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Monday, 18 December 2017

Adamsfield

Sunday 17th December

Saw Back Range
 Some friends expressed an interest in walking in to Adamsfield so we decided to do it today. Adamsfield was a mining town established around 1925, and is where osmiridium was mined by various methods up until the 1960s. There is very little left of the town now as most of it has been reclaimed by the bush or burnt down in bush fires.
It was quite a long drive for us from Judbury but we started early and reached the start at 0915. The start is reached by driving towards Strathgordon and at 3.8 kms. past the Scotts Peak Dam turnoff, take the Clear Hill Road. Drive 17.8 kms. on a 2WD road to the walk start. The last couple of kms. are a bit rough but okay for 2WD.
We walked along the Adamsfield (Morley) Track for about 1 km. to the first items of interest, Clarks Huts.

Adamsfield (Morley) Track

At Clarks Huts

Morleys Mansion

Morleys Mansion

Clarks Huts

Clarks Huts


We checked out the outside of the huts before fording the stream and carrying on towards Adamsfield town. It was all easy walking on a good track. Just past Clarks Huts we found a great shelter shed and BBQ which was a great spot where we had lunch later.

 
About 3.6 kms. from the start we reached the site of the township where there is little to see except for a few relics.

The town was 100 metres up the foot track to the left of this sign
Around here was rain forest type country with lots of tree ferns but once past the township it opened up into more button grass type landscape. We did see a wombat crossing the track but I was not quick enough to photograph it, only capturing its rear end.



Now that the country was opening up we started to get views of the surrounding mountains.




The track carried on to the open cut mine where we could see what we assumed was some black osmiridium ore on the ground. There were a few relics in this area but not a lot.






We wandered around the mine for a while before climbing back up to the track where we had great views of the surrounding countryside. The scenery was spectacular as it was such a great day. we could see Lake Gordon in the distance.






We kept going up the track and then along Packers Spur to a mine a short distance up the track. This was our destination point. There were good views from up here also.








After turning around and heading back we had lunch at the previously mentioned shelter and returned to the cars.
This was an excellent walk on a good wide track and the views were spectacular.
Distance: 13.6 kms.
Time: 4'40"
Ascent: 360 metres
Click here for GPX file.




6 comments :

  1. Hey Denis
    Do you reckon there are any good, viable camping options in the Adamsfield area? (eg. flat, grassy, nearby water supply). I'm thinking about a trip to The Thumbs and would love to make it an overnighter.
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lucas, the shelter shed shown in the post is in a camping ground which should satisfy all your requirements. It is quite a nice spot and from there you should be able to do The Thumbs as a day walk. Other than that I don't know of any other places.

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  2. My grand-father Arthur Story used to take pack-horses with supplies to the mines along that track in the 1930s.

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  3. Hello, I am curious about how the Morleys track would be to drive on in an AWD. Are there water crossings along the road into Adamsfield, or how far could you go? Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, There is a locked gate at the start of the track which requires a key from Parks to unlock. There is a water crossing and probably suitable for 4WD only. See here for Parks info. https://stors.tas.gov.au/au-7-0095-03685$stream

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  4. Tas camping and hiking adventures YouTube8 January 2022 at 11:24

    Another good adventure by a legend himself...love your blog's mate...you have got me.thrilled to get off my butt thanks for sharing...Aaron...Tas camping and hiking adventures from YouTube

    ReplyDelete