I was pleased to be able to attend an event at Audley in Royal National Park focussing on the history of the area. The event was an activity of the National Parks Association of NSW and was organised by John Prats. The guide on the day was local historian, Greg Jackson.
It was a very interesting and informative morning wandering around Audley hearing about the early concepts of what should be in a national park – including introducing overseas animals such as Boa Constrictors. And there were at least three large aviaries for birds such as canaries. The flats still have many introduced trees.
Much earlier, the area around Audley was used by the local Aboriginals. The flats would haven been one continuous midden. Later the shells in the middens were used for lime making by European settlers.
The large boat shed was constructed in 1938 and was at that time the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. It was the third boat shed built at that site, and has recently been refurbished.
On Allambie Flat near the boat shed, there used to be a tennis court (now the carpark) and in the area in the photo below – a bowling green.
There was also a croquet course.
The photo below shows the site of one of three “Varney Bridges”. Two were wooden foot bridges over Kangaroo Creek and the Hacking River. The third, still in place is a car bridge upstream of the pavilion. The bridges were named after Varney Parkes, son of Sir Henry Parkes, who was on the National Park trust.
Above the flat was a large double story building – Allambie House. After falling into disrepair, it was deliberately burnt down in the 1970’s.
Downstream of the causeway on the western back is a flat that was used to park buses. The stone steps below used to go to a ferry wharf.
On the same flat was a boat dock, used for boat construction. Greg pointe out some steel rails that once would have been used on the dock, now used to strengthen the sea wall.
The flat o the far side used to have many buildings, a kiosk and fruit trees.
It was connected to this side by a long footbridge.
The steep steps that led down to the footbridge are all that remains.
We then headed back to the visitor centre and had lunch in the pavilion.
After lunch, a few of us – Valerie, Suzanne and myself decided to walk up stream looking for birds. The road up to Wattle Flat was closed, so we walked up Lady Carringon Drive several kilometres.
Here are some birds we spotted –
White-throated Treecreeper
Lewin’s Honeyeater
New Holland Honeyeater
Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Laughing Kookaburra
Thanks to Valerie for a lift down to Audley and back.