Wednesday 13 April 2022

Tolmans Hill 11 Apr 2022

  Today's walk is an exploration of the firetrails and walking tracks around Tolmans Hill and the Waterworks Reserve which is less than 6kms from the centre of Hobart.

We parked in Woodridge Place near the start of one of the main fire trails throughout Tolmans Hill.


The start of the first of a number of fire trails.



After an initial look at this sign we walked a little way up R16.

But our Leader Ron had some doubts so there was a bit of checking

and then we followed R15.

This fire trail had been having some work done on it by way of clearing the long grasses and sedge from the middle.  When we got to the end there were a number of HCC workers preparing the landscape for a fuel reduction burn in the near future weather permitting.

Then it went down,

And up.

It was interesting to note that the fungi in this area which is predominantly dry eucalypt forest is nowhere near as colourful as the fungi we saw last week in the rainforest.



Walking down to the Top Reservoir within the Waterworks Reservet o have morning tea.

Our first view of Mount Wellington.



Heading down this road we deviated to look at some interesting very old construction works.

Was it a dam or a rock wall support for piping??



We arrived at the lower Waterworks and had another fine view of Mount Wellington.

While waiting for the others this duck decided that rather than sitting here comfortable on the side of the dam it would investigate who the bunch of people were standing on the dam wall.



And then it left.



Obviously someone considers this little piece of forest is important.

Should this dam overflow the two sandstone walls at the top of the dam allow for a safe overflow passed the main dam wall rather than over the top.

Just past the end of the dam we entered a small creek area with a rainforest surrounding it.






Out of the rainforest and starting the climb to Gentle Annie Falls.

It was good to see a native ant getting the best of an imported European Wasp.

A colourful fungi at last.

A close up of the bark and lichen on the Native Cherry tree.




For a historical comparison to Gentle Annie Fall now and from about 100 years ago is a photo taken by my father Jack Rowell on his Kodak Foldout camera.

The bush has overgrown the site quite a bit.

It would be nice to see that water running through the cutting now.

If you are interested in further information about Gentle Annie here is a link.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11Xy6-ZwuAE4m8ILoTvgmnVMRvYNLUGN2/view



Under the pavers is the original sandstone channeling.



A local creeping around the rock face.

Lunch on the top of the Falls.

More examples of the workmanship that went into the construction of the pipeline that stretched from North West Bay River to the Waterworks.



Our last view of Mount Wellington.

Nearly there.




We had 10 walkers who covered 9.1kms and climbed 490m in total over 4 hours

on a walk that all enjoyed.


Click on this link to download GPX file


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