I was out on a bushwalk with Bob. We had planned to do a walk from Faulconbridge, but we first visited Lady Martins Bath at Linden. This was easy to visit, we turned off the highway at Martin Place and then took a side road on the right that went up to the water reservoir on top of a hill. This hill was the site of “Martins Folly”. It was where former Prime Minister (of NSW), Sir James Martin, started building a huge mansion. Early on, he either ran out of money or impetus and all that was built were foundations. I can remember seeing the foundations on a school history excursion back around 1970. I think the sandstone foundations have been repurposed by the present landholders – as we could see none set in place.
From the water reservoir, we took a rough track down a short distance to a small overhang. Inside was Lady Martins Bath – a constructed pool fed by spring water. It was interesting to look at.
We then headed to Faulconbridge and parked at the station carpark. We intended to visit Sassafras Gully, but no go in the usual entrance via the Victory Track. Instead, we entered by another gully. We followed a rough track that joined the main track near Clarinda Falls. It was interesting going in this way – past caves and waterfalls.
This waterfall, fairly dry when we visited it, could be a candidate for Eleanor Falls.
On the Victory Track I spotted some nice fungi –
Aleuria aurantia
Slime Mould – Lycogala epidendrum
The next lot of fungi were further down after the Victory Track joins the Sassafras Gully Track.
Hygrocybe sp.
Gliophorus graminicolor
Hygrocybe sp.
I think these next ones are all the same species, Humidicutis sp. They seem to be the same as the species found in Ferndale Park – one that starts off green and then changes to pink as it ages (if conditions are right) –
Hygrocybe sp.
Gliophorus graminicolor
Hygrocybe anomala and Trichoglossum hirsutum
Probably Hygrocybe anomala
Hygrocybe sp.
Plectania campylospora
Hygrocybe reesiae
Hygrocybe anomala var. ianthinmarginata
On our walk we continued down to Glenbrook Creek and then followed it down to the junction with Magdala Creek (where we had lunch). We then walked to Springwood via Magdala Creek and Fairy Dell.
In Magdala Creek at Fairy Dell we found a large group of Hygrocybe reesiae
At Springwood, we caught a train back to Bob’s car at Faulconbridge.
A delightful read, thanks. I’d like to correct the statements about Martin’s Folly.
I’ve lived at the end of Martin Place Linden since 1977 but my property was in my wife’s family since the 1950’s. Martin’s Folly was the name given to the abandoned foundation
remains at the rear of the property now known as Banool at the start of Martin Place. I was shown the remains by the McIlwraith sisters living in Banool many years ago. In later years the foundations were covered by an extension to the Banool homestead by subsequent owners.
See: http://springwoodhistorians.blogspot.com/2011/06/banool.html
Thanks Laurence for your comment. My recollection may be a bit hazy, but I can remember going on a school excursion (Springwood High, around 1970), to visit local historical sites. One stop was at Martins Folly – and I can remember seeing old stone foundations – over a very large area. And I thought it was on the same hill as the water supply tank. But I have since seen references that support your location.