This category contains information about the network of historic transport routes and bridle tracks in SE NSW. Many started from the routes of the indigenous tracks.
W. D. Tarlinton Track
W.D. Tarlinton Track
This track was pioneered by William Duggan Tarlinton in 1830’s. The Tarlintons were among the earliest settlers in the upper Shoalhaven, with a land grant near the junction of the Shoalhaven River and Jerrabattgulla Creek. The Tarlinton’s later acquired land near Cobargo and pioneered a route to take their cattle overland to their new properties. The track was also used by other early pioneers of the upper Shoalhaven such as the Curlewis’s and Coghills. It also became the convenient route for travelling to the coast from the upper Shoalhaven and Monaro. It was used by John Lambie when carrying out a survey of occupied properties of the Monaro in 1840.
The track starts near Snowball above the creeks that form the upper Shoalhaven and follows Woila Creek to the Tuross River at Belowra. It continued on to Cobargo and Tilba Tilba.
Georges Pack Track
The George’s of Bendethera would sometimes use the Zig Zag Track or come down Deua River track depending on where they were headed, but their main connection with the outside world was via what is known as George’s Pack Track, which ultimately connected with Moruya and coastal shipping. It was along this track they drove their turkeys, pigs, cattle and packed corn.
The track climbs steeply out of the Bendethera Valley not from the homestead site and eventually joined up with the Moruya/Araluen road, near Kiora. Some of the track is covered by current road into Bendethera.
Zig Zag Track
It was 11 kilometres from Rankins’ to Georges’ at Bendethera along the Deua River Track. If the Georges wanted to go to the Shoalhaven, instead of going to Blanchard’s they would use the Zig Zag Track.
It was well known that the Clarke gang was often harboured at Bendethera. There was a proposal by an inmate in Darlinghurst gaol, Henry Antill, who knew the Clarkes well that if he was released along with two other inmates, he would set up an ambush on the track going up the limestone mountain and make short work of the bushrangers. This proposal, made to the Colonial Secretary, Henry Parkes, in 1866, was not accepted, but it provides us with evidence that the track existed at that time.
The Zig Zag track goes up from Con Creek through limestone outcrops, above Bendethera Caves, to the top of the Minuma Range and onto Snowball and the Braidwood/Cooma Road.
Blanchard's Track
Frederick Lester Blanchard built the house at Alpine, still standing, around the early 1900’s. To access his property from the Braidwood/Cooma road he used this track. It was also used by others such as the Rankin family who lived 5 kilometers up the river. It was their main communication with the outside world. They drove stock and received supplies via this track.
The track begins at Alpine and follows Curmulee Creek, up the Devil’s Pinch to the top of the Minuma Range and then down across the Shoalhaven and onto Fairfield, which fronts the Braidwood/Cooma Road. Today much of the original track is covered by the Mongamula Fire Trail.
The Deua River Track
This track is now well documented with the Access For All publication, ‘The Deua River Track’ written by Peter C Smith.
The river was surveyed by surveyor, Peter Ogilvie, under the direction of the Surveyor General Mitchell in May 1828, as part of the complete survey of the nineteen counties. A copy of his map exists in the State Records Office. It is accurate in its detail of the river to the 36th parallel which is south of Bendethera. Ogilvie must have followed a path up the river close to what became the Deua River Track.
The track provided for settlers living along the river possibly from as early as 1840 and was still the only means of access for the Davis family of Woolla until 1960s.
It extends from the junction of Araluen Creek to Bendethera.
The following image shows a group of riders arriving at Bendethera after riding along the Deua River Track from Alpine.
The Shoebridge Track
This track has been the subject of an extensive heritage study by heritage management consultants, Peter Freeman Pty Ltd. The study was prepared for the National Parks & Wildlife Service in 2004; as a result the track is fairly well documented.
Thomas Shoebridge, who owned a store at Lower Araluen, is credited with the initial surveying and construction of the track. It served his store as well as being an all weather route between the port of Nelligen and the Araluen goldfields. It became a busy thoroughfare with teams of pack horses loaded with supplies travelling the route daily. The heavy use meant maintenance and an upgrade was soon required. In 1861 the Government allocated £1,000 for upgrade and widening of the track. It fell into decline after a short time when the road to Moruya became a dray road.
The features of this track are the gentle grades, passing lanes, benching and extensive filling. It extends from Lower Araluen, once known as Mudmelong to the Buckenbowra Valley to link with other tracks.
The following images are from the Heritage Assessment visit in 2004 and also a combined Access for All and National Parks work day clearing along the western section of the Shoebridge Track climbing out from Lower Araluen.
The Corn Trail
The Corn Trail linked the tablelands of Braidwood and the Monaro to the coast. It was first pioneered in the 1830s by settlers of the Bolero Valley to trade produce with their neighbours on the tablelands. The major crop of the fertile valley was corn which was transported by pack horse. The track was also used to bring cattle down from the tablelands for adjistment. It was superseded in 1853 when a dray road was constructed down the nearby Clyde Mountain. The track was almost lost until volunteers re-opened it in 1988, as a bicentennial project.
It commences at the top of the Clyde Mountain at Monga and winds down through the Monga National Park and the Buckenbowra River to the Bolero Valley.