Thursday 8 June 2023
Photos courtesy of Karen Mac, Rob, Helen, Mary and Tom (and thanks to Karen for the comparison photos).
Twelve intrepid walkers dismissed a forecasted rainy day to check out the Kellys Mine Walk. This particular walk has proven to be an old favourite of the Club, having been done many times over previous years with the walk last being done in 2018.
Kellys Mine consists of the main entrance as well as a number of secondary shafts adjacent to a nearby road. In previous visits each shaft has been clearly visible from the road, however, those who had visited the mine previously were astounded to see just how much the area had changed.
The 2019/20 fires had ravaged this area and with the subsequent rains in the following years, the vegetation regrowth has all but consumed access roads and virtually covered some of the shafts. The main entrance area, once an open spot to have a lunch stop, is now covered with quite thick vegetation.
Various items of nearby mining infrastructure have gradually been covered by overgrowth and what was a previously straightforward walk to the main entrance has become difficult to navigate in spots and certainly difficult to hike along. Hikers had to push past thick vegetation, crawl over and under fallen trees and attempt to remain upright whilst traversing washed out steep berms.
Fortunately, not all of the walk was this difficult and we found some nice spots for morning tea and lunch. The weather gods were also smiling upon us, and we were able to return to the cars just as some light rain began to fall.
We all agreed that the walk had changed significantly, and we pondered the idea of what the walk would look like again in a couple of years after mother nature has totally reclaimed it.
Donna G.