The previous week, Bob and myself had visited the Minerva and Jingga Pools in Dharawal National Park. On that trip, Bob had taken Robert Sloss’s small guidebook to walks in the Southern Highlights. One of the walks in that book that was new to both myself and Bob was to the Aquapool, on Little River near Buxton. We decided to visit the pool, and also some other interesting places nearby.
Stonequarry Creek Aboriginal Site
We first visited a major Aboriginal site on Stonequarry Creek near Picton. This was on a rocky part of the creek.
We first observed some nice potholes –
We then found what we had been looking for – Aboriginal sharpening grooves. There were lots of them!
This part of the creekbed had a very high density of grooves –
There were more slabs on the other side of the creek – but the water was flowing fast and quite high.
The Aquapool and Little River
We then headed to Buxton, and Bob parked at the end of Boundary Street. We then followed a fire road to Little River –
Parts were very rough!
We were soon down on the Little River.
We had to cross to the far side.
We then followed another fire road downstream for a few hundred metres.
The Aquapool was just below these slabs.
The Aquapool was a nice large pool with small waterfall at its head.
We then continued downstream.
Just past these slabs was another very interesting section.
We had reached a very beautiful part of the River.
We then climbed up the bank of the river to regain the old fire road. Snakes were about.
Further downstream, the vegetation changes from Scribbly Gums to Deane’s Blue Gums.
Sloss’s guidebook says that there was a small industrial site here during World War 2. It was where charcoal was produced. The charcoal would have been used in those times of petrol shortages, to power cars. See this photo for an example of a charcoal burning car. The charcoal was burnt to produce gas which powered the engine.
We then back upstream to the Aquapool, where we had lunch.
Here is some old chiselled graffiti at the Aquapool –
And another view of the Aquapool –
We then retraced our steps back to Bob’s car.
It was still quite early, and we thought we would have enough time to visit Thirlmere Lakes.
Thirlmere Lakes National Park
Bob drove into the National Park and we pared at the first picnic area. We then did the circuit walk around the lakes.
Not far along, we invited an overhang for Aboriginal art.
It does seem to have some faint ochre art –
Part of the walk was along the fire road.
We passed an old stone pumphouse –
Bob spotted an animal swimming in the lake. It looks like if could be a Rakali –
And a Sacred Kingfisher ws eating nearby –
From here, we followed a good track.
Here are a pair of Variegated Fairy-wrens –
And this large Red-belllied Black Snake was right next to the track.
The walk around the lakes was quite easy, being about 6 km long. And it was pleasant and interesting.