Millicent Cowan, New South Wales, Australia
By
Geocaching Australia on 10-Dec-10. Waypoint TP5560
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | TrigPoint |
| Container: | Other |
| Coordinates: | S33° 35.097' E151° 10.762' (WGS 84) |
| 56H 331044E 6282377N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 230 m |
| Local Government Area: | The Hornsby |
/151.179367,-33.58495,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
Millicent TS3112
Official name of this Trig Station as per NSW Department of Lands is: Millicent. Serial number is: TS3112. Last Inspected on: September 15, 1983. Elevation is: 230 metres.
Logs
I'm not sure why I didn't make it to this one last time, (some 5, 6 7 years ago), as it was not a difficult thing to get to. I can only imagine that it was summer and was put off by the potential meeting with reptiles. Anyway, it was a relief to get this one on the found list. Well worth the effort, which was not really a big effort.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Late logging of this trig, found in the company of MM, BFJ and Team 737
Rated: for Overall Experience
I was out caching today with Mighty Minions, Team737 and Banj5150, firstly doing some higher terrain caches north of the river and then heading south. Stopping off on the way to Cowan, we followed the fire trail to about as close as we could get then bush-bashed the rest of the way. Interesting to see the remains of the old pole and discs still lying nearby. Many thanks for the listing.
Rated: for Overall Experience
We were in the Mooney Mooney, Brooklyn and Cowan area celebrating Mighty Minions' 4000th find with some great caches, had a day in the rain and then humidity, nabbing 11 finds and having an all round great time.
We checked out the locked gate at the bottom of the trail, but with the fence ending at the roadside, figured it was to stop vehicles, and with no signage prohibiting our entrance in we went. We got to within 60m of the trig, contemplated trying from the eastern side, but the track condition deteriorated and we figured we should just 'dive in', so bashed the 60m to the trig, pretty thick in parts, but we've had worse in this area, at least the brush was dry!
We checked out the locked gate at the bottom of the trail, but with the fence ending at the roadside, figured it was to stop vehicles, and with no signage prohibiting our entrance in we went. We got to within 60m of the trig, contemplated trying from the eastern side, but the track condition deteriorated and we figured we should just 'dive in', so bashed the 60m to the trig, pretty thick in parts, but we've had worse in this area, at least the brush was dry!
Rated: for Overall Experience
On a great day out caching with some great friends, we decided to grab a trig or two , to finish of the day. Walked up the hill and bush bashed for about 60 metres, to make the find
Rated: for Overall Experience
With the temps down a bit this afternoon, it was a good time to visit some local trigs and Millicent came first. I parked on the opposite side of the road where there's plenty of space and headed up the hill. This would have been the Jerusalem bay fire trail before the F3 went through in the late 60's, cutting this trail and many good walking tracks. It's now just an access road for the railway 11kV feeder. The first section is steep and badly washed away but levels off to a good, flat sandy track. I'd decided to loop around and come in from the NE side, hoping to pick up the original trig trail. That trail is now all but gone, but it was as a good a route as any, with the trig being about 60m from any of the three trails that surround it.
About 20m from the trig, there is an old car. It's inconceivable how it got there through such thick scrub so it's probably almost as old as the trig, from when there were still trails to it.
I arrived at the trig to see the pillar with nameplate, depiled stones all around, what's probably the original timber cairn mast, the melted plastic pillar mast and some badly rusted vane disks. Interestingly, the stones evenly surround the pillar, suggesting it was built over the original trig rather than a couple of metres from it as many are. Confirming that, the CMA note for 6/4/74 states "Pillar placed over plug". The other unusual feature is the plastic cap bolted to the instrument plate, in place of the mast, suggesting it's had an official visit since its erection in 1974 and Richary's 2015 visit, and possibly since the last fire went through as it's not heat affected.
A fascinating find overall.
About 20m from the trig, there is an old car. It's inconceivable how it got there through such thick scrub so it's probably almost as old as the trig, from when there were still trails to it.
I arrived at the trig to see the pillar with nameplate, depiled stones all around, what's probably the original timber cairn mast, the melted plastic pillar mast and some badly rusted vane disks. Interestingly, the stones evenly surround the pillar, suggesting it was built over the original trig rather than a couple of metres from it as many are. Confirming that, the CMA note for 6/4/74 states "Pillar placed over plug". The other unusual feature is the plastic cap bolted to the instrument plate, in place of the mast, suggesting it's had an official visit since its erection in 1974 and Richary's 2015 visit, and possibly since the last fire went through as it's not heat affected.
A fascinating find overall.
Rated: for Overall Experience
#GA1263 - 12:05; Day 2 of a Sydney caching mission with Sol de lune was underway and after a couple of finds at our northern boundary, we were headed south again. Spotted a park right at the gate to the access track and we were soon off up the hill. Looks like the bushes have grown a bit in the 18 months since the last visit, but the bush bashing just added to the experience. Found the trig okay and soon had our snaps before heading back out again. TFTC Geocaching Australia 
Rated: for Overall Experience
Out with LuckyL10n for a few days on a caching (read trig) run and this was our next stop. Parked at the gate blocking the track and took the walk up the hill...and then once adjacent to GZ, it was off through the heavy bush for last little section. Finally arrived at the trig grabbed our photo's. Once completed, it was back out through the bush and down to the car. A bit of an adventure this one.....
Rated: for Overall Experience
Decided to head north from home and grab a few trigpoints as well as a few caches. This one was first on the list, and after making my way up the track (which would have been much more fun in the 4WD) I had to bush bash the last 60 or so metres to this one. It probably sat proudly on the hill until the bush grew around it. But anyway an easy find once at GZ.
Logging this trig somewhat belatedly as I found it way back in October 2014 (logging in August 2015). After an exploratory trip to find the elusive Djarra Trig, Shankspony and I decided to nab this one as well. Successfully navigated the 'locked' gate and made our way to the trig for the obligatory photos. Nice find!
This took quite an effort to get to this afternoon, but very rewarding ot find this old trig poin in the middle of some heavy bush.
Rated: for Overall Experience
After being stymied by locked gates in the past we were instrumental in archiving this cache the first time around. After blossom*s adventure on foot (the only way you'd discover that the fence falls well short) led to the re-establishment we'd planned on dropping by.
Today we finally made it to Cowan again, sidestepping the fence I was still feeling this wasn't quite kosher but followed the very steep decaying bitumen up the hill to flatter ground. The GPSr said to take the first right but we ended up circumnavigating the trig without getting closer than 63 metres. Eventually found faint wheeltracks about 110 metres from GZ from the left track and made our way to the trig.
Nice to see one so intact and with so much history beside it. Looks like they built the pedestal right in the centre of the old trig cairn after they 'depiled' it. Bits of the original vanes and previous pedestal vanes that were damaged by fire also lie nearby. Plus there's an old state survey mark number 262.
Good one.
Today we finally made it to Cowan again, sidestepping the fence I was still feeling this wasn't quite kosher but followed the very steep decaying bitumen up the hill to flatter ground. The GPSr said to take the first right but we ended up circumnavigating the trig without getting closer than 63 metres. Eventually found faint wheeltracks about 110 metres from GZ from the left track and made our way to the trig.
Nice to see one so intact and with so much history beside it. Looks like they built the pedestal right in the centre of the old trig cairn after they 'depiled' it. Bits of the original vanes and previous pedestal vanes that were damaged by fire also lie nearby. Plus there's an old state survey mark number 262.
Good one.
Rated: for Overall Experience
This Trig had been on my radar for a long time, so pjmpjm and I went for it today spurred on by Blossom*s valiant effort.
The access to the track is not quite obvious when standing at the gates, but if you walk 10 metres down the Pacific Highway and then walk over the embankment it is only a few easy steps to the track. Of course we went the longer way and after a short bush bash were rewarded by this great Trig. Several points of interest, the original Cairn is still there albeit unpiled at the foot of the newer concrete pedestal. Also nearby is the remains of the previous post and vanes of the new trig victims of a bush fire, also next to that the remains of the Cairn post almost completely burnt.
We found the overgrown and very easy track on the way back as you would expect!
The access to the track is not quite obvious when standing at the gates, but if you walk 10 metres down the Pacific Highway and then walk over the embankment it is only a few easy steps to the track. Of course we went the longer way and after a short bush bash were rewarded by this great Trig. Several points of interest, the original Cairn is still there albeit unpiled at the foot of the newer concrete pedestal. Also nearby is the remains of the previous post and vanes of the new trig victims of a bush fire, also next to that the remains of the Cairn post almost completely burnt.
We found the overgrown and very easy track on the way back as you would expect!
Rated: for Overall Experience
Following in the courageous footsteps of blossom*, rogerw3 and I made our way up to Cowan 'the easy way' -- driving on the old Pacific Highway and conveniently parking the GeoBuru2 right in front of the forbidding locked gates.
I was initially perplexed, but rogerw3 found the secret entry, and soon we were making our way up the long-forgotten and badly detereorating driveway -- and then off into the thick bush.
It didn't take much of a bush bash (we found the overgrown little trail on the way back, of course) and soon we spied the trig and its pedestal through the scrubby trees! What a welcome sight!
As reported, all is well with this trig. The vanes, top plate and side name plaque are all intact.
Like many older trigs, it's now completely surrounded by bush.
The rain held off and we made our way back uneventfully, but very pleased with yet another trig log for the day!
Special congrats to blossom* for quite a challenging 'on foot' trig expedition . . .
'Three Thumbs Up' for a lovely and nearly-forgotten TS. We'll certainly remember it.
I was initially perplexed, but rogerw3 found the secret entry, and soon we were making our way up the long-forgotten and badly detereorating driveway -- and then off into the thick bush.
It didn't take much of a bush bash (we found the overgrown little trail on the way back, of course) and soon we spied the trig and its pedestal through the scrubby trees! What a welcome sight!
As reported, all is well with this trig. The vanes, top plate and side name plaque are all intact.
Like many older trigs, it's now completely surrounded by bush.
The rain held off and we made our way back uneventfully, but very pleased with yet another trig log for the day!
Special congrats to blossom* for quite a challenging 'on foot' trig expedition . . .
'Three Thumbs Up' for a lovely and nearly-forgotten TS. We'll certainly remember it.
Rated: for Overall Experience
I didn't know blossom* had already been to this trig the day before so I was quite excited when I spotted it through the trees still standing and easily visible Nice little walk to this and pretty easy
Nice little walk to this and pretty easyAfter studying this trig on google maps for several nights, I decided it was quite likely that there would be access somewhere. So I caught the train to Cowan and walked up the highway to the two locked gates mentioned by Yurt. The first locked gate is the railway access and has a sign on it stating no unauthoised access to the rail corridor.
The other locked gate is for the power lines maintenance track and it is just that, a locked gate with just one panel of fence attached on one side in order to stop any vehicles driving up the track to the power lines. It is very easy to step around the fence end here and head up hill. This track runs on the outside of an old concrete and wire fence which marks the railway corridor. So I figured it was ok to walk up this track until I got close to the trig and then take a short cross-country trip to find the trig.
Millicent trig is still standing as can be seen from the photos (and lucky too as I'm not sure I would have found it if there was only a survery marker hidden in the thick undergrowth!) The traditional stone cairn has been dismantled and scattered around so you can see the State Survey Marker #262 as per the photo.
Nice to see another old trig still going well
The other locked gate is for the power lines maintenance track and it is just that, a locked gate with just one panel of fence attached on one side in order to stop any vehicles driving up the track to the power lines. It is very easy to step around the fence end here and head up hill. This track runs on the outside of an old concrete and wire fence which marks the railway corridor. So I figured it was ok to walk up this track until I got close to the trig and then take a short cross-country trip to find the trig.
Millicent trig is still standing as can be seen from the photos (and lucky too as I'm not sure I would have found it if there was only a survery marker hidden in the thick undergrowth!) The traditional stone cairn has been dismantled and scattered around so you can see the State Survey Marker #262 as per the photo.
Nice to see another old trig still going well
Sounds like this one may be a no-go, so we'll Archive it for now.
It can be re-activated if safe access is found by posting an 'Unarchived' log on the cache.
It can be re-activated if safe access is found by posting an 'Unarchived' log on the cache.
The track on the northern/western side of the freeway is a railway maintenance road which ends at a gate near the coords I listed. If you look on Street View at the spot you can see locked gates in both directions.
Is there access from the walking track over the freeway at Cowan station? Looks like an access track running on the east side of the railway line.
There's no apparent access to this trig. There's what seems to be a fire trail with a gate on the Pacific Highway but it's got a high fence and is locked (S 33° 35.208' E 151° 10.568'). Seems to be no other access along the Pacific Highway - no tracks observed. There may be a way in from the nearby freeway but as you're not allowed to stop there that's out as well.
