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| 5 Apr, Fri 10:00PM | Fosters Flat Sawmill, RNP | ||||
| Grade:2/6 | Length | 2km | 10m | Southern Sydney Branch | |
| Greg | |||||
        This sawmill was operated by James Foster of Waterfall around 1903. The sawmill was powered by a Robey 18hp semi portable engine. The boiler remains, and there are the remains of a timber-lined pit for the circular saw blade and, no doubt, other structures in the nearby bush. James Foster owned both a bullock team and eight heavy draught horses and these would have been used to install the sawmill and move both timber and lumber to and from the mill. This area still abounds in durable hardwoods, turpentines (Syncarpia glomulifera), and blackbutts (Eucalyptus pilularis), and these quality hardwoods would have been logged extensively with the surrounding woodland still containing evidence of this extensive logging. This sawmill was still operating in 1922, providing sawn lumber for the Metropolitan Coal Company before being closed by public pressure.
We will also look at the remains of the Scientists Hut (also known as the Zoologist Hut), which was built on the sawmill site in 1925 and used by the Royal Zoologists Society to study the habits of birds, notably the satin bower bird.
A good lunch can be had at the Audley Cafe.
This walk will be done in conjunction with members of the Sutherland Shire Historical Society. Leeches abound, so wear long trousers and bring insect repellant. Good shade, but hat and sun lotion are a good idea.Location: Royal National Park Limit: 20. View |
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| 5 Apr, Fri 9:00AM | Heritage walk to the Pass of Sabugal | ||||
| Grade:2/6 | Length | 3km | 240m | Southern Sydney Branch | |
| Greg | |||||
| This short heritage walk travels down Sir Thomas Mitchells old Illawarra Road, through bush, to the causeway across the Woronora River This road was cleared in 1843 by the last convicts road gang in NSW,
We will also visit the remains of the nearby Woronora watermill, built by John Lucas in 1825. The area above the mill is today known as ‘Lucas Heights’. This mill was a small timber building with one set of mill stones grinding wheat that was delivered by boat from Botany Bay. Bushfires and floods have removed all traces of the timber building, but beam slots excavated in the rock and the remains of the mill dam give us a good idea of the mills size and what it would have looked like. This area was also the location of depression era housing in the 1930’s and the scant remains of around twelve houses can still be identified.
Most of this walk is on a fire trail and it is not long, only about 3km, the drawback is the steep climb back up the hill when the excursion is over. Tripping hazards, snakes, ticks, leaches, fast-flowing river, slippery rocks (we will not cross the river). Location: Woronora River Valley Limit: 20. View |
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