Bairne Ku-Ring-Gai Chase, New South Wales, Australia
By
Geocaching Australia on 28-Apr-11. Waypoint TP5751
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | TrigPoint |
| Container: | Other |
| Coordinates: | S33° 36.846' E151° 17.166' (WGS 84) |
| 56H 341003E 6279313N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 186 m |
| Local Government Area: | Northern Beaches |
/151.2861,-33.6141,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
Bairne TS681
Official name of this Trig Station as per NSW Department of Lands is: Bairne.
Serial number is: TS681.
Last inspected on: April 23, 1974.
Elevation is: 183 meters.
Constructed: 1882
Bairne trig is still going strong with the stone cairn in place the the post and vanes still standing. It's a really interesting spot with evidence of water collection on the nearby rock and at least one aboriginal carving still visible too. Best access point is off the Barine track at S33 36.735 E151 17.103 where you can work your way up through the bush via a fair bit of rock until you reach broad rock areas which lead up, and around to the trig.
Bairne was constructed in 1882 by Thomas Charles Swannell, a piling overseer in the Department of Lands. He and his team constructed many similar trig stations in Ku-ring-gai National Park and nearby areas during 1880-1882.
Logs
Bastard of a trig! Tough climb through thick bush... Aboriginal engravings sites (I discovered later) are a bit beyond the trig station.
https://hikingtheworld.blog/2020/06/14/bairne-trig-station/
https://hikingtheworld.blog/2020/06/14/bairne-trig-station/
Rated: for Overall Experience
Came out here today in search of some aboriginal carvings. Found the trig first but no luck with the carvings. I think my search area may have been a bit off and the bush was rather thick making walking on any sort of bearing rather difficult. Survived with no serious grazes which was a bonus considering the bush I was pushing through. Found the little pile of stones first and thought surely this isn't all that is left of the trig. Despite being so close to it hadn't spotted the real trig so was pleased I kept going those few extra metres.
Whoops, totally forgot to log this one. I found the trip to this trig fairly difficult thanks to my poor choice in ascent path. The views from up here were magnificent however. Thanks.
Another great afternoon at West Head. After finding Euro Trig and being conscious that I was going to run out of light I quickly walked along the fire trail and stopped (completely coincidently) at the recommended coordinates to tackle Bairne Trig. Although at times there was a light pad to follow, there were many instances where I either lost track of it or deviated off-track. What an adventure as I weaved in and out of thick scrub towards the trig. Finally I found it and what a beauty it was. A magnificent structure that has lasted many years and will last many more to come. Not surprisingly, the trip back to the Bairne fire trail was relatively quick and straight-forward (isn't this always the case).
Having read Tony Dawson's book Guide to the Historic Trigonometrical Stations of Sydney's North this was another trig that I saved up to enjoy.
I left the track at the coordinates mentioned and bush bashed uphill about 50 metres to the first of a series of large flat rocky areas. (see pic) Then it was a case of bush bashing through several 10 metre wide stretches of bush in the direction of the trig. Then you come upon the rock with the seat remains, beehive and bush orchid. Continue on about 15 metres then curve around to the right to the trig. It remains in remarkable condition.
I couldn't find the reference mark or aboriginal carvings but having reviewed Yurt's pics and found an on-line copy of W D Campbell's Aboriginal Carvings of Port Jackson and Broken Bay (1899) I am determined to return and find them.
I left the track at the coordinates mentioned and bush bashed uphill about 50 metres to the first of a series of large flat rocky areas. (see pic) Then it was a case of bush bashing through several 10 metre wide stretches of bush in the direction of the trig. Then you come upon the rock with the seat remains, beehive and bush orchid. Continue on about 15 metres then curve around to the right to the trig. It remains in remarkable condition.
I couldn't find the reference mark or aboriginal carvings but having reviewed Yurt's pics and found an on-line copy of W D Campbell's Aboriginal Carvings of Port Jackson and Broken Bay (1899) I am determined to return and find them.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Congrats to Yurt on 1,000 GCA caches. Hey, don't blame me for the bush-bash up to the trig - blossom* and strike-a-light made it sound like a walk in the park.
Either way, well done one your achievement and know that I walk in the footsteps of those who have have gone before me, ie: Yurt (and son), blossom*, strike-a-light and Cookie. And Tony Dawson.
Geoff aka Tyreless
Either way, well done one your achievement and know that I walk in the footsteps of those who have have gone before me, ie: Yurt (and son), blossom*, strike-a-light and Cookie. And Tony Dawson.
Geoff aka Tyreless
14/12/13. 7:58 AM. GCA Cache #10. Having just found Tyreless' new GC cache at the end of the Bairne track, turned my bike around to head back to the car but first decided to grab this GCA trig on the way, and while riding to it I saw a lyrebird scoot past along the side of the track. Hid my bike just off the track at a point not far from the recommended turnoff coordinates and then bashed my way in to the first part of rocks that I could see. The satellite photo on the iPhone guided me to more rocky areas, but in spite of this I still had to bash through very thick bush at times, getting some scratches on the way.
Eventually made it to the large rocky area in the middle and from there a quick trip to the trig. Wow, it is in good nick! Took a snap and then made my way back to the bike the way I had come (more scratches!). Rode back to the car, spotting a pair of red-tailed black cockies along the way. What a great morning! TFTC }:)
Eventually made it to the large rocky area in the middle and from there a quick trip to the trig. Wow, it is in good nick! Took a snap and then made my way back to the bike the way I had come (more scratches!). Rode back to the car, spotting a pair of red-tailed black cockies along the way. What a great morning! TFTC }:)
Rated: for Overall Experience
A very long time ago we walked down this track hoping for an easy way up but had never returned. In that time the trig had been found a couple of times and today, with a new GC cache at the end of the track with the FTF on offer, we returned.
In the first hundred metres we met digby123 who had already claimed FTF for Bairne geocache so we decided not to race for that and instead go for Bairne trig. Using the WP of Tyreless we left the track and headed into the scrub expecting an easier path than we found last time. Well it was no easier and was some of the worse scrub bashing I've done in a long time. We couldn't find rocks anywhere in the first 150 metres and it was a real struggle to make progress. Finally I spotted an outcrop and from there we made it to the top where the trig was found.
It wasn't easy to see until we were just about on top of it. Nice old post and vanes which have somehow survived all the fires over the years on a decent sized cairn. Near the base we found a curious mark in the rock - a hole inside a circle - see photo. We also found the nearby rocks around the banksia too.
Took our photos and celebrated our 1000th GCA find! On the way out following the rocks and hoping to find the 'easier' way we came upon some holes in the rock with concrete in the holes - looks like there used to be a seat or table here at S33 36.823 E151 17.165. Nearby there was a nice orchid and a beehive in a crack in the sandstone - see photos.
We thought there might be some suggestion of a track from the old table but failed to find anything so suffered the same awful bushbash back to the main trail. From there we kept going down the trail to its delightful end at the lookout and found the GC cache.
Thanks!
(1000 GCA finds)
In the first hundred metres we met digby123 who had already claimed FTF for Bairne geocache so we decided not to race for that and instead go for Bairne trig. Using the WP of Tyreless we left the track and headed into the scrub expecting an easier path than we found last time. Well it was no easier and was some of the worse scrub bashing I've done in a long time. We couldn't find rocks anywhere in the first 150 metres and it was a real struggle to make progress. Finally I spotted an outcrop and from there we made it to the top where the trig was found.
It wasn't easy to see until we were just about on top of it. Nice old post and vanes which have somehow survived all the fires over the years on a decent sized cairn. Near the base we found a curious mark in the rock - a hole inside a circle - see photo. We also found the nearby rocks around the banksia too.
Took our photos and celebrated our 1000th GCA find! On the way out following the rocks and hoping to find the 'easier' way we came upon some holes in the rock with concrete in the holes - looks like there used to be a seat or table here at S33 36.823 E151 17.165. Nearby there was a nice orchid and a beehive in a crack in the sandstone - see photos.
We thought there might be some suggestion of a track from the old table but failed to find anything so suffered the same awful bushbash back to the main trail. From there we kept going down the trail to its delightful end at the lookout and found the GC cache.
Thanks!
(1000 GCA finds)
Rated: for Overall Experience
I found a little pile of rocks near the co- ordinates listed in the description as the best access point (S33 36.735 E151 17.103) and I added a couple of little stones for good measure. It's not really a trail through the bush but I could push my way through and just kept going up where the bush looked thinnest.
I came out on a large white rock outcrop 75 metres from the access point and followed it south-west where a wallaby nonchalantly showed the best way ahead. I had planned to go via the rock outcrops to the east of the trig but the path was easier just heading up straight to it.
About 15 metres before the trig is what looks like a stockpile of rocks with a very old banksia tree growing in it - maybe a stack of bushrock that they didn't need when they built the cairn. Bairne itself is in reasonable shape with post and vanes intact but surrounded by bush. I worked my way back out the way I came but managed to spring a branch back into my left eye which is still weeping 3 hours later.
Then I continued down the Bairne Track a further 2kms to one of the most spectacular views I have seen in the park over Pittwater and Scotland Island. If you visit the trig I highly recommend you do the full trail.
Found at 8:41 AM
PS. I have since read "Guide to the Historic Trigonometrical Stations of Sydney's North" by Tony Dawson - a fabulous reference. The trig was constructed in 1882 by piling overseer Tom Swannell and his crew.
I came out on a large white rock outcrop 75 metres from the access point and followed it south-west where a wallaby nonchalantly showed the best way ahead. I had planned to go via the rock outcrops to the east of the trig but the path was easier just heading up straight to it.
About 15 metres before the trig is what looks like a stockpile of rocks with a very old banksia tree growing in it - maybe a stack of bushrock that they didn't need when they built the cairn. Bairne itself is in reasonable shape with post and vanes intact but surrounded by bush. I worked my way back out the way I came but managed to spring a branch back into my left eye which is still weeping 3 hours later.
Then I continued down the Bairne Track a further 2kms to one of the most spectacular views I have seen in the park over Pittwater and Scotland Island. If you visit the trig I highly recommend you do the full trail.
Found at 8:41 AM
PS. I have since read "Guide to the Historic Trigonometrical Stations of Sydney's North" by Tony Dawson - a fabulous reference. The trig was constructed in 1882 by piling overseer Tom Swannell and his crew.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found with blossom* on a great day around West Head. Luckily all the bare rock made this easy to find.
The bush along the track is pretty thick so we pushed through for a while until we came out to the bare rock and things got a lot easier. On the way back we managed to follow the rocky areas a lot better and the bush was much easier to get through.
The trig is rather hidden by thick bush too but we walked around and around along the bare rock and so avoided all that too
I was fascinated to see the channels that had been carved into the rock nearby, obviously to collect water runoff. I'd love to know any information about who might have built this, when and why. I wonder if someone lived up here maybe in the depression years?
The trig is rather hidden by thick bush too but we walked around and around along the bare rock and so avoided all that too
I was fascinated to see the channels that had been carved into the rock nearby, obviously to collect water runoff. I'd love to know any information about who might have built this, when and why. I wonder if someone lived up here maybe in the depression years?
Yep a bit of bush to walk through or I should say climb and fall through. Really enjoyed finding this one. Very well hidden. Co-ordinates from phone so not too sure if correct.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Today we walked the Bairne track for a few km and got to within 180 metres of the trig location but didn't see any access track. It wasn't on our agenda for today really unless it was an easy track in. We may have to return for a serious bushbash, and serious it looks indeed!
