Geilston Bay to East Risdon 2018

Today we're walking from Geilston Bay through Government Hills to East Risdon, led by Bob.

But before I start the walk description I would like to compliment everyone on the day for their extreme efforts in completing the walk.

When I downloaded the track from my GPS tracker, I was astounded, as you will be.

After all, completing a 54,996km walk, mainly over water is no mean feat! You  should all be proud of yourselves!

Good thing I have a backup.

Back to reality.

The weather in Kingston was drizzly with a cold breeze when we left, but naturally the weather on the other side of the river was dry. We park just beyond the old Geilston Bay High School and set off.

Ready for the off

We follow the track beside Faggs Gully Creek which takes us onto Geilston Bay Road and the start of the Shag Bay track.

Mt. Wellington

Geilston Bay Yacht Club

The start

The track runs just above the shoreline, heading up onto an open, grassy area.

Hobart and some of the Tasman Bridge in the distance

Wet in spots but not at all bad

The rainbow's a good sign

The zinc works

The factory opened back in 1916 processing ore from the west coast of Tasmania.

Soon we come to a downhill, stony track that will take us down to Shag Bay, or as it was know years ago, Bone Mill Bay.

There's a small disused quarry up on the right. Stone for the Hobart Wharf came from there

The track follows this rock shelf around

As we move around the bay, we begin to come across some industrial archaeology.

Signs of something constructed here in the past

Large boiler and another one farther on

The Tasmanian Fertiliser Company had a bone mill back in the late 1800s up until January 28 1915, when a boiler exploded and destroyed the factory.

Two people died in the explosion, George Russell, 70, the manager and his son, William, 35, who worked on the barge bringing offal from Hobart.

There is a very interesting article about the business and the disaster on the Tasmanian Geographic website. CLICK HERE to read it. There are also many other articles about Tassie there to be read.

Tasmanian Fertiliser Company, Bone Mill Bay, Tasmania

On we go, passing the end of the bay and climbing up.

The top flattens out as we pass under a power line going to the zinc mill

It's about that time, so Bob looks for a spot for Morning Tea, succeeding in finding a place with enough seating.

Morning Tea

I have a wander around and see some fungi to photo.

Scrubby bush on very poor soil

We end our break and keep heading north. Soon, however we start down towards the river along a well formed track.

Heading down

Restored by Lorna in the hopes some small bird will take advantage of it

The track takes us down to another small bay, Porter Bay which was the scene of another disaster.

George Russell, another son of the late manager of the Shag Bay works, formed a company in 1918 and built another bone mill in Porter Bay. Unfortunately, fire destroyed this factory in 1919 and the company failed in 1922. The only relic I could see is the old boiler below in Porter Bay.

Remnant of another fertiliser factory in Porter Bay

View from bay entrance

We now follow another track around the water's edge, heading for Risdon. We reach the houses and a possible lunch spot. However, a cool breeze has come up so we decide to return and find another spot.

Heading past Porter Bay with Bowen Bridge in distance

Looking back

 The ship has been delivering fuel to Selfs Point. If you look carefully on the left end of the Tasman Bridge, you'll see another ship that had delivered ore to the zinc plant for processing.

Heading back to the track from Risdon

Rounding Porter bay and taking our original track up, we turn right onto a smaller track, heading around the shoreline.

New track

Steep drop on right

Where you'd end up if you slip

Tommys Bight

We pass another very small bay, and I spot this excellent seat with a wonderful view of the dark, satanic mill on the other side.

Some people have soft spot for industry, and Mendelt takes time out to admire the setting.

Enjoying the view

The others are climbing out of the bay, so Mendelt and I hurry to catch up.

Heading up from Tommys Bight

Old construction in Tommys Bight

We think it might have been where an underwater cable came ashore in the past. Mendelt says it could have been a large warning sign visible from the river.

The track is steep and slippery with loose stones, but it does provide a good spot for lunch with no breeze and plenty of sunshine.

Lunch in the sun...

...with a view

Lunch finished, we scramble up. And it is a scramble!

Mount Faulkner in the distance

We make our way back to Shag Bay, but take another track leading up. Where else?

This takes us to a road heading down towards the river.

Another boiler at Shag Bay

Another track up from Shag Bay brings us to this road

As we walk down, I notice the group ahead gathered around a sign. On our way this morning, we turned off before that sign and I told myself I would have a look on the way back, and it worked out well.

That makes it clear

We make our way back to Geilston Bay and the cars. It was a good day and a very interesting walk. There are a number of tracks in the area we can explore in the future.

We had 12 walkers and covered 11.42km in 4:12hrs. Thanks to Bob.


Click here to download GPX file