Wednesday 13 November 2024
Photos courtesy of DonnaF and Amanda. Walk report courtesy Walk Leader Gay.
Eight members have now satisfied their curiosity…. By completing the 12 km circuit of the Glenburn Precinct Loop Heritage Trail. The starting point of the trail is in the ACT, just off the Kings Highway between Queanbeyan and Bungendore and whenever one drives past the sign, one says to oneself, I must do that walk one day. That’s now a tick off the bucket list!
Okay okay, bucket list walk might be a tad too strong, but it is a good easy/medium walk which mainly meanders along pine forest roads and well- marked tracks to early European structures, ruins, graves and farm machinery dating back to the very first days of European settlement in the Canberra – Queanbeyan region. The public can enter some of the ruins and there are plenty of information boards along the trail explaining the history of the area.
In 1831, Luke and Mary Colverwell, the first European settlers, came to the area and settled at Dirty Swamp, which later became known as Glenburn. They, together with others, lived a subsistence way of life living in small slab homes on 40 acre portions, growing their own fruit and vegetables, chickens and slaughtering the occasional sheep.
During our walk, we noted the area is very rocky, with poor soil. Makes one appreciate our life of privilege today compared to their existence in the 1800s. Nevertheless the area at one time was a thriving community with its own school and many participated in hare drives, bachelors’ balls, school picnics, dances and farewell parties. We thought that this is a nice way to say ‘funeral’.
Scattered showers with a possible storm was forecast for the day. The cloud cover kept the temperature a bit cooler and the breeze from the approaching storms was a nice relief and helped clear away some of the flies, which were pretty thick at times. However, we could see the clouds building up and attacked the last hill with gusto, stopped for a quick lunch at the Atkinson Trig before heading downhill to the cars accompanied by rolls of thunder.
And we made it back dry and happy and curiosity satisfied!