Haunted Stream Track - Vic High Country - East Gippsland, 19-21 December 2008.

Prior to last winter after completing our previous ‘swag trip’ with fellow travelers and friends, Rob & Dannii, the usual campfire talk led to the question of where to next?

We decided to do the Haunted Stream Track, which is near Tambo Crossing, between Swift’s Creek and Bairnsdale in East Gippsland. Due to the damage caused by the previous bushfires and then extreme rain events the Haunted Stream Track, and many others, were closed for an extended period. Enquiries with the local DSE and Parks had us planning the trip after the opening in December, 2008.

December soon arrived and we were getting ready for the trip. I had started long service leave for two months and Rob and Dannii had arranged their work commitments for the weekend.

Friday, the 19th of December, 2008, and we were ready to leave. With the 100 Series loaded we hit the road. We made it as far as Bairnsdale via the Princes Hwy, 35 minutes from home, and it was time for food for the kids – 35 minutes seemed a record for them to go without food! Once fed and watered we were off again, traveling through Bruthen and beyond along the Great Alpine Road.

We stopped on the Great Alpine Road next to a low level bridge over the Tambo River. A quick photo to show how the recent rains had added to the flow of the East Gippsland Rivers.

Tambo River Bridge - Great Alpine Road

After a couple of hours of leisurely driving with a few stops we came to Swift’s Creek. Swift’s Creek is a well resourced small town with a Pub, General Store, Bakery and fuel. There is also a caravan park by the river.

We turned left at the general store and made our way to Brookville. Rob and Dannii have access to private property at Brookville where we camp by a small creek – a wonderful place with its solitude.

Fifteen or so minutes later we had arrived at the Brookville camp. It was the first time for us here without the campers. I started to setup the tent for the kids and make the hoochie over the tent and swags for shelter. The weather forecast wasn’t good for this afternoon and tonight. Sarah was getting firewood and getting the fire going.

It wasn’t long before we got a shower of rain. It wasn’t heavy but enough to get us under cover of the tarp for ten or so minutes. We had a week of rain the previous week and the creek next to camp was flowing strongly. I was thinking that Haunted Stream may have a bit more water than normal flowing down it.

The rain passed quickly and I decided to have a powernap. About thirty minutes later I was awoken by the 100 Series of Rob and Dannii coming into camp. A quick chat while they setup their camp and then all was done.

Brookville Campsite

A fairly uneventful evening followed. Dinner was served and eaten, a few drinks and then at 10pm the rain started. That was enough for everyone to seek shelter in the swags and call it a night. A fairly cool night for December with the ambient temperature in the truck a low of 6c.

There must have been a good wind during the night – or my thermometer needs calibrating, because when Rob and I started loading our respective roof bags we both encountered sheets of ice in the puddles on top of our roof bags!

Once camp was all packed up and the fire out we left Brookville and traveled back the way we had come towards Tambo Crossing. It wasn’t long and we arrived at the started of the Haunted Stream Track. The track starts south of where the Great Alpine Road crosses the Haunted Stream bridge. The track starts off through private property on a public access road.

Airing down prior to starting on the Haunted Stream Track

The start of the Haunted Stream Track

We both aired down the tyres dropping tyre pressure to 28psi before commencing the Haunted Stream Track. The first part of this track whilst in private property is well maintained with a solid base of blue metal along its entire length. About 15 minutes later we came to the next gate as we left private property and continued our adventure.

It wasn’t long before we came to our first tree across the track. We always carry chainsaws when in the High Country as the possibilities of trees blocking the track are high. Due to the recent rain and wind we were both carrying chainsaws – just in case!

The first tree on the track.


Whilst waiting for the saw to cool I took a couple of photos of the Haunted Stream below us – it was looking more like a river than a stream at this point – and flowing fairly fast.

Looking down on the Haunted Stream - bit of water...


We were soon mobile again and after a couple of crossings of re-entrants we came to the Haunted Stream for the first crossing. This is the old town site of Stirling. There was a fair bit of water flowing down the stream. A lot more than I had seen in photos on the internet and in books. The stream was still not deep – only about bullbar depth at its deepest – it was flowing strongly but not enough to be of concern.

Whilst stopped at the stream assessing it we could clearly see the old abutment of a bridge on the opposite side. It was a concrete structure which appeared to be a rail bridge abutment or possibly a cart railway abutment for rock and ore – something else to research when we get home (i).

Sarah had previously researched the Haunted Stream before we left home. One article she found related to the discovery and rediscovery of old buildings and gold mining relics along the track after the large 06-07 fires. A few rusted steel relics could be seen from the track along with a clay chimney standing about the dog wood re-growth.


Driving slowly along the track with the windows down we would often hear the crash of something scampering away from the track. We later saw the culprits – about metre long (possibly juveniles?) lace monitors. There were also a healthy population of eastern water dragons at the crossings.

Just one of the reptiles calling this place home.

A few more trees were encountered along the way which had Rob out with the chainsaw and the rest of us clearing away the debris. A few more crossings (there’s a few!) and we came across a campsite where we decided to have lunch. Rob and Dannii broke out the salad rolls and I fired up the Trangia with white spirit burner for the hot dogs.

One of the campsites - this is lunch


There are a few campsites along the track but some of these are over grown and I wouldn’t recommend them. The larger two are in good locations and would be suitable for 5 to 6 vehicles.

Lunch!

Onwards again and a few crossings later we came to one which had been flood damaged more so than the others. There was an alternate route but this included a large ‘drop-off’ into the stream. The original line was a badly eroded river stone track. The track was firm but where the left hand wheels would traverse had sunk by almost half a metre. This had the potential to upset our vehicles as we had extra weight on our roof racks for the trip. With Rob spotting for me I slowly eased forward. Dropping slowly to the left I continued through to the stream. It turned out to be uneventful but left you with the feeling that you wouldn’t want any more angle! I parked and spotted for Rob as he drove through as well – all good and we’re off again – more crossings!

More crossings, a few more photos and a bit of video footage. We came to another crossing (what else do you do on the Haunted Stream Track?!?) with a substantial climb on the other side – Through the crossing we went, up and then down. Down was the problem. I had just had the front brake pads replaced the previous week – on the way down, fairly steep, but only about 15-20 metres (luckily!) NO BRAKES – ZERO, NUDDA, NOTHING! It got a bit fast before the 100 Series resembled a large white cow belly flopping into the stream. A couple of questions and chuckles over the UHF had me warning Rob of the wet brake syndrome. We are both cautious of damp and wet brakes but due to the terrain I didn’t have the opportunity to dry them out – one of those situations you fine funny later! Rob and Dannii both commented on the way in which the roof rack was swaying with the top of the vehicle due to our ‘speedy’ decent!

Another Crossing

A few more photos of crossings and Rob and Dannii took the lead. A few more crossings and we came to the end of the track at Dawson City (ii) . Our intended destination was the Marthavale hut, about 30 minutes away. We headed off to the west along Boomerang Spur Track. This involved a steep climb but just before the top a radio message from Rob had us stopped on the side of the hill. Engine off, in gear, handbrake and wheels chocked – and then I went up to see the large tree blocking our way. It was close to 3 foot in diameter and we had concerns about logs rolling into trucks due to the position. It was decided to retreat to Dawson City again (10 minutes) and try another route.

We then traveled north from Dawson City along the Dawson City Track. This soon got us out onto the main road, being the Angora Range Road. We could pick up the pace and were soon on the Baldhead Road. About half an hour later we had stopped at the Seldom Seen Hut – this is at the intersection of Baldhead and Jones Road – as the Rooftop map says – hut in poor condition.

Seldom Seen Hut..poor condition

We were soon on our way again and then onto Marthavale Road to the hut. Marthavale hut is very flash – a three room hut which has been restored to excellent condition. According to websites the Idlers 4WD Club now look after this hut.

Marthavale Hut - very good condition.

Main room of three inside Marthavale Hut

We had originally planned to stay here if the weather turned sour. It was now about 30c and clear sunny sky. We spoke of making a run to Dargo or back to Brookville. Finally it was decided to go back to Brookville which we did. A few backtracks as a lot of the old tracks have been redone after the fires and things look a bit different and then we were back at Brookville.

Junior Navigator - checks the PDA and the map!

After a few jokes about how we should have left our camp setup and we were back into the setup – fire, hoochies, swags and tents and we were done. My niggling headache was threatening to become a migraine so I went for a snooze (not to wake until the next morning!). The others fired up the lamb roast and had a visit from a local friend and talked around the campfire throughout the evening.

Sunday morning and the sun was shining. The sky was the deep blue you only seem to get in the High Country. We fired up the egg ‘n bacon muffins, packed the vehicles and then dragged the maps out – We were heading home but decided not to ‘blast’ down the highway.

Rob’s suggestions was to make our way to Dargo and home from there. Sarah had already researched Jones Road. The comment on the DSE/Parks site was that the bridge was out at the Wentworth River – river crossing only. We decided to try this way as we weren’t in any hurry.

We left camp with Rob in the lead. With local knowledge he and Dannii navigated us along old mining and school bus routes to Charlotte Spur Track. Then south onto Baldhead Road again. We followed this to Jones Road and on to the Wentworth Crossing.

The Wentworth was also flowing strongly. A 15 minute stop or so to let everything cool from the previous descent and then Rob and Dannii were across first. They then did the video of us and we were off again. The next landmark was Madigan’s Bridge before we were on the Upper Dargo Road.

Wentworth River crossing on Jones Road

There are numerous campsites along the Dargo River and we stopped at one for lunch. The grass has been cut short and the sites are extremely tidy. There are numerous ‘long-drops’ along here too. These sites do get crowded and well used so firewood is hard to come by. You need to bring your own or go searching further a field.

Once lunch had settled Rob and I aired the tyres back up as we were pretty close to bitumen again. Then we were ready to travel into Dargo.

It was only another 20 or so minutes and we came into Dargo. A stop at the shop for ice cream kept kids and adults happy.

The final run home was uneventful and we were home in about an hour or so.

The next ‘swag trip’ is already in the making – a ‘Brumby trip’ – I have to find brumbies for Sarah and Taylor to see – hmmm, off to the Limestone I think…..

Maps used for this trip were the Rooftop Bairnsdale-Dargo-Omeo Adventure Map and the Hema High Country Victoria Map.


Tim – Stratford.
22/12/2008


i) According to Heritage Victoria’s website; in 1905 Hibernia Co. purchased battery and boilers from Federal Convention mine – overhead tramway built to convey stone to battery - 40-ft trestle bridge across Haunted Stream. http://heritage.vic.gov.au/admin/file/content2/c7/HauntedStream.pdf





ii) 1900’s Dawson City was a small mining centre which had a 5-head battery working there. In 1905 a centrifugal crusher, driven by an 18 hp oil engine and concentrating plant was erected there. In 1906 an 8 head battery was erected, this using a 14 hp oil engine.
http://heritage.vic.gov.au/admin/file/content2/c7/HauntedStream.pdf

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