Lees Creek Walking Track.
| Track 96 Goldfields Lees Creek Walking Track. | |
| Alistair Fielding. a park ranger from Briagolong, saw the potential for people
to discover Briagolong and the Freestone's gold mining history for themselves
by re-opening a short section of Track 96 at Lees Creek. The Track was first cut in 1895 by a Government Track Cutting party during the 'nineties Depression and went from Briagolong to Budgee via Lees Creek. The modern walking track has been carved out, following the old pack track where possible, by the Ben Cruachan Walking Club and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in memory of Alistair Fielding, who died tragically before his vision for the area was completed. To reach the commencement of the Alistair Fielding Memorial Walking Track either park beside the Freestone Creek Road and wallk the 2.5kms into Lees Creek or drive in along the Lees Creek Track. Creek crossings make this a 4WD track. The Memorial Track follows the pack track and water race at Lees Creek. The creek itself was originally named the Pep 0' Day Creek but the name was changed to Lees Creek after the prospectors who first found gold there in 1868. Following the marked track you don't have to look far for signs of the old workings. There are still a few mines in the ground and a few sink holes around, so to avoid failing in plea se keep at a safe distance. Further along you can find evidence of the miners' house sites which may have been part of the Fellows township, presumably named after Mr W.E. Fellows, the Leader of the Opposition at the time. At the old dam site. which is the halfway point of the walk. you can observe some of the other marvels of nature including giant Mountain Grey Gums (Eucalyptus cypellocarpa) and the magnificent beauty of the tree ferns and other gully species. At certain times of the year you can find the Fringed Helmeted Orchid (Corybas diemenicus) with its bright red flower.. but you will have to look. closely as they are only 5cm high. You should also keep an eye out for lyrebirds; this moist gully is a perfect habitat for them and they have been seen in the area. The dam was constructed to store water for mining but has since either been dismantled or has simply washed away. The northern continuation of Track 96 leaves the Lees Creek walk at this point. The walk on the north side of the creek follows the old water race that the miners dug and used. Along this part of the walk you pass through a large patch of Hazel Pomaderris (Pomaderris aspera) on the bottom side of the track. At a couple of points along the race small holding dams were built for storage and diversion of water. Further down at the end of the race there is a short detour off the main track which shows a good example of alluvial workings. It is in these workings that a miner named Thomas Goldie was believed to have been crushed by a large rock that is still there.. His death in 1895. which happened when the rock he was undermining rolled on him, necessitated a Magisterial inquiry which was carried out by A. H. B. Kelly from Briagolong. |
