South Arm 2018

Today is the first walk of 2018 Term One, I chose a G2 walk to get new walkers a chance to become used to our ways.

Unfortunately, the weather is, again, absolutely perfect!

We travel to the end of South Arm Road parking near several houses, including another being built, that weren't here the last time.

There is another walking group that has arrived just before us. One of the cars looks familiar and I wonder if it's the same group we met at our Mt. Connection walk a couple of weeks ago.

Sue and Gail met us down here

The other walking group set off on a clockwise direction, so we set off counter clockwise. I had been considering doing this anyway so this was a convenient excuse.

We follow the track down to Shelly Beach continuing along for a while.

Shelly Beach

Sparkling waters of Ralphs Bay

 A pleasant walk to a path leading up to the wide mown grass track above.

Going up

Looking towards Opossum Bay

The white tower in the distance belongs to a communications relay station not too far from the start of our walk.

The views are fantastic

The Spit. We didn't make it down there today

Next time.

Morning Tea

While the others had a break, I got out my monopod - that's not a euphemism - and took some photos. An example of The Spit above.

Note to self: Before using the monopod as a selfie stick, always check the camera focus.

That's better

Tea finished, we move on.

Hobart in the distance

Hobart

Mt. Wellington

Alum Cliffs

On we go after making the turn to head south.

Mary Ann Bay beach

Interesting rock formation below on the beach.

We pass through a gap in the old fence and I find a small track heading down, with another to the beach. So we go exploring.

The western shore of the River Derwent

We've separated into two groups, so I wait for the rest

This track leads down to the beach

I had noticed some old bricks near the cliff, and wondered where they came from. Now we pass a Century Plant or Agave americana. Both the bricks and the plant hint at some human occupation at some time. 

I can see some plotting going on below

 Reaching the bottom, I get a better view of the rocky formation I had photographed from the cliff above.

It looks interesting, so I follow some of the others for a closer view.

Bob and Mendelt go exploring

There is an opening or window in the formation farther from the beach. As I head out to see, a strange feeling warns me that I might see something scary if I look through it.

It was worse than I thought!

Shaken, I make my way back to the others. The old photo below shows other scary sights have occurred here in the past.

Stereoscope Photo from the past

If you look carefully, behind the bloke sitting on the right hand side a white object appears back in the trees.

Another indication of occupation sometime in the past.

The white object is actually a tomb and the information below I gleaned from the website of the Friends of The Arm, a group looking after the area.

In 1824 William Gellibrand and his son Joseph arrived in Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania). Shortly after William was granted 2000 acres at South Arm and 10 convict labourers. 

William built a house on Arm End and a tomb. A frequent visitor said that after breakfast William would dig the vault located just below the house.

William died in 1840 at the age of 75 and was buried in his tomb. Joseph became our first Attorney General and three of his sons became politicians.  Two of those are buried in the tomb with William.
The house was lived in until 1914, then left to its own and other's devices. Falling down, vandalized and burnt.

Due to erosion, the tomb site is off limits, but here is a photo I took some years ago.

I also found an earlier photo of the beach and tomb showing how different the area was in the past.

On we go heading along the track. As you can see, there are almost no trees, just grass. This wasn't always the case. Grandson George Gellibrand, decided to sell and described the land "as being studded with the tallest trees in the colony and having the very best winery on the island, covering two acres of fertile ground with full bearing  fruit. Fruit trees were grown and mulberries did very well."

It's a bit different now. Or he was an early real estate salesman.

On we go, and a little hill begins to appear in the distance. I remember coming down, but we have a short, sharp climb this time. You can see it on the final report at the end of this blog.

A nice little hill...

...with a view

On we go. We're heading towards that relay station pointed out earlier and I decide to walk down to the cliff edge where a navigation light is located.

Next to the modern light are the remains of an earlier one.

Earlier navigation light base

It's a good place for lunch

Lots of seating and great views.

Our location is above White Rock Point. I wonder why it's called that?

That could explain the name

Photos below revel the views we're forced to look at while having lunch.

Kingston Beach in the distance

Fishing boat heading out

Lunch finished, we head back to the cars.

People asked about the golf course that was proposed to be built on this peninsula. Rather than me writing about it, CLICK HERE for the latest information.

I will say that one of the proposals is to pipe sewage from the club house etc. under the Derwent to the processing plant at Blackmans Bay! 

We had 16 walkers on a beautiful day and covered 6.46km in 2:57hrs.

Click here to download GPX file