Harry Hill's recent KHA four-day camp/backpack took participants on the trail of a mob of Riverina sheep moving from Tumut to the Upper Murrumbidgee River for summer grazing during the 1940s

Harry's Mob

Harry Hill's recent KHA four-day camp/backpack took participants on the trail of a mob of Riverina sheep moving from Tumut to the Upper Murrumbidgee River for summer grazing during the 1940s. No prime Riverina merinos on this trip - only wethers and broken mouthed ewes drawn from various districts throughout NSW and the ACT. A couple of spring lambs moved with the mob for a while but they soon took leave of the mob and returned to the safety of their home paddock.

Harry recalled the vast movement of stock travelling through Tumut on their way to the high country from the hot and dry western areas. The stock travelled a designated mileage each day (6 miles for sheep and 10 miles for cattle) and along the route there were stockyards and a nearby water supply where the sheep or cattle were rested overnight. Along the route were many hotels, inns and boarding houses many of which were built during the gold rush days but very little evidence remains today of any such structures. In many cases, the only clue being the prolific growth of introduced plants such as sorrel, hemlock and a strawberry-like plant (name unknown) around the sites. We were all fascinated by the story of Mrs "Argentine" Harris who built and ran the Cumberland Boarding House after her husband died early in the 1900s.

After a busy morning checking sites and hearing from Harry the stories from a bygone era, a lunch stop was made at Yarrangobilly beside the river and then it was on to Rules Point Hotel site - a popular destination for fisherman, stockmen and holiday makers until the hotel was demolished during the 1960s. The stockyards still visible along the Long Plain Road were built in 1943 for the stock to be yarded and counted by the "ranger" before continuing on to the leases.

Overnight camp was made at Cooinbil where Harry prepared a delicious three course dinner for everyone. Liz and Linda from the Australian Geographic magazine stayed overnight and kept Harry busy recalling his life memories for an article to be published in the magazine during 2001.

Friday was the commencement of a three-day backpacking excursion to various points of interest in the Park which included Old Currango, Bill Jones and the site of Harris Hut. Before we left Cooinbil Harry cooked everyone a sumptuous breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon and tomatoes. He was certainly making sure there would be no stragglers along the way.

Following a bridle trail from Cooinbil the party was able to locate the site of Leonard's hut overlooking McPherson's Creek and inhabited during the 1880s. Old Currango on Gurrangorambla Flat was the camp site for overnight. Occupied by Molly and Ted Taylor for some time during the 1900s, it is the oldest building in KNP and was restored during the 1980s over a ten-year period by KHA. It was so pleasant sitting on the verandah and watching the dark storm clouds gather over the Brindabellas.

Bill Jones Hut was next and it was back along the very boggy track (could definitely get foot rot here) from Old Currango to the Mosquito Creek firetrail and what a delightful walk through the forest of tall eucalypts to Blue Waterhole Saddle. An early lunch at Bill Jones and on to Harris Hut site to camp for the night. A short detour to locate the site of Glover's hut, Glover being a convicted murderer occupied the hut during the 1800s. From Bill Jones the country changes considerably with limestone outcrops dominating the landscape all the way to Harris Hut site. A delightful place to camp despite the burnt out ruins of the hut nearby. The Harris Waterhole was a popular swimming hole for most of the group during the afternoon and later in the evening we were serenaded with a recorder duet, yes two recorders (its amazing what people carry in their backpacks!!!!).

The last day and Harry still had a couple of surprises up his sleeve. The party detoured to Devils Influx (where a number of small streams disappear underground into the limestone of Cooleman Plain). In the 1940s water power was used there to recharge radio batteries. A fascinating and interesting place and would be a delightful campsite. Then it was up and up to the crest of the Gurrangorambla Range and through the gate of the 13 Wire Fence. This was a dog proof fence erected as a 1902 lease condition for the landowner. The old fence posts were visible but not standing however the 13 wires were definitely there still strung around the posts.

After the fence it was a half-hour walk down to Cooinbil along the bridle track, but Harry had one last thing to show us before we departed for home. Located along the Long Plain Road are the rusted out remains of old mining equipment at Yorkies, an old gold mining area dating back to the Kiandra gold rush days. (Harry, thank you for a most interesting and informative four days.)

Report: Barbara Seymour