Wednesday 5 June 2019

Comans Mine Track

Barry at the dam wall

Group at the Stamper

Tony above one of the deep shafts

Long well made mining tunnel

Just what cricket needs – bats

Ian at the cross tunnel

Barry emerging from tunnel

Roadside python

Downtown Nerrigundah

Photos by Ian, Barry, Helen & Karen

Twelve Batemans Bay Bushwalkers had a trip out to Nerrigundah in the week to take a walk around the historical sites.

Alluvial gold was found in the area during the 1860’s, starting a gold rush. The short return walk to Coman’s mine, which was opened in the 1880’s, did not disappoint us with plenty of relics to investigate including the impressive stamper battery, tram line rails and other artefacts.

After donning our head torches, our leader Barry took us to investigate a nearby mine tunnel and we “enjoyed” close encounters with the resident microbats.

After lunch on Mount Coman we carefully checked out several mine shafts nearby. As we returned to the forest road Ian taught how to distinguish various species of tree and a sleeping python was spotted in the afternoon sunshine.

To complete the history lesson, we convoyed with a logging truck to Nerrigundah CBD to view the memorial to Miles O’Grady, the policeman who lost his life to the Clark Gang bushrangers during their robbery spree in April 1886, and then on to the site of the Chinese pig roast oven.

Thanks for an excellent informative day out.

Helen