a great area to hold an event and to place this cache close by. Well done.
I just noticed that the souvenir was not in with my other years so deleted and resubmitted my log!! Will see if that fixes it.

Well this ended up being a big day out. Me and leafotwind headed towards balarat for an event and a bout 15 odd caches along the way there and home again.
We had a ball found some great caches along the way. Thanks heaps to all the hiders.

In the area today for an event to celebrate International Earthcache Day, Mr McLooker wandered around with the geokid to gather the information. After checking the answers with the CO on site, we were given permission to log. Thanks wozzle68 for the earthcache and for the brilliant, well attended event. A favourite from us.

What a lovely area.
Took a walk along the history trail and read all the info. Took heaps of photos. Thanks for bringing us both here today mate. Good to catch up.

I couldn't attend International Earthcache Day and not visit an EC. It was convenient this one was only a short walk away I examined GZ and gathered the info I needed. Now I know more stuff. Thanks Wozzle68....my answers are on their way.

**Find #: 5361**
**Time: 11:56 am**
**Date: Sun 8 Oct 2017**
A quick visit, and a short return to the event with a verbal report to the CO gained approval to log this one.
Not too much remains of this venture now, but it was interesting nevertheless.
**Thanks for placing this cache wozzle68**

Found by Mary & David at 1015. Although we've been here many times over many years, we'd not really exloreed this mine site before. All part of the fascinating history here. CO blessed the answers during today's Event. Our thanks to wozzle68.

Find # 4648

Well I was early to the parking area for the "International Earthcache Day 2017 Lal Lal" event
the only others here were Maccamob and suss vulture. After some hello's and hugs, I headed off up to this one. once again suss vulture decided to come up for another look.
Armed with the info from GZ, while I was having a chat with CO, during the event, I got my verbal approval for logging.
[^][^][^]
TFTEC wozzle68

Thanks for bringing us here today wozzle68.
Nice to see you again.
Logged with permisssion.
Thanks for the Earthcache.

I was a very late arrival today but teamed up with Bushfire to suss out the cache and work out the answers (emailed to CO). Most interesting and a very nice area. TFTC

Well, International Earthcache Day (this year, weekend?) required me to find an earthcache. Discussed the answer with the CO and obtained permission to log. Thoroughly enjoyed reading the cache description page and recalled that the door knobs and window brackets in my old art deco flat were made from pig iron.
Now I finally know why some smelted iron product is called pig iron! I also understand that it was used as ballast in ships sailing from Australia back to other ports when they were cargo-light or simply had no cargo at all.
Thanks for bringing I and Lukie1987 here!

10:08
We were well aware of the significance of gold mining around Ballarat, but had no idea iron ore mining was also very important.
That's what we love about Earthcaches - an enjoyable way to learn about our world. We discussed the features of Lal Lal iron with the CO at a nearby International Earthcache Day Event.

Thanks wozzle68 for the effort of creating another Earthcache and encouraging us to learn more about the environment.

International EarthCache Day 2017 and Wozzle has an event and an EarthCache for us to find.
What a great day!
Nice spot we hadn't been back to for nearly a decade.
Thanks for the cache hide the kids really looked hard at the area to get the answers for us!

Found with McAdies and jelly_bean14.
Thanks for the cache hide, a great day for a little walk.

Found with McAdies and Geo_Eddie.
It was a really fun morning exploring this area, thanks for the cache hide.

Wandered up to the site while at the event. Got the nod from the CO to log this one. I have never known how pig iron got its name-until now! TFTC

A short stroll from the nearby EarthCache Day event, with Tomstache and Fergzter, to explore this historic area, confer upon the answers, and report back to CO for approval to log.
You never cease to amaze me wozzle68 how you find these great places.
Thank you so much for bringing me here today, and for hosting the event.

Just as well the White Beast had a full tank of diesel before leaving Geelong as I sure took the long way around to finally get here'
A very quick reply from the CO giving MM and myself permission to log this guy but we did get a tap on the wrist as our wording of one answer was not quite right but at least we had the correct words.
Thanks Wayne for a very informative cache page and a great area to hold an event and to place this cache close by. Well done.

After attending the nearby event we headed to this one to collect the required information, explore the area and enjoy the sights and company, the youngest team member provided the CO with the answers, with some help for the rest of us, and were given permission to log the find , Thanks Wozzle for this earth cache and the fun

The geo family had decided to make our way up to the Lal Lal Historic area for a nice picnic and to explore the area. And what a fantastic area it is. So much history here and a great day out. We wandered over the the co-ords and took the necessary info down and enjoyed the cache notes on the area. We also checked out the blast furnace a little further down and marvelled at the location for the mining. Happy Earth Cache Day

**Thanks for this earth cache wozzle68**
**Smile # 5239**

Went and had a look a this cache while at the Earthcache event. It is an interestiing spot and I learned somethng from it.
Managed to get the nod from the CO on the day.

Found while attending a nearby event. Conferred answers with Tomstache and CybergranV before submitting our answers with the CO. Great to see so much history in this place. Thanks for bringing me here Woz.

While atending a near by event I set out with a few other geocaches to get this one. Had visited it before but there was no geo so good timing today. Thanks for the history. Pleased to confirm answers with CO.

Went for wander here when attending the nearby event to gather the required information for this cache. Amazing to think about all the history that is around just this local area. We truly are lucky to live where we do - so much to see, explore and learn. Answers were deemed correct by CO. Many thanks for a great informative cache.

Arriving early for today's event, we decided to EC-ing before the crowds would come. We certainly enjoyed the location and the great write-up on the cache page. We had seen the furnace before, but Mine #3 had been hidden from us until today.
We passed our lesson at the event and can therefore claim this smilie with the CO's approval. Once again, thanks for bringing us here!

Headed off to collect this cache today after the event.
Answers played by owner.
Thanks for the EC Wozzle69.

Walked up to this earthcache with fellow cachers attending "international earthcache day "- I really do love this area and it was so interesting to read and hear about it. Logged with permission of the CO - thanks wozzle68

Logged with permission from CO.

Today, Sheppythekid, geobub and myself spent the day in the Lal Lal area grabbing the caches in the area. This is a fantastic area with a great mix of landscape, history and geology to be seen. We had a great day even though it rained of and on with a really strong wind in the exposed areas.

I had known about this area for many years through bushwalking, but had never made it here until today and caching brought me here. We have not been very good at preserving our history in the past, but some things managed to last and now we are better at managing them. This is a great piece if history, showing the ingenuity and the hard, manual labor that went into building these places of work that didn't quite work out for the people that invested money into it.

Thanks wozzle68 for another great geology lesson and to a place that has been on the radar for many years. Cheers bwbandit

Answers confirmed with CO.
[FTF]
Saw this was published earlier in the week, after an exhausting week Saturday was a day to recover. I noticed this had still not been found. I was going to wait until the future event here but as it had still not been logged I ventured out for a relaxing drive to Lal lal to gather information.
As always when my car is clean the dirt roads beckon.
As always a quick response from wozzle68

Thanks for the EarthCache wozzle68
#3,420

Published