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Tag: Bush Walking

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Coal Mines Historical Site Tasmania

Ruins at the Main Settlement

Coal Mines Historical Site

The location of Tasmania’s first operational mine, the Coal Mines Historical Site, is now part of a World Heritage listed site where the ruins form a reminder of the past. Interpretive signs throughout the site not only describe the buildings use, but provide an insight into life there, by describing the lives of individual convicts.

With the discovery of coal in the area in 1833 mining commenced, producing coal locally, rather than import it from New South Wales. Serving as a place of punishment for repeat offending convicts from Port Arthur, the mine operated for 40 years before closing.

The Site

Two entrances to the site allow access to either the main settlement, or the old mine shaft. Walking tracks connect the two areas, so it doesn’t matter which you go to if you intend walking. Entry to the site is free. We chose the main settlement to start at, because it has excellent introductory signs and toilet facilities. The larger ruins are also located here, so if you only want to see them and not the entire site, this is the place to start.

As you can see from the photos, the majority of the buildings have been damaged by bushfires, the weather and vandals over the last 150 years. The remaining walls are still interesting to see, as they stand on a small rise overlooking bushland.

Walking from the main settlement, we passed the military barracks and commanding officer’s quarters. From here, the track steepens as you walk uphill to the signal station, where we could not see any remains.

Our last stop was the main shaft, which was surrounded by a fence. This was a large depression maybe 10m deep and 20m across, but the shaft itself it filled in, so there was nothing to see.

  • Visitor Information as You Enter the Site
    Visitor Information at the Entrance
  • Information on the Heritage Site
    Information on the Heritage Site
  • Ruins of the Main Settlement Coal Mines Historical Site
    Ruins of the Main Settlement
  • Ruins of the Main Settlement
    Ruins of the Main Settlement
  • Convict Cell
    Convict Cell
  • Ruins at the Main Settlement
    Ruins at the Main Settlement
  • Sandstone Wall and Door Coal Mines Historical Site
    Sandstone Wall and Door
  • Ruins of the Military Barracks Coal Mines Historical Site
    Ruins of the Military Barracks
  • Commandants Residence
    Commandants Residence

What Did We Think?

The sandstone ruins are imposing, standing as they do on a small hill. We enjoyed looking around and reading the interpretive sign, while taking photos. The walking track winds through bushland, which was enjoyable to walk through. Although the main shaft was a disappointment, the rest of the area was very good and worth seeing.

To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

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Mount Paris Dam Wall Tasmania

Mount Paris Dam Wall

Mount Paris Dam Wall

Mount Paris Dam Wall, on the Mt Paris Road, is the only surviving pillar and slab dam in Tasmania. Built across the Cascade River using only shovels and wheelbarrows in 1937, it was originally named the Morning Star Dam. An 11 Km water race connected it with the Mt Paris Mine. The mine closed in 1970 and the dam fell into disuse. A hole blasted into the 16 metre high wall in 1985 released the water, improving the flow of the Cascade River. In the middle of the dam, most of the vegetation has now grown back, the only indication it was ever any different is the dam wall which still rises starkly before you in the middle of the bush.

How to Get There

Driving from Launceston is a 90 minute drive, while Hobart is three and a half hour drive away. Our day started at St Helens and the Bay of Fires on the east coast and only took one hour. The final part of the drive on Mount Paris Dam Road is on dirt, so be careful and drive to the conditions. The drive takes you through logging areas which are re-growth managed forests, where you will see clear felled trees. You will also see the stages of re-growth where the forestry management have replanted trees for future use.

Dirt Road
Mount Paris Dam Road

Car Park and Bush Track

A small sign indicated the direction to a carpark along a small dirt track. From here, a short walk takes you to the dam wall and the Cascade River.

Bush Track
Track Down From the Car Park

The Dam Wall

The old dam wall stands in stark contrast to the forest growing around it. Now completely surrounded by tall trees and ferns, the concrete wall looks like something from a lost city. The breaches in the wall allow you to walk through to the other side, where the dam once flooded the forest. This area has also regrown so that it is hard to see where it was flooded.

  • Mount Paris Dam Wall
  • The Dam Wall and Cascade River
  • Hole in the Mount Paris Dam Wall
  • Cascade River Flowing Through the Breach in the Dam Wall
    Cascade River Flowing Through the Breach in the Dam Wall
  • Cascade River Flowing Through the Breach in the Dam Wall
    Ferns Growing Near the Breach in the Dam Wall
  • Cascade River Flowing Through the Breach in the Dam Wall
    Cascade River Flowing Through the Breach in the Dam Wall

What Did We Think?

This was an amazing stop which we were very pleased to have done. The dam area is quite surreal, because of its large concrete structure in the middle of a forest.

To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

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Derby Tin Mining Tunnel Tasmania

Tin Tunnel

Derby Tin Mining Tunnel

Originally a tin mining district, Derby is now a haven for mountain bike riders, with an established series of bike trails in the district. A remnant of the mining history has been incorporated into the bike and walking trails, making an excellent addition to the usual Australian bush you usually go through. The old Derby tin mining tunnel is easy to walk through, but bring a torch, so that you can see.

Getting There

Located in north-east Tasmania, Derby is 90 minutes from Launceston and three and a half hours from Hobart. We travelled here from the Bay of Fires, only an hour away, stopping on the way at Paris Dam Wall.

Bike Tracks

The town is surrounded by bike tracks, which attract people from all over Australia. Generally, the tracks are dual use, biking/riding, but check before setting out and be polite to other users. We only walked to the tunnel and found the bike riders to be polite and friendly, but we always moved off the track to let them through.

The tracks wind through Tasmanian temperate rainforest making them magical to walk through.

  • Track Through the Trees
    Track Through the Trees
  • Walking / Bike Track Derby
    Walking / Bike Track
  • Walking Track
    Walking / Bike Track

The Tunnel

The tunnel was one of several used to move waste from mines to the river, but is the only one now accessible. During our visit, the lights were not working, but we had a torch, so walking was not a problem. Without light, the tunnel would be pitch dark and dangerous.

While walking, keep an ear out for bikes, so that you can keep out of their way. You will hear them a long way off and they will see your light. Several groups passed us as we walked, with no problems.

Good footwear is essential as the floor is uneven in places and can be wet.

At 600m long, it does not take long to walk through before entering daylight again.

  • Entrance to the Tunnel
    Entrance to the Tunnel
  • Tin Tunnel
    Tin Tunnel
  • Tin Tunnel
    Light to the Outside of the Tin Tunnel
  • Exit From the Tunnel
    Exit From the Tunnel

What Did We Think

This was a really fun walk and something different to the usual bush walks we do. The tunnel was easy to walk through using a light and wearing good walking shoes.

To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

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